Professional Athletes Join NMTA to Establish a National Minority Transportation Consortium

  COLLEGE PARK, GA - 04/19/2017 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Today National Minority Trucking Association (NMTA) CEO, Kevin Reid announced the launch of a historic, new company called the Minority Transportation Consortium (MTC) that was created in partnership with several professional athletes from the NFL and NBA.  The newly formed company will help small and disadvantaged trucking-related companies across the country compete for freight and logistics contracts with major corporations.  

MTC was established in collaboration with NMTA and several current and former professional athletes, including:

• Former NFL defensive back, Idrees Bashir
• Former NFL cornerback, Roland “Champ” Bailey
• Former NFL linebacker, Boss Bailey
• Former NFL tight end, Marcus Pollard
• Former NBA player and US Olympian, Charles D. Smith, Jr.

These athletes have pledged their time, support and resources to help form and manage the nation’s first trucking conglomerate, which will be headquartered in College Park, Georgia.

Reid, who has over 25 years in the trucking industry, designed and brokered the historic deal. “One of MTC’s major goals is to develop, educate and train minority freight carriers and logistics companies so they can be highly successful and more efficient,” said Reid. “Having the support of these current and former professional athletes is monumental.”

MTC is a third-party logistics company that will partner with minority, women, and veteran-owned companies seeking freight opportunities with corporations and private sector shippers and their associated supplier diversity programs. The organization will share a portion of its profits with all qualified carrier partners. MTC is expected to foster thousands of jobs to help address the national trucking industry job shortage.

“The mission of MTC is groundbreaking,” said MTC President, Idrees Bashir.  “I’m vested in this consortium because we will be changing lives and having a direct impact on minority-owned carriers across the nation.”

According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), there is a shortage of more than 20,000 qualified truckers in the trucking industry, which is a critical link in our nation’s supply chain. If the current growth trend continues, it is predicted that the industry will face an even greater deficit of truck drivers.

There are an estimated 3.4 million truck drivers; African Americans and Hispanics make up 11.7% and 9.7%, respectively; and women make up only 5% of truck drivers, according to the ATA.

NMTA is committed to not only help address the shortage of truck drivers but also enhance and grow minority-owned trucking and logistics companies nationwide.

NMTA has two ambitious goals.  First, to triple its membership by 2018, and secondly to foster more than 500,000 new trucking and logistics jobs over the next decade through its national jobs initiatives.

NMTA is the first and only organization in the US that represents the interests of minorities in the trucking industry.  The Association is committed to establishing, maintaining and growing successful careers and businesses in the trucking and logistics industry for all minorities. 

NMTA works to ensure education and access to opportunity are made available to minority truck drivers and trucking companies by gathering valuable data, creating solutions-oriented forums, speaking with one voice to lawmakers, and maintaining key corporate partnerships.

About the National Minority Trucking Association:

National Minority Trucking Association is committed to assisting all minorities with establishing, maintaining, and growing successful careers and businesses in the trucking and logistics industry. As the first voice for minority truckers and carriers in the U.S., NMTA provides strong and effective representation in these fast changing times in the transportation industry. Our organization helps members progress towards their goals, by making the information and resources available while advising them on issues that affect their business and professional development. For more information visit www.minoritytruckers.com.