SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 8-14, 2019, is when America takes the time to honor all professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in tackling one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs.
To commemorate the event, Acuity Insurance sponsored an essay and video contest for high school students.
“Through the stories submitted, contestants displayed their knowledge of the important issues facing the industry while thanking the drivers in their lives for everything they do,” said Steve Maliborski, Senior Product Analyst and member of Acuity’s trucking specialist team.
A total of six winners were named, including:
- First prize, $2,500: Sara Mears, Appleton, Wisconsin
- Second prize, $1,500: Gibeon Robbins, Coalville, Utah
- Third prize, $1,000: Ashlyn Smith, Marion, Utah
- Honorable mention, $150: Gabrielle Robbins, Coalville, Utah
- Honorable mention, $150: Jimmy Fields, Orland Park, Illinois
- Honorable mention, $150: Karmyn Jarzemski, De Soto, Wisconsin
Mears’ essay revolved around her great-uncle Roland “Rollie” Koenig and his longtime association with Korth Transport of Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
“Many people don’t think about how things get into their hands,” Mears started her essay. “However, there is a very important job for this to happen. Truck drivers from all over work hard every day to get products to people that need them. One of them is My Great Uncle Rollie who has delivered milk all over the Midwest in his bright blue Korth Transport truck for over 20 years.”
She related how growing up, Koenig had looked out his window as a truck drove past his house every day and quickly at the age of 12 yearned to be a truck driver.
Later on, Koenig fulfilled his dreams and started driving and as of this year he has been driving for a total of 22 years, all with the same company and with no accidents.
Koenig loves his trucking job, Mears said.
“He always thinks of others first,” she wrote. “After a few years off (to run the family farm), Rollie went back to Korth and started driving again. He went back to Korth Transfer because they offered him flexible hours with five full weeks off for vacation. He loves how he gets Fridays and Sundays off, and occasionally free Saturdays. They also allow him to stay close to his home, driving only in the Midwest in order for him to be in his own bed every night. Another reason why Rollie loves Korth is because he knew the original owners, Charles and Marlene Korth, his whole life since they attended the same church as Rollie. He says that the founding owners (now deceased) were good, nice people and hired friendly drivers and office employees throughout all of Wisconsin. Korth has been around for over 85 years and the current Korth management still carries on this caring philosophy.”
Mears addressed the importance of finding drivers.
“It is hard for some companies to find truck drivers, but transporting goods is crucial in today’s growing economy,” she wrote. “Without these drivers, it would be hard to get products from one place to another.”
Her Great Uncle Rollie still loves to drive his big blue Korth milk truck, she wrote.
He said, “If I didn’t like the job I have, I would have retired a long time ago.”
My Great Uncle Rollie transports dairy products so that people like us can enjoy things like
ice cream at Culver’s, she wrote. “The next time you drink a glass of cold refreshing milk or have a tasty ice cream cone, remember the journey the ingredients have been through and the people like my Great Uncle Rollie that helped to get it into your hands.”
The contest was promoted on the Acuity Insurance website and was open to high school students in the United States.
Essays were required to address a topic of interest and importance to the trucking industry.
To read all the essays, click here.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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