TRALA MEMBERS TEAM WITH VETS TO ADDRESS MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SHORTAGE

Alexandria, VA, April 26, 2006 - The Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) and members of its Equipment and Technology Advisory Council (ETAC) which was represented by Jim Russo of AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources; Ken McKibben of Penske Truck Leasing Company; Jim Salas and Ty Cross of Ryder System; Andy Stopka of NationaLease; and Don Porthan of Paccar Leasing Company, today traveled to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, to get a first hand look at the Department of Labor's Hire Vets First Committee's Training Assistance Program (TAP).

As the truck renting and leasing industry continues to face a growing national shortage of qualified maintenance technicians, TRALA and its' member companies have teamed up with the President's National Hire Veterans Committee. The commission was established under the 2002 Jobs for Veterans Act, in an effort to offer more training, skills and job opportunities to military veterans.

"The military is providing men and women with top-notch skill training and experience, said TRALA President and CEO Peter Vroom. "Our industry wants to put these highly trained veterans to work after they have finished their military service to our country. These are respected positions that pay well and can provide great careers."

The visit to Aberdeen allowed senior maintenance executives to observe Department of Defense (DOD) transition training (TAP), including a briefing on wheel vehicle mechanic training and certification programs and to witness an Advance Individual Training in progress. This experience allowed TRALA to extend to its members the opportunity to access the best and brightest - our nation's veterans.

TRALA also participates in the HireVetsFirst initiative, an internet portal for employers to find veterans. The site provides employment resource information, nationwide job fair listings, local community career centers that provide employment assistance to employers, and access to links for Americas Job Bank and an electronic job search engine. More information on this campaign is available at www.hirevetsfirst.gov.

TRALA, based in Alexandria, VA, is a voluntary, non-profit national trade association, organized in 1978 to provide a unified and focused voice for the truck renting and leasing industry. TRALA's membership includes more than 500 leasing and rental firms and 100 suppliers that make up nearly the entire truck renting and leasing industry. The renting and leasing industry is responsible for approximately 35 percent of all new Class 3 through 8 commercial truck registrations.

###