Observing National Defense Transportation Day

Transportation may not be the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of national defense but it plays a critical role in maintaining the United States’ security.

The third Friday of May each year is proclaimed as National Defense Transportation Day to credit the infrastructure and people that make up the United States’ transportation systems that contribute to national security.

Today, we recognize all of the Landstar employees, independent agents and business capacity owners (BCOs) who work diligently to provide the best transportation solutions to the Department of Defense (DOD).

The Department of Defense and Landstar

Not only is Landstar one of the largest truckload capacity providers for the DOD, we are one of the only single-source carriers that provides all domestic surface transportation services including, but not limited to, less-than-truckload (LTL), express and heavy/specialized services. Landstar is also an air carrier for the DOD.

Requirements & Qualifications

“Landstar is extremely committed to the safe, secure transportation of the DOD’s most critical, sensitive cargo,” said Mike Casher, Landstar Transportation Logistics vice president, government services. “The agents and BCOs who are selected by Landstar’s government services department to handle this freight are known for their outstanding character and ability to deliver under the customers’ strictest requirements.”

The DOD specifically requires carrier qualifications such as:

• Approval from U.S. Transportation Command to participate in the DOD's Transportation Protective Services (TPS) program including Arms, Ammunition & Explosives (AA&E) Team drivers
• Trailer tracking
• Satellite monitoring
• Secret clearances for the drivers

“We stand for safe, reliable transportation, which is why we have additional driver qualifications. For example, the DOD requires carriers to train and certify AA&E drivers one time, upon entry into the program. Landstar requires AA&E drivers to attend refresher courses and recertification training every two years,” explained Cashner. “Our BCO training and retention standards are the highest in the industry and exceed the DOD’s specifications.”

Plus, all carriers approved by the DOD to haul TPS/AA&E cargo undergo bi-annual Defense Security Services (DSS) inspections. Landstar has received consistent “commendable” ratings since 2011, a rating reserved for the top 14 percent of defense industry participants.

Landstar’s Role at the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA)

Landstar has been a member and platinum sponsor of the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) since 1992. The NDTA is a non-political, nonprofit educational association providing government, military and private sector professionals with a trusted environment to solve logistics and transportation challenges as it relates to national defense and homeland security. For the past 25 years, Landstar has received the NDTA’s Distinguished Service Award recognizing the company’s “outstanding support to the programs of global logistics and transportation.”

In 2013, Landstar Transportation Logistics Executive Vice President of Government Services John Collins became the chairman of the NDTA’s surface transportation committee, the organization’s largest committee. Collins’ responsibility as chairman is to bring all of the professionals on the committee together, create unity and speak in one voice when advising the DOD on complex transportation challenges.

“Landstar is honored to be a part of the NDTA and participate in the very important discussions about the transportation industry’s ability to aid the DOD,” said Collins.

For more information on Landstar’s government services, email solutions@landstar.com.