Veteran's Day Special: Talking veterans with Nick Smith, a U.S. Marine turned International sensation

Whether they're in the bay or on the road, veterans have both the tangible and intangible skills to succeed in the transportation industry. Whatever the branch of service or mission given, service members by and large have been trained to think on the fly and get the job done no matter what, learn to follow and lead, and manage stress. They also know a thing or two about logistics and how to "hurry up and wait," making them well suited to the transportation industry once their military service has ended.

In this special Veterans Day episode of The Fleet Lead, Fleet Maintenance's Editor-in-Chief John Hitch, a former U.S. Navy submariner, sat down with Nick Smith, the media relations manager at International and former Marine who did two combat tours in Iraq, to discuss his transition from the Corps to a top-notch trucking communicator, how vets in general can help reinforce your fleet or shop's ranks, as well as how to set them up for success.

We also get into how difficult life gets when the mission and adrenaline rushes are over and it's time to return to civilian life, and how trucking can be a lifeline to those who gave their best years to the nation and are desperate for purpose.

Chapters:

Introduction - 00:40

Smith's role at International - 02:47

How veteran's experiences prepare them for work - 05:15

Smith's role and mentorship in the marines - 08:09

On leadership - 11:04

Support after service - 15:28

The stigma against veterans - 25:15

How to prepare for discharge - 31:26