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On this Veterans Day, Gozal Incorporated proudly recognizes the invaluable contributions of our veterans, especially in the trucking industry. As the demand for truck drivers continues to grow, veterans are stepping up to fill these crucial roles, bringing unique skills that enhance our workforce. Here are three compelling reasons why veterans are essential to the trucking industry: 🔹 Military Skills Align with Key Trucking Abilities: Veterans possess sought-after skills such as situational awareness, reliability, leadership, and teamwork. The discipline and sense of duty honed during their military service seamlessly translate to the trucking profession, making them exceptionally well-equipped for success on the road. 🔹 Adaptability to Long Hauls: Veterans are accustomed to being away from home for extended periods, making the trucking lifestyle a natural fit. With 98% more miles driven than their non-veteran counterparts, they adapt quickly to the job's demands, bringing valuable experience that helps them excel. 🔹 Stability in a High-Turnover Industry: The trucking sector often faces high turnover rates, but veterans contribute to stabilizing this volatility. Their commitment to teamwork and camaraderie reflects the military family environment, fostering lasting relationships and loyalty that benefit everyone involved. As we honor the brave men and women who have served, let’s recognize the vital role they play in keeping our country moving. Thank you to all veterans for your service and dedication! Your skills and experience make a significant impact not only in the trucking industry but across our nation. #VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #Trucking #GozalIncorporated #VeteransInTrucking #TruckingCommunity

Jesse Iwuji’s journey from U.S. Navy Reserve Officer to NASCAR team owner is a powerful reminder that true success is built on perseverance, strategic thinking, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities. In 2022, Jesse was honored as Vetrepreneur® of the Year—a title that recognizes his exceptional entrepreneurial achievements both on and off the racetrack. While his NASCAR career is still growing, it is his business ventures that have truly set him apart. From running his own racing team to thriving in trucking and real estate, Jesse exemplifies what it means to think beyond limitations and push forward with resilience. Jesse’s approach is simple yet profound: success isn’t about being the most skilled or the smartest; it’s about staying strong enough long enough. In business, as in life, the ability to adapt and find opportunity even in difficult circumstances is key. As a US Navy veteran, Jesse also advocates for the vast potential of veterans to excel in the civilian world, showing that military service can be the foundation for continued success in any field. Jesse’s story is one of ambition, drive, and continuous growth—a true example of what it means to never stop pushing toward your goals. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/essyKuEW #Vetrepreneur #NASCAR #SuccessStories

One invaluable lesson I've learned throughout my diverse career is the Necessity Of Being Adaptable and Embracing New Opportunities! 🚀 From serving in the U.S. Army to driving for Lyft, every experience has uniquely molded me. What crucial lesson has your work taught you? Share below! 👇 #WorkWisdom #LifeLessons

Motivation Monday – Honoring Veterans' Sacrifice Today, on Veterans Day, we are reminded of the commitment and sacrifice that our soldiers have made for this country. They didn’t just show up; they dedicated themselves fully to something larger than themselves. That kind of courage and discipline is a powerful example for all of us in our work and our lives. If there’s one thing we can take from the service and sacrifice of veterans, it’s that we owe it to ourselves, our teams, and our customers to never settle. Sales reps should always be pushing to improve, never letting the status quo or a light calendar hold them back. And managers, let’s drive our teams to this same standard—because excellence isn’t an option; it’s a duty. Veterans didn’t serve halfway, and we cannot perform halfway. The blank space on a calendar is wasted potential, and settling for “good enough” is a disservice to the opportunities in front of us. Stay committed to the hustle, growth, and grit as a way of honoring those who gave so much for us. #MotivationMonday #VeteransDay #HonorTheirSacrifice #CommitToExcellence #NeverSettle #PushForGrowth #SalesSuccess #LeadByExample #NoStatusQuo #HustleAndGrind #ContinuousImprovement #WolfMentality

Jesse Iwuji’s story isn’t just about racing cars or serving in the military.  His story is about relentless dedication, pursuing excellence, and breaking barriers. I first met Jesse at a celebration party for my cousin, who had just beaten childhood cancer. Jesse was invited as a celebrity guest, and given our shared experience at the Naval Academy and serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy, we connected immediately. We swapped stories about our journeys, and I was inspired by his unique path to NASCAR and his commitment to service. After graduating from the Naval Academy, Jesse served as a Lieutenant Commander while racing cars on the side. He kept pushing toward his dream, and today, he’s the only active driver in NASCAR’s top tiers who also serves in the U.S. military reserves. Talk about balancing service and passion! What stands out about Jesse is his ability to inspire others while pursuing his dreams with unshakable focus. He’s a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, becoming one of only four African American drivers competing at the national NASCAR level. Jesse has even earned NASCAR’s “Diverse Driver of the Year” award for two years in a row. There’s a lot we can learn from Jesse’s story. He’s showing us all that perseverance, hard work, and staying true to your values pays off. Whether it’s on the racetrack or in life, his message is clear: Dream big, work hard, and never give up. (And if you ever find yourself questioning your own journey, remember that Jesse’s path to NASCAR started with Navy football - where he almost helped upset Ohio State! Proof that a relentless pursuit of excellence can take you places you never imagined.)

How far back should work go, and when is "everything" acceptable? At the insistence of a friend and damn good career coach, Mark Newall, I added my military service to my LinkedIn profile. When challenged why it wasn't there, I fell back on my habitual thinking that more senior workers need to hide their age. Mark's question shook me out of that rut to hear what I had told him and others recently: my age is now an advantage and a market differentiator. As I approach the end of my 70th year in July I have come to realize that my value to others—my aggregate experience across industries and roles—is in demand, more so than it was in my 50s. Adding my ten years of duty as a US Army officer only expands and enhances that value. Additionally, it reminded me of how important that time was to my development as a leader, a manager, and a human. As many have asked before, how many among us were trusted at age 22 to manage a multi-million dollar budget, forty men (many of whom were twice my age), and play a part in world peace? Right out of the Officer's Basic Course at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX, I went to Germany for three years to lead a Vulcan platoon charged with air defense for a Cavalry Brigade with a mission to defend the West German border with East Germany at the Fulda Gap. After a year I took over the Battery motor pool, managing a larger budget, more men, and many more vehicles. A year after that I was selected to bring 43 new types of combat service support vehicles into the Third Infantry Division (think HMMWV and Oshkosh trucks to replace Jeeps and 2.5 ton vehicles from WWII). It was heady stuff at 25 to brief three- and four-star generals from flip charts on how well their commands were prepared to receive the new equipment that Jimmy Carter had pushed through in his only term. Grace and focus under pressure, accountability, responsibility, and succinct speech were all practiced and polished over the course of 1981, why wouldn't I want that reflected in my LinkedIn profile? To this day I organize projects and communicate them to others using techniques that I learned in the Army. Thank you, Mark, for helping me remember and give credit where due. My message to readers is think about what is not on your profile. Should it be there? Was it formative? Will others understand what more you can contribute because of it?

Not sure how important it is for you to consider a trailer manufacturer’s history before buying their product but wanted you to be aware of some of what I am most proud about the semi-trailer that my company and I represent. Great Dane is a 125 year old US based company with a long history of shaping the transportation industry. From producing the first refrigerated trailer in the 1940’s to shutting down production building military traiiers to support the US war efforts during WWII, Great Dane embodies what it means to be a respected and trusted manufacturer. So, before you choose a trailer manufacturer from which to purchase, please consider their history. Great Dane has one which boasts supporting the American economy, workforce, and US Military. It should be something to seriously consider. #greatneverstops #supporttheUSeconomy #greatdanepassion #madeintheUSA #coxautomotive #northeastgreatdane #trudelltrailers

A few years ago I was blessed with the opportunity to see and listen to Commander Guy Snodgrass share lessons learned, “TOPGUN’S TOP 10 Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit”, and the incredible, unfathomable challenges he faced and overcame under immense pressure and stress all while leading others to do the same. During a 20-year career in uniform, Guy Snodgrass became one of the most skilled fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy, commanding combat jets over some of the most dangerous war zones in the world — and he did it all using the lessons he learned at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). I highly recommend you get the book (the audio is great!) For now, I’ve listed the title of each leadership “lesson”. From the real-life inspiration for the blockbuster films #TopGun and Top Gun: Maverick, the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School trains the top one percent of our nation’s fighter pilots - here you go: 1. Focus on Talent, Passion, and Personality 2. Nothing Worthwhile Is Ever Easy 3. Stay Calm Under Pressure 4. Do the Right Thing, Even When No One Is Looking 5. Anticipate Problems 6. Don’t Confuse Activity with Progress 7. Never Wait to Make a Difference 8. Always Have a Wingman 9. Put the Bottom Line Up Front 10. Don’t Wait to Make a Friend Until You Need One I dare you to buy the book, read it, annotate, listen, practice the act of each principle, and see if it doesn’t change your personal/professional life. 🩵 🔗 TOPGUN'S TOP 10: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit https://a.co/d/guN1EWK #VeteransDay #Leadership #BusinessSuccess #TeamBuilding #Mindset #CareerSuccess #CareerDevelopment

One of the best insults I ever received? "You'd make a terrible infantry officer." Let me explain. Years ago, I took over as our unit's executive officer (XO). The outgoing XO was an infantry officer, and I was an aviation officer. Right away, you can probably imagine the potential for friction. Infantry Marines tend to be serious and by-the-book. Pilots? Well… not so much. During our turnover, he was showing me the ropes, rattling off instructions like, "This needs to be done this way," and "That needs to be done that way." And each time, I dared to ask, "Why?" After about fifteen minutes of this, he snapped. "YOU'D MAKE A TERRIBLE INFANTRY OFFICER!!" I didn't miss a beat. I swung at the underhand pitch he just lobbed my way and asked... "Why?" "THAT'S WHY!!" he fired back. Home run. Ball over the center-field wall. I had to laugh. But then he followed up with this: "You ask too many questions! When I tell you to take the hill, take the hill. No questions asked. Just do it!" Now, I respect where he was coming from. There are moments - rare moments - when the mission demands immediate, unquestioning action. No time for debate. No room for questions. But sitting together in that office that night? That wasn't one of those moments. And I'd wager most of what you face in work and life isn't either. Here's the thing: It's okay to ask "why." In fact, it's good to ask "why." Taking care of mavericks and looking out for the questioners isn't just nice - it's necessary. Mavericks help you see what's possible. Questioners help you see what you might be missing. They're often the ones in touch with their creative, right-brain thinking, and they're looking to share it. So don't squash it. Embrace it. And here's a bonus tip: One of the easiest ways to tap into that creative energy - yours and theirs -is through humor. Humor helps people loosen up, think differently, and approach challenges from a fresh perspective. So next time someone throws you an "out there" idea, ask "Why?" But don't stop there - crack a joke, lighten the mood, and see what brilliant insight comes next. Because sometimes, the difference between "terrible" and "terrific" lies in the questions we're bold enough to ask - and the laughs we're willing to share.

U.S. Army veteran Seth Miller used to put his expertise to work servicing tank hulls and turret mechanics, but now, he's an associate director of dealer process development and validation for International Motors. But whether for tanks or for vehicles, both roles are about promoting uptime, particularly for International's 'uptime advocates.' “My team writes all of their standard operating procedures, [working] on something in the system that we want to improve, and then we'll go work with IT to make those improvements happen,” Miller explained. But as if he wasn't busy enough, Miller has also advocated for companies to consider veterans for any number of roles: "You don't have to be a tank mechanic or a wheel vehicle mechanic—the skills that a vet has coming into the industry are going to help in any role," he said. "Just the discipline, the leadership in particular, they're all very transferable skills." For more on Miller's journey, see below. #truckingindustry #veteransday John Hitch