Trucking Life

DES MOINES, Iowa — On Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, Iowa trucker Russ Allen returned his keys to TMC Transportation for the final time, ending a 33-and-a-half-year career of driving for the company. Allen, who grew up on a farm, says he remembers watching the big trucks in the field as he raised cattle. He recalls that farming got tough in the 1980s, and that transitioning from part-time driver for a local sale barn to a full-time trucker in 1985 was a decision of necessity. After two years of driving over the road, Allen was hired by the late Walt Annett, who was then TMC’s vice president of maintenance, to drive for TMC in May 1987. “I had a good friend who drove for TMC. I thought that the shiny black trucks were a lot nicer than the cabovers I had been driving,” he explained. After more than three decades of driving at TMC, Allen says the most rewarding part of his job has been parking a shiny Kenworth or Peterbilt in front of his house on the weekends. Another high point, he noted, is the flexibility that comes with hauling flatbed freight. “With flatbeds, you get exercise, which makes staying in shape easier than shutting the doors on a box trailer,” Allen said. “I enjoyed taking my kids with me several times. My daughter, Alicia, had never seen a mountain before,” he continued. “Being able to share those special moments with family, exploring new sights made it all worth it.” Since Allen entered trucking, there have been numerous changes in the industry — especially regarding technology. In the 1980s there were no cellphones or GPS. According to Allen, the biggest obstacle he had to overcome in those days was “going into any big city, trying to find where to go unload. Over time it got easier, but it was a challenge.” Winter driving was an obstacle as well. “It takes time getting to know what the truck can or can’t do,” he noted, adding that slowing down when the roads got bad was key to his safe driving record. When asked about what advice he would give to a new driver, Allen shared, “The pay is good if you work for it.” While being a truck driver isn’t always easy, it can be a rewarding career. “Every day has different challenges,” he said. “The work can be hard, but when you get that special load that looks cool on the trailer, it makes the extra work worthwhile. If you stay long enough to get on the specialized or boat division, it can be rewarding. As an ex-farmer, parking a shiny new piece of machinery at my house can be impressive.” Allen also shared some advice for young or inexperienced drivers. “I would say, ‘Be really careful when loading and unloading,’” he said. “I got in a hurry several times and fell off trailers or had a tarp roll off insulation and hit my head (I used to be taller),” he continued. “Things like that, you shake it off and keep going, but years later you look back and think, ‘Why did I let that happen?’” His second piece of advice: “Tie the loads down and tarp right the first time. Then, you do not have to stop and redo anything. The load stays on the trailer.” Now that he’s retired, Allen says he plans to work on the farm and spend time with his four grandsons. His son, Jed, farms in addition to running an agriculture machinery repair business. In addition, Allen and his wife, Molly, plan to do some traveling. “I made lifelong friends here at TMC. I was always treated well by people in the shops, the fleet managers, all the way up to (TMC CEO) Harrold Annett. I will always be thankful for Walt Annett hiring me. He is the reason I stayed for over 33 years,” Allen said, noting that he enjoyed working the entire team, including fleet manager Glenda Miller, operations manager Chad Reece and Mike Duffy, who became TMC’s vice president of maintenance two years ago. “I cannot believe I am over 70 years old and spent nearly half my life at TMC,” Allen said. “I want to thank everyone who I worked with here, and Todd Bunting (vice president of safety). Thankfully, I stayed on the good side of Todd — most of the time.” While Duffy is sad to see Allen retire, “he’s earned it, and I’m excited for him,” Duffy said. “I think everybody has a short list of individuals who they know that can be counted on to do the right thing and do it to the best of their ability every time,” Duffy continued. “Russ is definitely on my list, and I’m sure many others. His work ethic is unbelievable as is his attention to detail.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Kids Around the Corner, a foundation created by Fleet Advantage in 2014 to support the needs of communities where Fleet Advantage employees and clients live and work, donated $15,000 to Women In Distress of Broward County Inc., as well as $5,200 to support the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Assistance for victims of domestic violence Women In Distress of Broward County is the county’s only state-certified and nationally accredited domestic violence center. “Contributing to the mission of Women In Distress is important since it offers us the chance to play a role in a cause that is focused on helping people and families,” said John Flynn, CEO of Fleet Advantage. “As a company that is focused on family, we feel it is necessary to contribute to the mission of Women In Distress so that they can continue to help so many in need.” With support from both the public and private sectors, last fiscal year Women In Distress provided more than 29,486 safe emergency shelter nights to 548 survivors, offering food, clothing, safety planning, counseling and therapy, pet assistance, and shelter. Nearly 60% of the survivors served in the emergency shelter were children ranging in ages from newborns to teens. According to Women In Distress, in the State of Florida, Broward County has one of the largest numbers of domestic violence offenses; according to the 2019 Florida Department of Law Enforcement Report, there were 5,634 cases of domestic violence in Broward County. Access to safe shelter and confidential supportive services are essential for survivors to begin the process of healing. When survivors of domestic violence are no longer safe in their own home, they turn to Women In Distress for safety. Funding provided by Kids Around the Corner will support innovative supportive services designed to meet the growing and changing need for services in the local community, including shelter, advocacy and support, therapy, family services, legal services, economic empowerment, crisis intervention, child welfare services and financial assistance. Christmas gifts for families in need Donations from Kids Around the Corner also went to support The Salvation Army Angel Tree program of Fort Lauderdale in collaboration with Walmart. Each year, The Salvation Army and Walmart collaborate to provide gifts for children in need around the country. Recognizing that every child deserves to feel the joy of Christmas, The Salvation Army Angel Tree program provides new clothing and toys to more than 1 million children and families in need each year. “Contributing to The Angel Tree Program has allowed us to influence the lives of local children and families this holiday season,” Flynn said. “The mission of our Kids Around the Corner foundation is to impact communities in areas where our customers and employees live and work.” Through the Kids Around the Corner donation, The Angel Tree program of Fort Lauderdale was able to fulfill the remaining gift requests of children in need that had not been fulfilled from their local Walmart angel tree, as well as the requests of about 74 additional children whose names did not make it onto the tree due to last-minute submissions.

WESTLAKE, Ohio — TravelCenters of America (TA) extends a word of thanks to customers across the nation for raising $88,000 for the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF), an organization that supports professional drivers and their families when illness or injuries causes them to be out of work. “We’re grateful for the millions of professional drivers who continue going to work during the pandemic to ensure crucial medical supplies are delivered and store shelves are stocked,” said Barry Richards, president of TA. “Our guests across America are aware of the immense sacrifice displayed too, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive response we received. We were pleased to host this campaign and on behalf of our more than 19,000 team members, I thank all our guests for their incredible generosity.” During TA’s “Be a Champion of Change” register roundup campaign, held Sept. 16 through Nov. 30, customers at TA, Petro and TA Express travel centers donated funds by rounding up the dollar amount on purchases at points of sale in the stores, restaurants and fuel buildings. TA has supported SCF since 2010 and has raised nearly $3 million during the past 11 years. In addition to helping professional drivers, TA’s “Be a Champion of Change” campaign also helped address the nationwide coin shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are so grateful for the public’s support of our nation’s highway heroes,” said Donna Kennedy, executive director of SCF. “Truck drivers have always gone above and beyond; serving the country during the pandemic has been no exception. We feel blessed to be in a position to help them when they need it. We couldn’t do that without donations from the public, and companies like TravelCenters of America. Thank you to everyone that helped make this campaign a success.” The 2020 roundup campaign featured professional driver Howard Salmon and his 4-year-old son, Liam, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January 2020. Liam loves to fish and play with LEGOs, tractors and trucks. He also enjoys helping his dad work on his big rig. With assistance from SCF, Howard was able to come off the road to spend time with and take care of his son. Liam is still fighting after 30 radiation treatments, countless blood draws, chemotherapy and more. “He is an everyday blessing in my life,” Howard said. “Being home with him when I got home from the road was like Father’s Day all over again. What we’re doing with SCF is helping the next family, not just the next individual, but the entire family.”

In three decades on the road, Bill McNamee has piled up enough adventures to fill several volumes — but he hasn’t done it alone. For the past 27 years he’s brought along a “menagerie” of companions including mice, a lizard, a hedgehog, a duck and the occasional bulldog, all of whom have come along for the ride. Along the way, his “mascots,” as he calls them have accumulated their own share of experiences and gotten into the occasional mischief, notwithstanding the fact that each is stuffed. “I started out with a mouse called Seatbelt Sam in ’99. I saw this mouse at Cracker Barrel and I thought, ‘You know, this would be a good mascot,’” he said. “I got another mouse; that was Mario, Mario Provolone. And then, I found this girl mouse and I named her Cheddar Mouse. “Cheddar married Seatbelt Sam,” McNamee continued his story. “Two years later, we went out and got three little mice — three little catnip toys — named Colby and Pepper and Jack. So, they had three kids.” Told out of context, this backstory about McNamee’s collection of stuffed animals with elaborate backstories might suggest a guy who’s been out on the road just a little bit too long. In fact, however, his furry pals are all part of McNamee’s strategy for engaging schoolchildren through the Trucker Buddy Program, and it’s an effective strategy. “The concept of that program is to show kids what we have in our beautiful country. It’s also to show the necessity of the trucking industry in everybody’s life,” he said. “We promote a positive image and show them that (truckers are) normal people, just like their moms and dads. We just don’t get to come home every day.” McNamee said he is also able to share lessons about seatbelt safety and distracted driving that children can share with their parents. “We throw in anti-bullying messages, sharing the road messages, how to be good friends to their classmates. We’re doing all of that and making it all fun,” he said. McNamee, who drives for Carbon Express, has been assigned to various classrooms during his time in the Trucker Buddy program. Currently he’s currently assigned to three classrooms of Christopher Elementary second-graders in Christopher, Illinois. That’s 62 kids in all. While on the road, he’ll drop the classes a postcard or send a photo of the mascots; while at home, he’ll pay the students an in-person visit. “You know, a lot of kids never leave their hometown. Some kids never go coast to coast. They’ll never see the Rocky Mountains; never see New York City. So, we share that with them and while we’re doing that, we teach them about how important the trucking industry is,” he said. “This thing just grows and grows. It seems like every couple of months, I can think of a new lesson for them about something,” he continued. In fact, the stories have become elaborate enough to qualify as their own daytime dramas. McNamee staged a wedding for Seatbelt Sam and Cheddar after a student suggested it wasn’t proper for unmarried male and female mice to travel together. In another caper, he caught the mascots ordering pizza using McNamee’s credit card without permission. In their latest stunt, the mascots went for a joyride on McNamee’s riding lawn mower, only to be caught and sentenced to “house arrest,” complete with ankle monitors. He’s working with local authorities to “pardon” them, allowing them to go on the next run. McNamee’s mascot collection has grown right along with the storylines. In addition to the mice, the crew now includes Henry the Highway Hedgehog, Larry the Lizard and a duck, named simply, Duck in the Truck. “He used to be small duck, about 6 inches tall,” McNamee said. “But, last year, he got stung by a bee because I found this really big duck. So, I made the storyline, and I got my first responder medical bag out and I put the mascots all around him and I took pictures of them. They had a stethoscope, and they were checking him out. “He never recovered from the bee sting, so he is now really big in the truck because he got all swollen up. He’s the big guy in the truck,” McNamee continued the tale. “We just call him Duck in the Truck. We got him a T-shirt made and we’re starting to work on a fan club.” McNamee is aided in his Trucker Buddy stories by his wife Carrie, a fellow commercial driver who used to team with him on the road and now drives a bus. He said chronicling the tales of his ragtag crew not only keeps him mentally occupied on the road, but it also fulfills something his mother always preached when he was young. “Mom always said, ‘Don’t be a taker; be a giver,’” he said. “I’ve always been an over-the-road driver and I didn’t have a way that I could give back at home. I couldn’t be a coach or Cub Scout leader because I was never home. I was searching for something to do with my time that would educate young people and also help improve the image of the trucking industry. I wanted to put something good out there, so that when I told people that I was a truck driver, I could be proud of that.” Check out McNamee and his mischievous mascots on his Facebook group page, Trucker Buddies North & South, at facebook.com/groups/293354981039913.

WASHINGTON — Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), an industry-wide education and image movement, shared stories of the unique ways that the trucking industry has continued to give back to their communities over the holiday season. Trucking companies and organizations submitted their stories of charitable works to TMAF after a call for submissions through email and social media. “During one of the most difficult years in our nation’s history, the trucking industry not only stepped up to deliver the essential goods we have relied on throughout the pandemic; but also gave back to their community through charitable acts and giving,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and president of Jet Express Inc. “Trucking companies and organizations of all sizes and from states across the country stepped up once again year to help make the holidays a little brighter for those in need. From donating food, toys and transportation, to delivering food, medicine and supplies on the frontlines of the pandemic, trucking has helped keep our communities strong all year.” The following are a few of the trucking companies and organizations that gave back to their communities during the 2020 holiday season. Advantage Truck Group (ATG), based in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, hosted its annual Haulin’ 4 Hunger initiative to provide meals to those in need. With an increased need for food assistance because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ATG increased its efforts this year and provided 6,000 meals and support to 12 local food pantries. American Trucking Associations (ATA) and its Workforce Heroes Program participated in Wreaths Across America. Nate McCarty and Sammy Brewster, Workforce Heroes professional truck drivers and Army veterans, drove the program’s truck from Maine to the Arlington National Cemetery. Additionally, ATA and Share the Road, its leading highway safety program, partnered with the American Logistics Aid Network to provide food and relief supplies to hurricane victims in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to help victims recover ahead of the holidays. ATA and Share the Road also worked together to educate motorists on the importance of safe driving during the holiday season. Employees of Fort Worth, Texas-based Apex Capital hosted a Virtual Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness and raised $1,725 to help fight breast cancer. Employees of Apex Capital also bought approximately $500 worth of gifts on Amazon wish lists to be gifted to local residents through a local organization and organized a virtual tag-pulling holiday gift donation event for a local children’s home. The Arkansas Trucking Association partnered with a statewide coalition dedicated to raising awareness about adoption from foster care and delivered Christmas gifts to more than 480 children and teens during the program’s Candyland Christmas event. Employees of Bestpass in Albany, New York, volunteered to build garden beds for a regional nonprofit; participated in a fundraiser to benefit children’s hospitals, raising more than $1,000; ran a virtual 5K Turkey Trot to support a regional foodbank; and collected toys for Toys for Tots. Boshart Trucking Inc. of Tangent, Oregon, assisted the community during the wildfires that spread across the state. Efforts included the coordination of evacuations for local families and their livestock; the collection of and coordination of donations; and the delivery of hay bales to assist communities devastated by the fires with erosion control. Brenny Transportation, based in St. Joseph, Minnesota, hosted its annual Driven to Serve campaign, which included a giving tree to benefit five local organizations; food and toy donations to three local food shelves; and helping children in need through the company’s involvement with the Minnesota Trucks and Toys Campaign. Joplin, Missouri-based CFI raised $40,000 and supported 25 local, state, federal and global charitable efforts and organizations this year to help children, the elderly, veterans and first responders. Conversion Interactive Agency, based in Brentwood, Tennessee, held an annual food drive and collected more than 900 cans from its employees for a local charity. CRST International, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, partnered with Central Furniture Rescue to help deliver furniture donations, such as chairs, couches and cushions, to the Cedar Rapids area after a derecho (straight-line wind) storm devasted the community, leaving many residents without roofs or homes. Employees from DriverFacts, based in Anaheim, California, gave back to their community in many ways, including volunteer work for local food banks, charities and churches, as well as other charitable efforts to give back to members of the community, including seniors. The truck manager for Four Star Freightliner, located at the company’s Montgomery, Alabama, location, donated 20 children’s bicycles after deciding to donate one bike for every chemotherapy treatment he completed, turning a negative situation into a positive one by giving back to his community. Garner Trucking gave back to its community in Findlay, Ohio, in several ways, including through the donation of a trailer to a local food drive; the donation of coats collected by employees for local community members; and a fundraiser to benefit Wreaths Across America, an event which Garner Trucking also participated in. Employees of Great Dane, based in Savannah Georgia, gave back to the communities they serve in Nebraska and Pennsylvania this holiday season. In Wayne, Nebraska, employees held a food and clothing drive to support a local pantry and donated an additional $1,211. Great Dane employees in Danville, Pennsylvania, raised donations for a Salvation Army program and purchased gifts, clothing, shoes and coats for children of families in need. Defiance, Ohio-based Keller Logistics Group raised funds for the company’s Keller Assists Veterans in Crisis, or Operation K.A.V.I.C. program, which helps local military personnel and veterans. Keller Logistics Group also served as a donation processing center for Soles4Souls and participated in Wreaths Across America. Load One, based in Taylor, Michigan, partnered with several communities in their area to provide trailers for toy drives. Employees also collected toys at Load One facilities to donate to those in need within their community. Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Melton Truck Lines Inc. gave back to the community through donations to local organizations; the purchase of a K-9 dog for the local police department; and the sponsorship of wreaths for Wreaths Across America. Additionally, one of Melton’s drivers led the effort to deliver supplies and essential items from Washington state to the New Orleans area following Hurricane Laura. Mississippi Trucking Association (MTA) gave back to the community through support of local initiatives, including organizations with the mission of ending human trafficking. The association recently received two awards by these organizations, including from Truckers Against Trafficking and the Center for Violence Prevention. During the pandemic, Dallas-based Omnitracs donated $25,000 to four charities in lieu of a holiday party. Omnitracs also supported Wreaths Across America for an 11th consecutive year and donated more than $73,000 to organizations and nonprofits nationwide, including the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and Truckers Final Mile, as well as health care organizations, disadvantaged schools, food banks and more. Pilot Co., based in Knoxville, Tennessee, served as a sponsor of Wreaths Across America this year and hosted a fundraiser to benefit the event. Guests at any Pilot Co. location were able to round up their purchases to donate to Wreaths Across America during the holiday season. State Highway 130 Concession Company in Texas partnered with the Caldwell County Sheriff Department’s Brown Santa in Central Texas to donate more than 100 toys, games and books for local families in need. The company also donated $5,000 to a local food pantry to help meet an increased need in the region this year. Thomas E. Keller Trucking Inc., an affiliate of Keller Logistics Group based in Defiance, Ohio, created the “Charity Truck” to advance awareness, understanding and acceptance of autism as the truck travels the country. A percentage of the truck’s revenue will be donated to causes, charities and initiatives related to autism and youth development within the community. Thomas E. Keller Trucking Inc. also partnered with a local organization to wrap a semi-trailer to raise awareness of and help end violence against women. Transport America out of Eagan, Minnesota, donated $950 in gift cards to a local charity program that provides assistance for local families. Additionally, Transport America supported Wreaths Across America and delivered more than 10,000 wreaths. Cleveland, Ohio-based TravelCenters of America launched its first point-of-sale fundraising campaign at the company’s travel stores, restaurants and fuel buildings to benefit the St. Christopher Trucker Relief Fund, which helps professional drivers who may be out of work due to an illness or injury. Additionally, TravelCenters of America ran a gift-card fundraiser in collaboration with the American Red Cross to benefit families in the Cleveland area and veterans at regional VA hospitals. The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and its member companies were instrumental in the delivery of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s The Wall That Heals mobile education unit and Wreaths Across America remembrance wreaths. Additionally, TCA and Cargo Transporters Inc. hosted a community stop in Asheville, North Carolina, for residents to gather and view the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as it traveled to Washington, D.C. The Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association hosted a ThankATrucker fundraiser to thank truck drivers for delivering vital supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceeds from the fundraiser were used to purchase $10 Kwik Trip meal gift cards that were handed out to over 900 truck drivers at various locations across the state. The Virginia Trucking Association’s member company, VHI Express of Chester, provided trailers and transportation for the collection of food donations in the Richmond, Virginia, area by local Boy Scouts. The food was transported to a nonprofit organization that distributes food to neighbors in need across Central Virginia. To learn more about TMAF and the movement’s work, visit www.truckingmovesamerica.com.

Six years ago, when Dorin Kauhi opened a new chapter of her life as a truck driver, it caught the attention of her sister, DeeAnn Kauhi-Borgner. “(Driving a truck has) always been my dream, ever since I was 16 years old,” DeeAnn said. “We went to New Mexico with Mom and Dad on vacation. I used to watch all the 18-wheelers roll down the highway at night and it was so beautiful to me. I was like, ‘I’m going to be a truck driver. That’s what I want to be.’ “My husband passed away in 2018, and that’s when I finally decided to live out my dream, which, my little sister was already living my dream,” she continued. “So, I just decided I was going to follow in (Dorin’s) footprints. So that’s what I did.” Dorin didn’t get necessarily get into the business to inspire anyone — her primary motivation to be a driver was financial. But once her older sister started the process, she was more than happy to encourage her. “I was working at a Walmart at the time unloading trucks, doing about 18,000 steps a day,” Dorin said. “I’d see the truck drivers coming to do their load and I started asking them a lot of questions. I just decided six years ago. ‘I’m going to do this.’ So, I did. I was 49 years old when I got my license. “(DeeAnn) completely followed my footsteps. I went to C.R. England; then she went to C.R. England. Then I was able to get her into FedEx with me and we’ve been together ever since then, almost a year now.” The California-based duo has a dedicated run from City of Industry, California, to Amarillo, Texas. One week they’ll drive about 4,800 miles and the next week, about 6,800 miles. The sisters said that, in a male-dominated industry like trucking, theirs is a relationship that goes beyond just being sisters to being trusted fellow professionals. “We were raised like twins, but we’re so opposite. We’re totally opposites. (Dorin’s) very personable, talks to everyone, dresses really girly, has the gift of gab and gets really mad really fast. She has no patience. I am the exact opposite; I can wait in a line for days,” DeeAnn said. “But I know Dorin, so, the trust is 100%. I sleep like a rock on the truck because I trust my driver. I know that she’s not going to put me in a dangerous situation, and she is just as excited and just as anxious to get home to her kids and my kids,” DeeAnn said. “It makes the driving so comfortable. It’s better than husband and wife.” Of course, the sisters run into their fair share of catcalls and innuendo, but both noted that the way a woman carries herself and how well she does her job has a direct impact on the number of rude comments she has to listen to. “Because we’ve been raised the way we were raised, I was a fighter my whole life. I’m not afraid of no man. We’re not intimidated by men. And it’s not hard for us to make it in a man’s world. The majority of truck driving is still basically a man’s world, but we’re just fine,” DeeAnn said. “And it’s becoming more of a woman’s world all the time. There’s a lot more women than there’s ever been,” Dorin added. “I think women are better drivers. We’re more polite. We don’t cut each other off. You get some real jerks out there on the road, but I think women are just more patient and more courteous.” The biggest thing that’s taken fear out of the sisters’ hearts is the knowledge that they have stared down much scarier demons than anything they’ve seen in trucking. “We were deep in addiction for over 20 years and we were in that together, too. It went from alcohol and pot to meth. That’s what I was into. Raised our kids in addiction and none of them are addicted today. None of them took our path. Now we’re clean and we love being clean,” DeeAnn explained. “When I was an addict, I was a ‘good’ addict,” Dorin said. “Doing this, we keep each other accountable on a daily basis, absolutely. That’s how it is for me.” With that chapter of their lives behind them, the two FedEx drivers have turned their attention to the future and the dream of one day owning their own company. They have confidence in that dream, leaning on each other and their faith to make it happen. “We want to get our own truck and name it Two Girls, One Truck,” DeeAnn quipped. “Our goal in the next five years is to be owner-operators, both of us have our own truck, drive it for two years and then the third, fourth, fifth year of owning these trucks, we can get some young pups on the truck.” Dorin said that once she “got clean,” she started setting goals. “I’ve reached every single one of them,” Dorin said. “I rededicated myself to God recently and I was just like, ‘You know what you want me to do. I need to know what I need to do.’ None of this happens without God.”

JOPLIN, Mo. — Associates at CFI, an operating company of TFI International Inc., offered financial support to 20 charities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in CFI’s 27th annual Truckloads of Treasures holiday giving campaign. Funds donated through Truckloads of Treasures, a company tradition established in 1993, are raised entirely through associate donations. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, CFI pivoted away from its typical in person bake sales, chili cook offs and pie competitions this year in favor of a virtual donation platform. “We extended Truckloads of Treasures to a 10-week raffle ticket fundraiser and silent auctions,” said Greg Orr, president of CFI. “I could not be more proud of our associates and their spirit of giving back to support important community charitable efforts, and in particular, direct support for those who are less fortunate. If there was ever a year in which we needed to come together over the holidays and bring a little joy, this is the year.” Over the 27 years of the program’s existence, CFI associates have donated more than $920,000. Annual goals have been raised to $40,000 in recent years. Charities receiving the donations are nominated each year by CFI associates. This year’s company-wide fund-raising raffle gave CFI associates chances to win prizes, including gift cards for retailers such as Target, Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart and Bass Pro Shops, as well as other prizes. All prizes were purchased and donated by CFI’s executive management team. In addition, associates partnered with service organizations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico to provide holiday gifts and food for underserved children and senior citizens.

Just because truckers are on the road most of the year — including during the holidays — doesn’t mean that they can’t bring a little Christmas cheer along for the ride. Some drivers choose to deck out the exterior of their rig with lights, while others go for a subtle dash display and a Christmas tree in the passenger seat. For Frankie Faulk, who has been a lease-operator for Prime Inc. for two years, decorating her truck brings a bit of comfort while she’s away from her children, other family and friends during the holiday season. “My first year to [decorate my truck] was last Christmas,” Faulk said. “I received so much positivity from people everywhere [I went], so I decided to keep doing it. Seeing others happy makes me happy.” Faulk, of Lumberton, North Carolina, adorned the front of her truck with red tinsel and candy canes to match the color of her 2020 International, which she has affectionately named Ruby as an homage to a passage from Proverbs 31: “She is more precious than rubies.” Across the country, Rene Anderson, a driver of 22 years, went for a brighter look this year by adding festive lights to the grille and around the inside of the windshield of her 2012 Peterbilt 587. “I live in my truck and decorate for major holidays every year, but Christmas is my favorite,” Anderson said. The lights are powered by extension cords linked to a 3,000-watt inverter inside the truck. Of course, outdoor-specific cords are used for the grill lights, while regular extension cords take care of the inside of the truck. Anderson, who is currently leased to Hallahan Transport of La Crosse, Wisconsin, said it took her about two days to decorate her truck, but said she enjoys having a bit of Christmas comfort as she rolls through December. Decorating isn’t all about the outside of the truck. Aschanti Abernethy, who is originally from Germany, and is based in Florida but primarily calls the road home, has a Christmas tree riding shotgun in her 2019 Volvo VNL, which she says makes her truck feel “homey” during the holiday season. Abernethy has been driving for about two-and-a-half years for Bulmaks Inc., a family-owned company. She said Christmas is her favorite holiday, and being on the road doesn’t keep her from enjoying the season. Do you have a decked-out truck you’d like to share with us? Submit a photo here.

Old Glory plays many roles in the lives of service members. It flies in front of their homes, adorns their uniforms and, for some, drapes their caskets when they are killed in the line of duty. The families left holding the flag after it is folded into a triangle face not only sorrow for their lost loved one, but uncertainty about their futures. Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to spouses and children of those who were killed or injured during military service, works to ensure that paying for education is one less thing those families must worry about. In June 2019, Tri-State Motor Transit Co. celebrated its sponsorship of the organization by unveiling a custom-wrapped truck dedicated to Folds of Honor. “They have a very powerful message. It’s to honor their sacrifice and educate their legacy,” said Ken Armstrong, co-driver of the truck. “I’m very proud to represent Folds of Honor because of the good that they do in helping the spouses and children of America’s fallen.” Lt. Col Dan Rooney, a PGA professional and F-16 fighter pilot with the Air Force Reserve, was inspired to start the organization after returning home from his second tour of duty in Iraq, the Folds of Honor website states. As Rooney’s flight landed on American soil, the pilot told passengers that the plane was carrying the remains of Cpl. Brock Bucklin, and asked that they remain seated while his casket was carried from the plane. Through his airplane window, Rooney watched Bucklin’s twin brother walk with the casket to meet the family, including Bucklin’s young son. Bucklin felt called to pay tribute to service members and their families, and teach civilians about the sacrifices made by military families, the website continues. Since Rooney founded Folds of Honor in 2007, the organization has awarded about 24,500 educational scholarships in all 50 states, as well as in Guam, Puerto Rico, Australia, the Philippines and Italy, the website states, adding that, on average, 89% of each dollar raised goes to the scholarship program. “They’re a very reputable charity,” Armstrong said. “They say what they mean. They do what they say. I just think they’re a great, worthwhile cause for anybody to get involved with.” The one-of-a-kind wrap includes information about the organization’s mission, as well as its symbol — an American flag folded into a triangle. On the passenger side of the cab is a woman holding a flag to her chest; on the driver side are small hands touching a flag. Tri-State paid about $10,000 for the wrap, Armstrong said. The truck itself is a 2020 Kenworth T680 with a Cummins engine. It’s the first Kenworth Armstrong has driven during his nearly 20-year driving career. He said people often stop to take pictures of the design and talk about Folds of Honor while he is on the road. “Every week, we get people making comments about the truck, whether they’re fellow drivers, whether they’re drivers from other companies, whether it’s even military or law enforcement,” he said. “They’re always making comments about the truck, and it’s really benefited not just Tri-State, but especially Folds of Honor.” Armstrong met a young woman who was personally affected by Folds of Honor in August 2019, when Tri-State displayed the truck at the Great American Truck Show in Dallas. The organization provided her with a scholarship to complete her degree after her father was killed in Afghanistan. “You can just see what goes on in the minds of a family after they lose a loved one overseas,” Armstrong said. “She spoke very positively of the whole Folds of Honor [organization] and how they stepped forward to help her achieve her dreams.” The sacrifices of service members and their families are a reality for Armstrong and his original co-driver of the truck, Ken Williams — both are military veterans. Armstrong’s new co-driver, Steven Caudill, who joined the company in June, is also a veteran. “One of the prime reasons that we were assigned to this truck is because we are veterans, and we professionally represent not only our employer, but Folds of Honor,” Armstrong said. Professionalism and safety are key to Armstrong, who said he works to keep the truck as clean as possible while on the road. The truck and its drivers have made a positive impression on Tri-State’s customers, he added. “Our customers just love this truck, whether they’re military or government or just commercial,” he said. “They really love this truck and what it represents. They’ve contacted our company to talk about us, or talk about the truck, or both us and the truck, because we really take [our work] seriously.” Every time Armstrong and Caudill meet a customer, they say the most important words a driver can say: “Thank you. We appreciate your business,” Armstrong noted. Armstrong said he also takes pride in his professional appearance. Even before he joined Tri-State and was assigned to the Folds of Honor truck, he began ordering custom-made work shirts from the Joplin 44 Petro and the Iowa 80 Truckstop in Walcott. Every shirt is embroidered with the American flag. “Customers really appreciate that,” he said. “They like a professionally dressed, clean, well-groomed driver.” Just as he seeks to represent his company in a courteous, professional manner, trucking companies must put their best foot forward when representing the industry, he added. “What I really love about Tri-State is that they are very proactive in presenting a positive image, not just about themselves, but also about worthy causes like Folds of Honor … and projecting a positive image for the trucking industry in general,” he said. “They’re very proactive, and I like that.”  

CHILLECOTHE, Ohio — Ivan Hernandez, a military veteran with 20 years in the U.S. Army and a driver for Werner Enterprises, received the annual “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award during a special ceremony hosted by the MHC Kenworth RoadReady Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. For the fifth consecutive year, Kenworth teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Program to find America’s top rookie military veteran, who made the successful transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. Hernandez received the keys to a Kenworth T680, the top award in the recognition program. The new T680 features the complete PACCAR Powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission and PACCAR 40K tandem rear axles, and includes a 76-inch sleeper equipped with the Kenworth Driver’s Studio package. The T680 was produced by employees at Kenworth’s Chillicothe plant. “We appreciate the service of Ivan Hernandez to this country and we wish him continued success in his trucking career. It was an honor to present Ivan with the keys to the Kenworth T680 on behalf of Kenworth and all our employees,” said Lisa Berreth, Kenworth marketing director. Hernandez enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman at the age of 20. During his military career, Hernandez deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan four times. In 2006, while serving in Iraq, he was wounded in action. For his heroism, Hernandez received two Bronze Star medals and a Purple Heart. “I’m truly honored to receive this award from among an outstanding group of military veterans who served our country and have excelled in their new career as professional truck drivers,” Hernandez said. “I’m excited about the opportunities that this Kenworth T680 offers for me. Thanks to Werner Enterprises, Hiring our Heroes, FASTPORT and Kenworth for their support of this important program that encourages and supports veterans making the transition into the trucking industry.” Featured speakers at the special recognition event included Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, chair of American Trucking Associations (ATA); Kevin Burch, former ATA chair; Brad Bentley, FASTPORT president; Adam Rocke, Hiring Our Heroes ambassador; Gregg Softy, 2017 Transition Trucking winner and selection committee member; Lisa Berreth marketing director for Kenworth; and Joey Mendel, MHC Kenworth RoadReady general manager. Mendel noted that MHC Kenworth plans to provide Hernandez with a $2,500 gift card for dealer services. “We are pleased to recognize Ivan Hernandez for his 20 years of military service and continued service to his community. We are grateful for Kenworth’s ongoing commitment to veteran owner-operators in the industry as the T680 will greatly support Ivan’s success,” said Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes. Under the program, runner-up Ray Miller (U.S. Army/Stevens Transport was awarded $10,000, while finalists Gail Losee (U.S. Army/Stevens Transport) and Shaun Mason (U.S. Marines Corps and U.S. Army/Prime Inc.) each received $5,000. The four finalists were determined by tallying scores from a selection committee. The four advanced to an online vote on the Transition Trucking website, where the public could view a video of each driver and vote their choice for the top military rookie driver. Hernandez received the highest overall tally. “Ivan Hernandez had an accomplished military career with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. The discipline that Ivan learned during his time in the service has helped him achieve success in the trucking industry,” said Brad Bentley, FASTPORT president. “Earning his CDL from Roadmasters, then completing a registered apprenticeship program at Werner allowed him to learn a new skill and continue serving our nation.” Other truck drivers who achieved Top 10 status are: Patrick Blevins (U.S. Air Force/Melton Truck Lines), Matthew Fowler (U.S. Marine Corps/EPES Transportation), Marcia Luchenbill (U.S. Army/Knight Transportation), John Shepard (U.S. Army/Roehl Transport), Kyle Smith (U.S. Air Force/Averitt Express) and Wade Wanner (U.S. Navy/US Xpress). Drivers were nominated by trucking companies that have made a hiring commitment and pledge to hire veterans on www.truckingtrack.org, members of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, and Commercial Vehicle Training Association member schools. For more information about the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award program, click here.

Drivers might not be surprised to see a pair of dogs in a trucker’s cab, but there is more than meets the eye in the cab of Sarah Giles, an over-the-road truck driver with All Freight Carriers. Nestled in the TV niche of the sleeper is a custom cage filled with four parakeets. “They actually like the truck,” Giles said. “They like the music. They like to travel, so they sing most of the day.” The birds, who are all three to four months old, have ridden with Giles for about two months. They are named Sam, Dean, Castiel and Bobby after characters on the TV show, “Supernatural,” and Giles said their personalities match their namesakes. “Castiel is definitely my little angel. He’s always the one that sings — always singing, always very sweet, always very lovable,” Giles said. “Bobby is definitely my smartest, and always up to something, and Sam and Dean are inseparable. Dean’s definitely the sweetheart that’s always after food, and Sam just kind of hangs out and lays back.” The birds have a fitting home in the 2019 T680 Kenworth. In addition to the custom cage, their play area includes ladders, rings and other toys. The parakeets’ wings are clipped so they cannot fly around the cab, and Giles has secured any items that could shift and hurt the birds when the truck moves. To ensure their well-being, Giles provides a heater, an air filter and an emergency kit stocked with medical items such as blood-stopping powder, anti-stress supplements, antibiotics and vitamins. Also traveling in Giles’ cab are two dogs. Kermit, a 13-pound miniature Australian Shepherd, has been on the road with her for five years, and Grizzly, a Rottweiler/pit bull mix of about 100 pounds, has been on the truck for four years. “They’re trained ranch dogs. They’re used to dealing with small animals and small birds, so they don’t bother them,” she said. “The birds are not in any of the dogs’ space. The birds don’t take up any of the dogs’ attention, so it all works.” She added that she plans to keep the parakeets with her for the long haul. “They do have a nice big cage set up for them at home, just in case I had to leave them there, but they really just like the truck a lot better,” she added. Giles’ Texas ranch is home to a herd of goats, two donkeys, two livestock dogs, a flock of Ancona and mini call ducks, countless chickens and a couple of cats — and she plans to continue expanding her menagerie. Her mother watches the ranch while Giles is on the road in the northeastern U.S. for a month at a time. “I could give you a long list of weird chicken breeds [I want] that you’d never hear of again, and I would love to get back into doing cattle eventually, but that’s probably in about 20 years,” Giles said. “I love them all, and eventually I’ll probably have them all.” Her interest in quality breeds of chickens and ducks, many of which cannot be shipped, has led her to use her truck as a nursery for chicks and ducklings. Pet policy is a top priority when it comes to choosing an employer, she said, adding that even her two dogs are not permitted at many companies. All Freight’s pet policy allowed her to procure the parakeets. “I’ve always wanted some but obviously never even thought about it because I’ve been driving a truck, but since I’ve been with this company, they know I have a ranch,” she said. “So, I was in the store one day and was watching these two little parakeets and thought, ‘Let’s give this a shot.’” She said she enjoys the birds’ “funny little habits,” such playing king of the hill by fighting over the highest spot in the play area. “It’s like having toddlers with feathers,” she added. “They really are just happy little bundles of feathers.” The birds sing and chirp throughout the day. Like true Texas birds, they enjoy country music, especially bouncy tunes by Trace Adkins and Toby Keith, Giles said. When she is having a bad day, she added, she plays their favorite song, “We’re from the Country” by Tracy Byrd. She needs the mood boost provided by the birds, she added, because she got them near the two-year anniversary of her husband’s death. “Depression and loneliness is something every single trucker fights with, no matter who they are or how long they’ve been out here,” she said. “It’s all just a mind game to keep yourself going and keep yourself sane, and cute little fluffy birds that tear apart all their toys and throw fits if you give them the wrong seeds are pretty good at it.” The dogs are also a comfort on stressful days, she said, and they provide security, as well. Giles added that she would recommend pets to any trucker. “I know I couldn’t do it without them,” she said. “When you’re just so frustrated and having such a bad day, sometimes it’s just really nice to look at something that’s cute and loves you, and to just take care of [someone] besides yourself.”

On a recent stopover in New Mexico, longtime driver Frank Wehmeyer was walking out of a store with a bag of groceries when another driver approached him. “Hey, we’ve never met,” said the stranger with a big grin. “I know your dogs, though.” The genial Wehmeyer laughed and moved along. This wasn’t the first time the trucker with 20-plus years behind the wheel played second fiddle to his pooches in popularity. For 12 years, he readily admits, his furry companion Lucy was much more famous than he was. “One time back with Lucy, we were at a rest area. I was towards the end of the rest area where the good green grass was. A truck was leaving, and a lady stuck her head out the window screaming, ‘There’s Lucy!’” he said. “She’d seen her on (the) Trucking Fur Babies (Facebook page). I love that site. I like taking pictures anyway, and taking pictures of my dogs is fun.” Wehmeyer’s habit of taking pets on the road started almost accidentally. He and his then-wife were both going to be out of town, and she suggested he take her dog, J.J., along instead of boarding it. “We took a short trip to Chicago and back, and I really liked it — and I thought, ‘I want J.J. to go more often.’ She goes, ‘No, you’re going to have to get your own,’” he recalled. “So, I went and bought my first Corgi, Lucy, and she rode with me for the better part of 12 years.” Lucy’s tenure was overlapped by Bear, a Pekingese-dachshund mix who spent the first five years of life at home. When Wehmeyer finally brought him along for the ride, the trio instantly formed an inseparable team, with Lucy’s sweetness balancing Bear’s “salty” personality to create the perfect yin and yang. “(Bear’s) grouchy. He’s perfect for a truck-driving dog,” Wehmeyer said with a laugh. “He doesn’t like much of anybody. He just sits up there, and he’s been with me for 14 years.” The team faced a dilemma five years ago when Lucy died, and filling the void was something Wehmeyer approached cautiously. “When Lucy passed away, I went six more months before I got Okie, the new redhead,” he said. “They look just alike, and she’s going on five years old. She doesn’t know anything but the truck; I never left her at a kennel when I went on the road. “At first, I didn’t trust Bear (with Okie) because he’s very aggressive towards other dogs,” he continued. “But with Okie, she was crate trained, so whenever I got out of the truck she would always go in the crate. Then she got old enough where she could kind of fight him off. She just aggravated him, and he didn’t want anything to do with her. He loved his Lucy; they were best friends. He just tolerates Okie.” Together, Wehmeyer and his pups have enjoyed many adventures. They’ve seen all of the lower 48 states, most of the Canadian provinces and, in the past 17 months alone, have made multiple runs to Alaska. “For 14 years, I couldn’t buy a load up there,” he said. “Then last year I did two back to back. This year it didn’t fall into place to get anything. I was at my dad’s house planting bushes one day at the end of September and I got this phone call that said, ‘Hey, we got a load from Florida going to Alaska.’ It’s always military freight, and it paid enough to go up there and come home empty. There’s never any freight coming back.” Wehmeyer, who drives for Mercer Transportation, said he likes the country’s wilder mountainous regions, naming Wyoming and Canada’s Yukon as two particular favorites. Alaska also fits that bill, although there are substantial hazards that come with the state’s abundant natural beauty. “It’s treacherous. I was up there the last week of September, and you could tell there was an urgency of everybody getting their supplies, getting their straw, their wood hauled,” he said. “One month later to the day, I was checking the temperature and the high (up there) was still below zero and snowing every day. So, there’s definitely an on/off switch for when winter hits, and it’ll be that way till the middle of May.” Longer runs such as these also highlight the value of having a fur baby along, Wehmeyer said. “It’s exercise. I get out of that truck at least four or five times extra a day. I plan their stops. I know where the best grass is,” he said. “I think it’s good for my mental health mainly, getting outside the truck. I think that’s the hardest part for a truck driver — you get so cooped up in this truck that you’ve got to come up with more reasons to get out and interact with the world outside.” Bear and Okie are also good alarms for letting Wehmeyer know when someone approaches the truck … that is, as long as the intruder appears during daylight hours. “They will bark. When I’m on the back of the truck working or if I’m on the right side of the truck they’ll bark at anybody that comes up on the left,” he said. “Now as far as at night, they both sleep sounder than me. They’re no help at night. They’re useless at night.” Wehmeyer said he’s noticed a lot more drivers with their pets now than 10 years ago. He said the industry has paid attention to that trend as well, with more trucking centers providing better amenities for dogs to stretch their legs. And, between the miles he’s logged and the photos he’s posted, Bear and Okie have continued the family tradition of being furry celebrities. “I talk to a lot of different people, chatting here and there, that have got pets. We’ve got some customers who get used to seeing them,” Wehmeyer said. “Twelve years ago, we used to run a dedicated deal up to Quebec. When I would cross over the border between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, I would always get in the one lane, because there was a lady that worked there, and she knew them. “The dogs love it because they love barking at everybody. We do job sites and most of the places I go to are like that,” he said. “They love the action.”