Maintenance Outsource Coordinator at J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
Army mechanic travels the road to success from meat packer to maintenance coordinator with J.B. Hunt Transportation Services.
by Warren Duffie

One thing the Army taught Jason Mosher was how to handle pressure – to keep a level head during hectic, stressful times. It’s a quality that still serves him well today as a maintenance outsource coordinator for J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. Based at the company’s Lowell, Ark., headquarters, Mosher oversees the repair of 16,000 truck trailers, containers, and other equipment worth millions of dollars.

For example, if a J.B. Hunt truck breaks down at a client site, it’s Mosher’s job to find out whether the vehicle can be transported back to a company terminal, facilitate the move, and ensure that an in-house work order is filled and performed. However, if the equipment can’t be moved, he’s responsible for hiring an outside contractor to fix it on-site.

“My job involves a lot of pressure, and I usually work from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” says the former Army specialist, 31. “The sheer number of people needing help can be intimidating. Sometimes it seems you can’t answer the phone, respond to e-mail, or order parts quickly enough. But that’s what appeals to me the – the challenge and responsibility.”

The Transition
Wisely, Mosher began preparing for his transition about eight months before his separation date – attending ACAP classes and interviewing and résumé-writing seminars. Soon, Mosher landed a job in nearby San Bernadino, with a company that refurbished 18-wheeled trucks.

But despite this good start, storm clouds were gathering. Mosher’s new company was poorly managed and bleeding money; it seemed only a matter of time before it shut down and he was out of work. Thankfully, within a few months, a J.B. Hunt recruiter called Mosher and asked if he was interested in interviewing for a job at a railroad depot nearby.

Mosher came in for an interview and was hired shortly thereafter. Ironically, his previous company closed its doors not long afterward. Mosher was first hired as a welder, earning a smaller salary than at his previous job. But within a couple of years, he was made manager of the railroad yard. And four months ago, he was promoted to his current position.

“When I worked at my first job, I was earning about the same as I was in the Army,” Mosher says. “I took a big pay cut when I came to J.B. Hunt, but it paid off, and now I’m doing well. My transition worked out very well, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

On the Job
Headquartered in Arkansas, J.B. Hunt is one of America’s largest transportation logistics companies – with 17,000 employees, more than 11,000 trucks and 45,000 trailers and containers, and yearly revenues of $3 billion.

A driving force behind the trucking giant’s success has been its veteran workers. In fact, 2,880 employees, or 17 percent of J.B. Hunt’s total workforce, have military experience. And the company is looking to hire more veterans like you.

“Military veterans excel at on-the-job training and understand the importance of working as a team,” says Barbara Pinilla, a J.B.Hunt human resources manager. “Our mission statement says it best, ‘To be the best, serving the best.’ That’s why we want veterans on our team. They can make a difference, take on large tasks, and are not afraid to suggest new ideas,” she says.

From Packing Meat To Fixing Jeeps
In 1997, at 22 years of age, Mosher had come to a crossroads in his life. He had been out of high school for a few years and was working at a meat-packing plant. It was tedious, back-breaking work, and Mosher wanted something better. So he enlisted in the Army.

After boot camp at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Mosher went to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for heavy-wheel vehicle mechanic training. Afterwards, he was assigned to Fort Irwin, Calif. – home of the Army’s National Training Center – where he helped repair large jeeps and trucks.

At first, Mosher only planned to stay in the Army for three years. But during his third year, he got married. The young couple wanted to start a family, so Mosher extended his enlistment for two more years before separating in 2002.

Mosher’s Advice

Know what you want when you’re planning. “I knew too many guys who waited until a month before separating to decide on what they wanted to do. If you’re a single person, that’s fine. But if you have a family, you need to map out a sound strategy and execute it.