Next Gen Trucking to create fitness course

The Trucking Cares Foundation recently donated $40,000 to the Next Generation in Trucking Foundation, which will use the grant money to develop a fitness course for new truck drivers called “TruckFit.”

The new course, which will educate drivers on how to prioritize their physical and mental health on the road, will be incorporated into the CDL training curriculums Trucking Cares provides to high schools, community/technical colleges, and private schools around North America, the organizations reported.

“Driver health is a priority as we train the next-generation workforce of commercial drivers,” Lindsey Trent, the president and co-founder of Next Gen Trucking—who will speak at National Tank Truck Carriers’ Tank Truck Week 2024—said in a news release. “Now, with the partnership with the Trucking Cares Foundation, we can make this a reality and offer practical ways for student drivers to stay healthy while on the road before their careers begin.”  

Trent and Tyler Bones, director of HSSE compliance at Lynden company Alaska West Express, will share practical tips for engaging with local schools to promote careers in trucking in their presentation, “How to Get Involved with You Local Schools: It’s easier than you think!” on Oct. 1 during Tank Truck Week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Trent worked in truck driver staffing and business development at Ryder before starting the non-profit Next Gen Trucking trade association in 2021.

“The Next Generation in Trucking Foundation equips individuals with skills that will open the door of opportunity to more young people seeking economic independence in the trucking industry,” said Phil Byrd, Trucking Cares chairman. “Through this donation, the Trucking Cares Foundation hopes to support this organization’s noble mission as well as promote healthy and active lifestyles so that new drivers can sustain these rewarding careers for the long haul.”

Dave Dein, Next Gen Trucking co-founder, said the association is “ecstatic” to be able to offer TruckFit to schools.

“The TruckFit program is essential to ensure students have the knowledge and practical application to enter the workforce with the foundation to prioritize their physical and mental health,” said Dein, who also serves as the truck driving instructor at Patterson High School and was named 2025 California Teacher of the Year by the Association for Career and Technical Education earlier this year.

“We are overjoyed to be able to partner with the Trucking Cares Foundation in conjunction with Dr. Mark Manera of Offshift—a digital health company built for trucking—to ensure graduates sustain long and healthy careers in the trucking industry.”