TheTrucker.com

Shaun Mason, veteran of U.S. Marines, Army, named a finalist in Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award

For Shaun Mason, the dream of becoming a professional truck driver began at an early age. “One of my earliest childhood memories growing up was receiving a toy semi-truck from my grandmother,” Mason recalled. “I remember it being one of my favorite toys growing up. When I was a kid, I wondered what it would be like to drive a semi and travel the country. Whenever I saw a truck pass by, I’d signal to the driver to pull his horn. I thought being a driver would be a cool job.” While the toy semi-truck may have been lost in time, Mason’s interest in heavy-duty trucks never waned. After serving 25 years in the U.S. Marines and Army, Mason is now living out his childhood interest and is behind the wheel of a Class 8 truck. Mason is an independent contractor for Prime Inc., and one of four finalists recently named for the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence program. The award program is dedicated to finding America’s top rookie military veteran driver and recognizes top drivers who have made the successful transition from active military duty to driving for a commercial fleet. For the fifth consecutive year, Kenworth has teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Program, and will provide a Kenworth T680 as the program’s award to this year’s winner. The T680 features the complete PACCAR Powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, a PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission and PACCAR 40K tandem axles. In addition, the T680 includes a 76-inch sleeper equipped with the Kenworth Driver’s Studio package of options. According to Mason, he wasted no time in his transition from retiring from the Army in April to signing on with Prime. So far, he says he is finding his new career path in the transportation industry to be a good fit. “As a driver, I’m seeing new places every day and I get the opportunity to travel all over the country,” Mason said. “Driving is a peaceful experience for me. When I was in the military, I served 10 combat tours, so I’ve seen and endured a lot. When I’m on the road, I’m able to relax and reflect on my time in the military. I’m also able to plan out my goals in this industry and beyond, and how I can achieve them.” On the road, Mason is seeing many of the skills he gained while serving in the military transition to his new career as a professional driver. “The military taught me a lot of life skills that are applicable for civilian life and in my career as a driver,” he said. “One of those skills is how to work as a team and be a true team player. That’s a skill that comes into play all the time as a driver. Whenever I see a driver that needs help securing a load, backing into a parking spot, or whatever it is a driver may need, I’m always willing to lend a hand.” Working in Prime’s flatbed division, Mason’s goal in the transportation industry is to one day own and operate his own heavy-haul company. “Just to be nominated for this program is such a humbling experience,” said Mason. “I’m so proud to be named a finalist and have the opportunity to become an owner-operator. Even if I don’t win, I know the Kenworth T680 will go to a very deserving fellow veteran. There is a lot of opportunity for me in the industry, and I look forward to the road ahead.” The Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award winner will be announced in December. For more information on the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award program, click here.

CVSA seeks nominations for International Driver Excellence Award

GREENBELT, Md. — This year has seen numerous new challenges for commercial drivers, from the COVID-19 pandemic to riots, changing legislation and more. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) wants to recognize an exceptional professional commercial motor vehicle driver with the International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA). This annual award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond the performance of their duties as a commercial motor vehicle driver. “While we always appreciate commercial drivers’ hard work and commitment to safety, this year, we’re especially excited to accept nominations for IDEA,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “This year, it is particularly important to acknowledge the professional drivers who continued to work during such challenging times and IDEA is the perfect way for a motor carrier to say, ‘thank you’ and, ‘I appreciate you’ to their drivers.” IDEA is open to the entire commercial motor vehicle industry, which includes drivers of motor coaches and large trucks. Individuals do not have to be a member of or affiliated with CVSA to submit a nomination. Nominees for IDEA must have: At least 25 cumulative years of crash-free driving in a commercial motor vehicle with a clean driving record for the past three years; No felony convictions; No safety-related driving suspensions in the past three years; and No driver violations in the past three years, excluding form and manner violations. The IDEA winner will receive $2,500 and a trophy. In addition, if the 2021 CVSA Workshop is conducted in-person, airfare to Louisville, Kentucky, and hotel accommodations at the Louisville Marriott Downtown will be provided for the winner and one guest. The IDEA winner will be presented with his or her award during the general session of the CVSA Workshop on April 19, 2021. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Friday, Dec. 11. Click here for more information and to obtain the IDEA nomination form. Click here for a list of past IDEA winners.

Where the pigskin meets the road: Driver builds on football fandom with board game

RAYMONDVILLE, Mo. — For some, driving professionally is the dream. For others, driving is a great way to earn a living while chasing a dream. That’s definitely the case for Michael Wray. “I’m a football nut,” he freely acknowledges. “I’m always watching, college or pro.” His favorite pro team is the Green Bay Packers, but he’ll watch anyone who’s playing. Years ago, Wray played on the defensive line for Liberty High School in Bedford, Virginia. Although his playing career went no further, he fell in love with the strategy of the game and wanted to share his love with others. That’s when he invented “You’re the Coach, the Ultimate Football Board Game.” He’s been improving and refining his invention ever since. The current version consists of a game board, dice, and accompanying cards and accessories. Up to 20 players can get into a game, but one person can play solo as well. Offensive or defensive plays are selected, and a roll of the dice determines the outcome of each play. Selected cards add unexpected elements to the game, creating an experience that’s as close to a real football contest as possible. “It’s like the spaghetti sauce: ‘It’s in there,’” said Wray, referring to a 1980s commercial catchphrase about vital ingredients. The cards include broken plays, turnovers, weather events, injuries and even player fatigue as factors that impact the game. “The results are so real, you feel like you’re on the sidelines of a real football game,” Wray explained. “Power rankings are included in the game, so each player knows the strengths and weaknesses of his team.” Over the years, Wray has spoken with representatives of the NFL, as well as game manufacturers like Milton Bradley and others, about marketing “You’re the Coach,” but has yet to find a deal. He dreams of an appearance on the television show “Shark Tank,” where he plays the game against “Mr. Wonderful” (Kevin O’Leary) with Mark Cuban at his side. It’s unlikely that the fantasy will ever be fulfilled, he said. “The red tape is unreal to get on that show,” Wray explained. No professional or college football team or player names are used in “You’re the Coach” because the cost of working with the NFL was prohibitive, Wray said. “The guy I talked to started at $100,000 and went up from there.” One relationship that showed early promise was with representatives of the startup “Opportunity Football League.” According to Wray, talks were underway for a sponsorship opportunity, but plans for a new league collapsed when COVID-19 restrictions impacted all professional sports. While he waits for the right connection to take sales of “You’re the Coach,” to another level, Wray and his fiancée, Chrissy White, assemble and ship copies of the game to purchasers from his Raymondville, Missouri, home. Game boards and materials are printed in nearby Rolla, Missouri, by Scotts Printing. “We worked really hard on the design,” Wray said. “We wanted the game to have as professional an appearance as possible, and Scotts was able to deliver for us.” Multiple artists contributed to the game’s artwork, but the one to which Wray gives the most credit is Robert Gillis from Joplin, Missouri. Advertising for Wray’s game is simple, too — it’s on the side of Wray’s truck. In fact, he named his business “You’re the Coach Transport LLC” to help spread the word. Currently he hauls loads for a local business, Woody Bogler Trucking, but he has plans to expand once he purchases his own trailer. The truck is a work in progress, decorated with photos of the game board and other game information. Wray started his trucking career after 16 years of service in the Navy, when he attended a CDL school sponsored by MS Carriers. “I learned to drive trucks in the Navy, so I knew it was something I could do,” he said. Wray’s trucking resume is a long one, as he has changed carriers with regularity, seeking more time and opportunity to promote his invention. He’s run under his own authority multiple times, trying to balance his trucking business with his dream going big time with “You’re the Coach.” The advertising on his truck presents a challenge to drive his best, too. “Every time you change lanes, people see that name,” he explained. While he’s traveling, Wray lines up games against all comers. “I especially enjoy playing against football coaches, he said. “They are often surprised at how realistic the game is, and they provide a lot of feedback.” He insists, however, that the game helps anyone learn more about football. “You don’t have to be an expert to play, but you’ll become one by playing.” Wray talks about “You’re the Coach” to anyone who will listen — shippers and receivers, fuel stops and the frequent callers he chats with daily. One of those is his mother, who he credits for being a big influence on his dream. “I get my work ethic from my mom and dad,” he said. Another major influence was his grandmother, Christine Smith, who passed away one day short of her 100th birthday and was well known in the area. “I love meeting people, and I love being on the open road,” Wray said. One person he met was a skeptical DOT officer who questioned why he was so far out-of-route to his stated destination. “I took a side trip to see Ratliff Stadium (the scene of much of the filming in the classic football classic movie, “Friday Night Lights),” he explained. When he’s not on the road, Wray enjoys spending time with his fiancée and with his grandson, Grayson. Family activities include rafting down the nearby Current River and other outdoor activities, and Grayson often rides along with Wray on road trips. Whether he’s running freight or marketing his game, Wray plans to continue his quest for success in both endeavors.

U.S. Army veteran Ivan Hernandez named a finalist in Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — At age 20, Ivan Hernandez, enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, where he served his country for 20 years. Over the course of his military career, Hernandez deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan four times. In 2006, while serving in Iraq, Hernandez was wounded in action. For his heroism, Hernandez received two Bronze Star medals and a Purple Heart. Today, Hernandez is a truck driver for Werner Enterprises. He is also one of four finalists named for the 2020 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award. The award program is dedicated to finding America’s top rookie military veteran driver and recognizes top drivers who have made the successful transition from active military duty to driving for a commercial fleet. For the fifth consecutive year, Kenworth has teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Program, and will provide a Kenworth T680 as the program’s award to this year’s winner. The T680 features the complete PACCAR Powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, a PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission and PACCAR 40K tandem axles. In addition, the T680 includes a 76-inch sleeper equipped with the Kenworth Driver’s Studio package of options. When Hernandez retired honorably from the U.S. Army in 2018, he explored new career opportunities and found the trucking industry to best align with his values and the type of work he wanted to do moving forward. “When I was with the Army, I was fascinated by the logistics of how goods moved from the U.S. to where we were stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Hernandez said. “It sparked enough interest for me to look at a career that involved being a part of the supply chain following my retirement from the Army.” According to Hernandez, the opportunity to explore the country he helped protect for 20 years was another appealing aspect of the trucking industry. Hernandez received his CDL through the Roadmaster Drivers School and hired on with Werner Enterprises in 2019. “With air travel so common and easy, there aren’t many people out there that have the time or opportunity to travel across the country and see all that the country has to offer,” he said. “For me, it’s incredibly rewarding to continue to serve the country by transporting goods all across this great nation. Driving gives me plenty of time to reflect on my time in the military and I’ve met some incredible people, including many veterans out on the road.” Hernandez believes professional driving is an excellent career choice for service members transitioning from the military to civilian life. “The sense of camaraderie you build with other drivers is similar to what you experience in the military,” he said. “A lot of the skills you develop in the military, such as leadership and quick decision-making, are all applicable on the road. There are plenty of opportunities for veterans seeking a career as a professional driver. I appreciate programs such as Transition Trucking: Hiring our Heroes for providing opportunities for us veterans to advance our careers in the industry. A big thanks to Hiring Our Heroes, FASTPORT and Kenworth for putting this program together.” Quinton Ward, who is leased on with Werner Enterprises and was the 2018 “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award winner of a Kenworth T680, is an inspiration to Hernandez. “Quinton’s been heavily involved in Werner’s Operation Freedom fleet, which features a number of trucks driven by military veterans who operate military themed-wrapped trucks and go out and attend recruiting events to encourage fellow veterans to join the industry,” Hernandez said. “If I’m fortunate enough to win the Kenworth T680, my eventual goal would be to follow in the footsteps of Quinton and join the Operation Freedom fleet. I’d love to help educate veterans of the opportunities this industry has to offer and help place them in meaningful jobs.” The Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award winner will be announced in December. For more information on the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award program, click here.

The long haul: Driver overcomes steep obstacles to achieve dream and is now paying it forward

There was a time when a career as an over-the-road truck driver was a pipe dream for Derrick Clark. Not long ago, the Little Rock, Arkansas, native was merely surviving a dark period in life where all he could think about was finding a sheltered spot on the street to curl up in before finding his next high. “When I became homeless, things became very hopeless for me. I was out there for a while,” he said. “It is really hard for someone who has been homeless to pull up from their situation because of what they have to deal with. When you make a mistake, everybody wants to focus on your mistake. “I had to get to the point where I would tell people, ‘Thank you for thinking about my failures and my mistakes for me, so I don’t have to think about them. Y’all got that part for me; all I got to think about is a solution,’” he said. Clark’s period of homelessness in adulthood was the culmination of a life lived according to the law of the street. Mimicking the examples of the hustlers and criminals that were his earliest role models, his life as a petty criminal began at age 12. “I’m a projects baby. My value system wasn’t that good because I wasn’t taught not to steal; I was taught not to get caught,” said Clark, now 51. “When I did get caught, I got in some serious trouble that could have put me in the juvenile home. That’s when I moved to my Uncle Mike’s, who taught me some values. I didn’t understand them at the time, but he gave me my work values.” Michael Flowers, Clark’s late uncle, lived in the country, and he put his troubled nephew to work outside. And while the experience didn’t fully take root at the time, it planted a seed of hard work and perseverance that would come to flower later in Clark’s life. “Plato, I think, says that every person wants to be good. I believe that,” Clark said. “Inside of all of us is the inner child that wants to be good, and sometimes that inner child is corrupted by environmental factors, like I did. But it’s always hope for that inner child to come out and blossom like he or she should blossom. The thing is, they need an opportunity.” Clark’s opportunity came in the form of Jericho Way, a Little Rock day center for the homeless. There, he found people who cared about him and genuinely wanted to help him move past his current circumstances. “The first good decision I made to turn my life around was hanging out at Jericho Way,” he said. “People started coming into my life and having a belief in me that I could do more than what I was seeing. Then I start believing in myself.” During this time, Little Rock city leaders were seeking input from the homeless community about life on the streets and how to address it. Clark was one who stepped up to give a firsthand account of being homeless in Arkansas’ capital city. “That experience was awesome because I got to see how other people think and how other people process getting something done,” he said. “It was also terrible, because in my homeless crowd I got ridiculed so bad that some days I just didn’t want to do that no more. I caught a lot of conflict on the street, even name-calling like Uncle Tom, Uncle Remus, Uncle Rufus.” Clark may have been taking on the street flak for his participation, but he was also impressing people at Little Rock City Hall, among them City Director Kathy Webb and City Manager Bruce Moore. “Derrick was very valuable,” Moore said. “When you get that input firsthand, it truly makes a difference. It’s eye-opening; sometimes it can make you feel really inadequate in how we’re dealing with the homeless population.” With the encouragement of Webb, Moore and the staff at Jericho Way, Clark continued his slow march toward self-subsistence. The pace was frustrating, and he was stuck in short-term minimum-wage jobs — until one Christmastime gig turned things around. “The Salvation Army gave me a job ringing bells,” Clark said. “I was ringing the bell, and God told me if I didn’t take any of these people’s money — not saying that I would have, but a lot of other people were taking the money — that he would bless me with work. “Right after that holiday season was over, Arkansas Workforce came to Jericho Way, and God opened all the doors for me to get over every obstacle to become a truck driver,” he continued. In 2017, Clark began driving for New Age Distributing, a local 7-UP distributorship. He was making progress but wasn’t entirely out of his old mindset, and bad habits caught up to him. Seeking a change of scenery, he moved to Houston, where he had difficulty getting started. He was living in a homeless shelter, praying for an opportunity, when he dialed a wrong number. That wrong number reached a trucking company — that offered Clark a job. Since then, Clark has completed rehab and works to continue his progress. He began driving steadily, earning enough to support himself without government assistance. It was a happy ending, but not wholly satisfactory until he called Kathy Webb back in Arkansas with the idea of starting a scholarship fund that would help another person attend trucking school. “I mean, it was like planting a seed and a tree came up out of it,” he said. “All I wanted to do was give $1,000 to pay the down payment for someone to go to Pine Bluff (Arkansas) Trucking School, and let them pay the rest.” Clark put up the money to launch the project, and with the help of his old allies the fund was quickly placed with the Arkansas Community Foundation. Through that group, the J.C. Thompson Trust agreed to match every dollar donated, up to $10,000. “Once you hear the story, it’s hard not to want to help,” Moore said. “This scholarship symbolizes an individual who fell on hard times but never gave up. It wasn’t easy, but [Derrick] knows what it takes to get back to where you want to be. I think he will have the opportunity to make a difference in so many lives that he doesn’t even realize it.” Clark, who now drives for U.S. Xpress in Houston, takes college classes and dreams of writing a book about his journey. He’s excited for the scholarship’s potential, even if most recipients won’t know who’s behind it. “They wanted to name this the Derrick Clark Fund,” he said. “Most of my heroes are very humble people, and I want to remain humble, so I came up with the name Paul Philia Scholarship. Paul means ‘humble’ and philia means ‘brotherly love’ in Greek. So, when you break it down it is called ‘humble brotherly love.’ “This is not just about one person making it. It’s about somebody seeing someone else’s story and helping them make it as well,” he said. To donate, visit www.arcf.org/cdl.

Trucking is ‘in the blood’ of TMC’s September trainer of the month

DES MOINES, Iowa — Harvey Justice may have only been driving a black and chrome TMC Transportation truck for four years, but it could be said that trucking has been in his blood for a lifetime. Trucking is a passion that was passed down through his family; as a kid, Justice drove around his house in Kentucky. As an adult, he followed that dream and became a professional truck driver, running local routes before signing on with TMC. After driving solo for a while, Harvey decided to help new drivers at TMC get their start by becoming a driver trainer for the company. TMC recently recognized Justice’s contributions by presenting him with the company’s trainer of the month award. Recipients of this award exhibit a passion for the success of others. “Harvey does a great job as a driver and a trainer,” said Jeff Geist, training coordinator manager for TMC. “He has always been willing to take on any challenge we send his way. Harvey is always positive and friendly, which goes a long way when training new drivers. Harvey has had great success with trainees graduating to a truck, staying with the company and being safe.” Justice said that serving as a driver trainer has taught him a lot — things like being patient with family, the importance of learning, and being able to adapt to your surroundings. “Training opens your eyes to things you didn’t see before. You want people to make it. You learn to respect others. You really get to understand the training policy and why it is in place,” he said. Justice discussed the importance of being able to adjust his training style for each trainee. “No two trainees will train the same; it is important that the trainer adapts their teaching style to suit the needs of the trainee, not the other way around,” he explained. Justice also noted that “the mental side of being a trainer and a truck driver is probably the most important part.” While the money he earns is a great benefit, Justice said that, for him, the ability to be home on the weekends is the most important aspect of the job. Having weekends off gives him time to wind down mentally and physically. He spends time with his family most weekends, catching up on anything he missed during the week. Justice has this advice for anyone considering a career at TMC Transportation: “Be patient. That is the key to being a successful driver. Trainees must be willing to learn because you don’t make money without learning,” he said. Each month, a TMC trainer is chosen who demonstrates outstanding qualities. The trainer of the month recipient is chosen based on their safety record and the safety performance of their trainees, the number of drivers trained and the retention percentage of those drivers.

U.S. Army veteran Gail Losee named a finalist for Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award

SALT LAKE CITY — For Gail Losee, whether she would enlist in the military was never a question; rather it was a matter of deciding in which branch to serve. “My dad and brother served in the Navy, and my grandpa fought in World War II with the Army,” she said. “I’ve had several other family members serve as well — it’s in the family. My family wanted me to join the Navy, but I felt that the Army best fit my interests, so I decided to follow in my grandpa’s footsteps. It’s made the Army vs. Navy a fun rivalry.” Losee served the Army for 20 years, working in the transportation and logistics sector. Over the course of her career, Losee worked her way up from driving military vehicles and responding to natural disaster relief in the U.S. to commanding a platoon overseas. As an officer, she led a platoon of drivers who were responsible for transporting millions of dollars’ worth of equipment and goods to and from U.S. bases in Afghanistan and Iraq to other U.S. bases and coastal ports. In 2008, Losee earned a Bronze Star for her leadership. “I’ve been around trucks and heavy equipment for almost my entire adult life,” she said. “Strategically planning routes for our drivers traveling through enemy territory was stressful at times. I learned a lot of valuable skills serving in the transportation and logistics sector that made my transition to a commercial driver easier.” Today, Losee is an independent contractor for Stevens Transport and is one of four finalists recently named for the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award, a program dedicated to finding America’s top rookie military veteran driver. The award program recognizes top drivers who have made the successful transition from active military duty to driving for a commercial fleet. For the fifth consecutive year, Kenworth has teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Program, and will provide a Kenworth T680 as the program’s award to this year’s winner. The T680 features the complete PACCAR Powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, a PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission and PACCAR 40K tandem axles. In addition, the T680 includes a 76-inch sleeper equipped with the Kenworth Driver’s Studio package of options. When Losee decided to join Stevens Transport at the beginning of the year, she said, a big draw for her was the ability to operate a truck equipped with an automated transmission. “In the military, all of the heavy-duty trucks we operated were automatics,” said Losee. “I believe they are much more driver-friendly to operate compared to manuals. Since there are so many commercial trucks on the road now with automated transmissions, I was more comfortable in starting a career as a driver. I wasn’t interested in learning my way around a manual.” As an independent contractor for Stevens Transport, Losee leases a Kenworth T680. She said the T680 will be a great truck for her if she wins the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award. “I love my Kenworth T680,” she said. “The sleeper is so roomy and is well designed to maximize the space. It’s a comfortable truck that performs really well. If I’m fortunate enough to win, the T680 will be a great first truck for me to begin my career as an owner-operator.” Losee said being nominated by Stevens Transport and being a finalist for the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award has been a “humbling experience.” “The entire process and journey — from the nomination by Stevens Transport to my selection as a finalist — has been incredible,” she said. “As a woman in the industry, I’m proud to be here and hope more women look to the transportation industry for opportunities. All of the finalists are so deserving of the Kenworth T680, and I will be truly happy for whoever is selected as the winner.” The “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award winner will be announced in December. For more information about the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award program, click here.

Pilot honors U.S. military with Wreaths Across America fundraiser, free breakfast for vets

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In recognition of those who served in the military, through the end of the year, Pilot Co. is holding an in-store round-up fundraiser benefiting Wreaths Across America. The funds will support Wreaths Across America’s goal to place more than 2.2 million wreaths in all 50 states to remember and honor fallen soldiers during the holidays. In addition, to celebrate Veterans Day, from Nov. 9-15 the company will offer all veterans a free breakfast, valid at participating U.S. Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers. U.S. military veterans can use the Pilot Flying J app to order a free coffee (any size) and one free breakfast offering, such as the French toast sausage, egg and cheese sandwich from any participating U.S. Pilot and Flying J travel center. “The holiday season is a special time to remember and recognize veterans for their sacrifice,” said James A. Haslam II, a U.S. Army veteran and founder of Pilot Co. “On behalf of our 28,000 team members, we sincerely thank the men and women who’ve selflessly served our country. We appreciate Wreaths Across America’s mission of remember, honor and teach and invite our guests to partner with us in support of their goal to lay a wreath on every hero’s grave.” Now through Dec. 31, guests visiting any of the 750 company-operated stores in the U.S., including participating Pilot and Flying J travel centers and One9 Fuel Network stores, can opt to round up qualifying purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the additional amount to Wreaths Across America. In remembrance of the company’s hometown heroes, Pilot Co. plans to donate $20,000 and contribute $20,000 from the round-up campaign to support the Wreaths Across America ceremonies in Knoxville, Tennessee. “It is partners like Pilot Co. that continue to step up and amaze us with their generosity, not just with the financial support of sponsoring wreaths, but in their commitment to the veterans in the industry and in their communities that deserve recognition,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “This new round-up program is beyond anything we could have expected or hoped for, and we are grateful to Pilot Co. and all the professional drivers and carriers that help us move the mission.” Pilot Co.’s support of Wreaths Across America also includes helping to fuel the organization’s traveling mobile education exhibit that visits cities across the U.S. The exhibit offers free public tours at several locations throughout the year. Last month, the exhibit made a tour stop at the Pilot Travel Center in Mebane, North Carolina.

OOIDA to launch annual Truckers for Troops campaign during Veterans Day week

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is planning to launch its 14th annual Truckers for Troops care package campaign Nov. 9-16, Veterans Day week. The fundraising effort, an OOIDA tradition since 2007, is dedicated to sending care packages to service personnel stationed in combat zones. Truckers for Troops also helps a variety of veterans’ facilities in the U.S., including those assisting or housing wounded, disabled or homeless service members. Beginning this year, the program will also benefit the Veterans Community Project (VCP), which provides housing for homeless veterans through a community of “tiny houses.” VCP also provides comprehensive services such as navigating the Veterans Administration and its benefits, identification services, mental and physical health referrals, and financial counseling. In addition, veterans can receive hygiene kits and gain access to a food pantry. All services are free of charge. During Truckers for Troops week, a broadcast is planned for each day on OOIDA’s Land Line Now satellite radio show on Sirius XM 146. Drivers can join OOIDA or renew their memberships for $35 during the week. Ten percent of that fee will go toward care packages for military personnel — and OOIDA will match that 10% dollar for dollar. Individual tax-deductible contributions to the Truckers for Troops fund are also welcome and can be paid to the OOIDA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. During the past 13 years, the Truckers for Troops effort has raised more than $667,500, allowing OOIDA to send care packages to more than 39,000 military personnel. To contribute to Truckers for Troops, join OOIDA or renew membership, call OOIDA at 800-444-5791. Phones will be answered by operators, and the switchboards will stay open until 7:30 p.m. CST. In addition, from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10-11, OOIDA’s executive vice president, Lewie Pugh, will be available to take calls on the OOIDA switchboard. Participation in OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops campaign isn’t limited to the trucking industry. The “Pet Challenge” allows anyone to sponsor the entire cost of a care package ($225) in the name of their favorite pet. Jon Osburn, skipper of OOIDA’s Spirit of the American Trucker touring truck, has traditionally submitted a pledge on behalf of Sassi, his canine co-pilot. Last year, Pugh met the challenge and sponsored two packages on behalf of his dog, Bandit. OOIDA is currently seeking contact information for package recipients, and is accepting personal cards or letters to include inside the packages. “We know that package recipients enjoy seeing handmade cards or letters from a variety of groups and individuals,” said Norita Taylor, OOIDA’s director of public relations. “A personal note or card adds that special warmth to what we send.” Those who would like to direct a care package to a family member or friend who is serving in a combat zone with the U.S. military can email the recipient’s name and complete address to [email protected] (be sure to include the person’s projected stateside return date). In addition, truckers are encouraged to notify OOIDA of veteran facilities that have unmet needs. Mail cards and letters to Truckers for Troops, P.O. Box 1000, Grain Valley, MO 64029. Please do not include last names or other personal information in the cards and letters (towns and school names may be included). Greeting cards do not have to follow a particular theme. Packages will be shipped to active-duty personnel in January or February 2021; veterans’ packages are shipped throughout the year.

Labor of love: Team-driving couple remodeled their 1996 Freightliner into a showpiece

It’s hard to miss Daniel and Phyllis Snow’s tractor-trailer, dubbed “The Goose,” on the highway … or anywhere, for that matter. The eye-catching emerald green 1996 Freightliner Classic XL, powered by a 700-horsepower Detroit engine teamed with a 13-speed transmission, is attached to a 140-inch sleeper, with a small back “patio” positioned between the tractor and the custom 53-foot trailer. Altogether, the rig measures a whopping 85 feet in length. The sleeper, rescued from a salvage yard, is more like a compact home on wheels, with a full kitchen, a dining area, a full-size fold-out bed and a bathroom, complete with a shower. The trailer is outfitted with a compact workshop so the two can make improvements and repairs any time. Converting a small storage space into the workshop/maintenance room won the pair the title of American Truckers of the Year in 2014. “We have rebuilt it and remodeled all of it ourselves,” Daniel said. “We have done about all of it (while) on the road. We are more appreciative that we have done it ourselves.” When the couple bought the tractor, it had a 260-inch wheelbase, which has been stretched to 351 inches, Daniel said. Phyllis noted that the stretching and the paint job are about the only tasks the couple did not tackle themselves. The tractor is decked out with a Twisted Roads bumper lift. Almost all the lights are Grand General, and most of the stainless-steel elements were custom built. The fenders on the truck and trailer are by Talladega Fiberglass. So far, the couple has spent about $80,000 on parts and labor, rebuilding their Freightliner. When they purchased the truck, it cost $24,500, but Daniel said it is now appraised at $250,000. It’s no surprise that The Goose has won or placed in several truck shows over the years. “It is worth about three times the amount from when we bought it,” Daniel said with a smile. The couple, who have been married for nearly 30 years, are the owner-operators of Arkansas-based Snow Trucking. Daniel has been in the trucking business for about 40 years, while Phyllis has been driving about half that time. They’ve run as a team for more than 16 years. Before joining her husband on the road, Phyllis managed a Walmart store. “I don’t think everybody could do it,” Daniel said, referring to team driving. “Running as a team takes a lot of patience, because you are in tight quarters with each other for long periods of time. It gets pretty complicated, but she and I do real well. We enjoy being together all the time.” Although spending a lot of time in a small space with a significant other might be stressful at times, Phyllis said the couple “wouldn’t have it any other way.” They typically run about 340 days out of the year, and they were only home 26 nights last year. “We don’t do well apart,” Phyllis added. Daniel said he discovered his love of trucking at an early age, riding along with his older brother, a trucker, at every opportunity. “I took a love to the trucking industry. It came natural to me,” Daniel said. “It is a good, honest way to make a living — and by no means the easiest.” In the early days of the couple’s relationship, Daniel said, Phyllis was enthusiastic about the trucking industry and that she “took a liking” to riding along with her spouse. Little did Phyllis know that she would one day join Daniel on the road full time as a team driver. “As fate would have it, when our youngest graduated high school, [Phyllis] decided to leave her job because they were going to relocate her — so the timing just worked out,” Daniel said. “God’s plan just fell together.” Phyllis said her youngest son, Jayme, and Daniel taught her to drive through “old-school trucking” techniques. She learned how to read a map, drive on the road and conduct pre-trip inspections. “It was the only way to go. I loved it,” she said, adding that Jayme, now 34, owns Snow Farms Trucking. Daniel said Phyllis “cut her teeth” hauling a cattle trailer. Even though it was challenging for her, “she adapted well, because she wanted to learn,” he said, with pride evident in his voice, Daniel said that when Phyllis started driving, the couple had seven trucks and 10 cattle trailers. They kept the fleet running until around 2012. Today, the couple sticks to The Goose. Of course, there’s a story behind the rig’s name. It all started when Jayme drove through a flock of ducks in his rig. The tractor sustained considerable damage — so much damage, in fact, that the insurance adjuster had a hard time believing the carnage was the result of “just” ducks — earning Jayme’s rig a “fowl” nickname. Then, along came The Goose. “I saw an old goose with some ducks one day and thought, ‘Wow, they run together!’ so we named the trucks Duck and Goose,” Phyllis explained with a laugh. The Snows share a love of trucking, as well as a strong Christian faith, Phyllis said, pointing to the couple’s motto emblazoned on the front bumper: In God We Truck. The pair designed the truck to draw attention “so we could share the word,” she said. Over the years, Daniel said, the pair has become known as a couple that tries to help other drivers. “If it is mechanical help, I have a lot of contacts, so I’ll be glad to do that,” he said. “We don’t hand out any money, but we do carry Bibles with us that the church supplies us with,” he said. “We are trying to do God’s work and haul freight at the same time.” Daniel said that if other drivers need prayers or help, they often call or email the couple. “Prayer is our way of trying to help,” he said. “It is a good feeling to help somebody.” In addition to helping others, the couple’s faith has helped them weather many storms, they said, adding that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 promised to be an out-of-the-ordinary year. “Phyllis had a heart attack in February, so we have been home more than normal this year,” Daniel said. “The freight index and rates have been low as well, and the coronavirus has impacted us.” Daniel said Phyllis has a defective artery. She spent about a week in the hospital, including five days in the intensive care unit. The down time isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the two agreed. “Right now, we are really enjoying the ‘us’ time. We spend a lot of time talking about things we want to do to the truck,” Daniel said. Phyllis said they are constantly looking for more ideas for the truck, adding that she would like to flip the hinges on the doors on the cab, creating “suicide” doors that open from the back rather than the front, and that they are also planning some more interior work. “We want to improve on the truck in the inside and out. We seem to have a lot to talk about,” Daniel said. “Usually the shops are so backlogged, and there aren’t a lot of shops that can work on older trucks. Since our truck is an older model, (having our own shop space) does make it easier on us. Being able to fix things yourself makes a huge difference.” Daniel said he hopes to be able to pass that self-efficient attitude and love of trucking down to his family. Phyllis added that being a truck driver, “gets into your blood.” “Our youngest son, it got in his blood as well,” Daniel said. “Our grandson, who is 6, has a piggy bank and he is saving his money to buy a truck. “(All of our grandkids) have a trucking desire. They all love it.” After years on the road together, Daniel and Phyllis have the following advice to future generations of truck drivers: Do all you can to keep costs down, and be proud to be a trucker. Story by Linda Garner-Bunch and Sam Pierce. Photos by Linda Garner-Bunch. Get more articles like this delivered to your inbox, once weekly.

Hard work and a love of trucks combine to make a successful career for Jeremy Hoffman

COLFAX, Wis. — Jeremy Hoffman enjoys trucks, but never loses his business perspective. “I feel that a truck is a tool you use to achieve your goals — a means to an end,” he told The Trucker. “I love trucks and I like looking at them, but I need to get back to work.” Hard work comes naturally to the Colfax, Wisconsin, resident. “I grew up on a farm. That’s probably where I got my work ethic,” he explained. Hoffman is a fourth-generation trucker who no longer farms. His small (four-truck) company hauls refrigerated freight, much of it cheese and butter, from Wisconsin to points in the south and west, often returning with produce. His latest acquisition is a 2019 Peterbilt 379 glider kit, equipped with a Caterpillar C-16 engine paired with an 18-speed Eaton transmission. “I built it specifically because it isn’t ELD-compliant,” he said. Hoffman’s truck was selected for the 2019 Cat Scale Super Trucks series. Hoffman realizes that the 18-speed transmission is a bit much for the work his business handles, but he made the investment anyway. “There’s no need to split the gears in low range,” he said. “I went with the 18 speed for the higher torque and better resale value. I always try to look at the resale aspect; it just makes sense.” When asked why his glider isn’t ELD-compliant, Hoffman doesn’t hold back on sharing his opinion of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s mandate for electronic logs. “The current government overreach with ELDs has really impacted efficiency,” he said. “Time is money.” Although Hoffman prefers to stay closer to home, one truck he owns, plus an owner- operator leased to him, are California-compliant and often run to the West Coast and back. “I don’t go out west that much myself. I’m kind of the relief guy,” he explained. “If I go out, I’m usually home the next day or so.” In addition to running the business, Hoffman does much of his own maintenance. He also spends time with his three children, none of whom have expressed an interest in trucking. “They all rode along on trips when they were younger, but that’s it,” he said. “Now, they just think Dad’s got a lot of money.” As a divorced single father, Hoffman was responsible for at-home classes when the schools closed their doors last spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Internet comes at a premium here,” he explained. “E-learning was an experience.” All of Hoffman’s children, including the oldest son, a senior in high school, are involved in athletics. Hoffman says he attends as many events as he can. The family also enjoys camping and driving four-wheelers and snowmobiles, although closings due to COVID-19 have disrupted their plans this year. Hoffman hunts, too. Hoffman finds life a little easier since downsizing from a fleet of 25 trucks. “I’ve already lived that dream,” he said. “It’s too much stress. I like the size we’re at now. We’re not getting rich, but we’re making a living and I have time for the kids.” Owning a smaller company doesn’t keep him from staying busy, however. “I pride myself on making things work. When all the trucks are rolling and making money, I have accomplished something,” he said. “My phone doesn’t get shut off at 5 p.m. on Friday.” Hoffman has participated a few truck shows, as both contestant and visitor. “Truck shows tend to be a lot of time and money for very little return,” he said. “It’s a great time, but it’s not productive. I’ve showed a couple of trucks — we entered one last year in Chippewa Falls — but it’s just hard to get back to work.” Hoffman may not have time for truck shows, but he always has time for show trucks. “I love the custom trucks with all the chrome and custom paint jobs — Long-nose Peterbilts, some Kenworths,” he noted. Despite the long hours he puts into his business, Hoffman took time for one diversion this year. “I recently bought a new bike and rode it to Sturgis this year,” he said. “I’m all about that throttle therapy.” Whether he’s piloting one of his trucks down the highway, turning a wrench in the shop or handling paperwork in the office, Hoffman stays productive. His attitude toward honesty and trust is old-school. “My biggest thing is my integrity. If I tell someone I’m going to do something, I do it,” he explained. His motivation for staying in the business is simple. “I do it for the love of trucks.”

From the Army to the driver’s seat: Inspiration can take a driver quite far from home — but still closer than he has ever realized

Clarksville, Tennessee, was a world away from the nation’s capital in the 1970s, when Eric Britton’s neighbor helped build his interest in truck driving. Back then, Clarksville was a shadow of what it has become. Today the city’s 150,000 residents dwarf its 1970 population of about 32,000. Clarksville is the fifth-largest city in Tennessee, and Britton is one of many who help boost its population and economy. When five-year-old Britton played with toy trucks on his porch in Washington, D.C., he could never have realized the connection he had already made with a community he’d never heard of in Tennessee. But that is the current status, not the beginning, of his story. Britton was in 10th grade when he decided to serve his country. “I enrolled in the U.S. Army’s delayed-entry program,” he said, referring to a program that allowed him to complete basic training before high school graduation. “When I finished school in 1988, I went straight to advanced training.” Britton didn’t take the easy way out, choosing to become a member of the infantry — a specialty leading to the airborne infantry, where he was a paratrooper. In the early 1990s, he was deployed twice to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Storm. But by 1994, Britton was ready to shift gears. “I’d always wanted to be a truck driver, so I changed my specialization to transportation,” he said. In the military, “transportation” covers several careers, and truck driving is one of them. Britton spent the rest of his service supporting units by driving trucks and trailers loaded with equipment ranging from Jeeps to tanks. “I’d drive trucks across base or across the country to support a unit about to be deployed,” he said. Not only was Britton’s time as a truck driver in the Army satisfying, but he said it also offered him confidence that his chosen civilian occupation was right for him. As luck would have it, Britton’s years as an Army driver landed him at Fort Campbell, a base — in of all places — Clarksville, Tennessee. Clarksville is also home to First Freight, the only carrier Britton has worked for since 1999. “I immediately enrolled in truck-driving school,” he said. “Two months later I earned my CDL and signed on with First Fleet.” Britton noted that First Fleet is a leader in the dedicated freight sector of the trucking industry. “Some of our top customers include International Paper, West Rock and Peytons,” Britton said. He drove until 2015, when First Fleet promoted him to train new drivers. Britton said his experience provided tremendous insight into a candidate’s suitability to be a driver, sometimes on first introduction. “The thing I stress to new drivers is the importance of safety,” Britton said. “This is a big deal, and dedication to operating a truck safely is a major trait we require in all drivers.” Having a positive attitude is another important factor. Britton related two personal experiences that remind him of how far a positive attitude can take a driver. “Soon after I started driving, I was headed back to the terminal,” Britton said. “I received a message to go directly to a supervisor’s office. I started wondering, ‘What did I do?’” Britton said, adding that he assumed he was in quite a bit of trouble. When Britton reached the office, the supervisor looked at him sternly and said, “We got a call about you.” The call was not a complaint, however — it was from a customer, complimenting Britton on his professional demeanor and appearance. “That has stuck with me all these years,” Britton said. “Some drivers make no effort to maintain a professional appearance.” When customers encounter an unkempt driver or one who makes a negative impression, they are less likely to be satisfied, he noted. “If a driver maintains a professional appearance and demeanor, even unhappy customers take notice,” he said. If that customer has a complaint, they don’t take issue with the driver. Instead, they call a terminal manager, Britton said. As far as red flags Britton sees in some recruits, timeliness tops the list. “I had a driver set to report for training on his first day,” Britton said. “He was late.” The tone of Britton’s voice made his point clear. Aside from safety, timeliness is the next major requirement of drivers. In a tribute to Eric Britton’s career, Pilot Flying J Travel Centers recently named him “Road Warrior” of the year. “The annual Road Warrior Contest is an important way that we recognize the men and women who keep America moving, especially in challenging times like the current pandemic,” said Jim Haslam, founder and chairman of Pilot Co. Britton was one of more than 3,000 nominees for this year’s award, and was selected as the grand-prize winner, in Haslam’s words, for his “dedication to the profession, commitment to safety and his community, and his 15 years of service to our country as a U.S. Army paratrooper and driver for the military.” For Britton, the award could culminate a lifetime of contributing 100% to whatever role he plays. But he isn’t considering the Road Warrior award as a “lifetime achievement” honor. Britton has other goals in the trucking industry, including hopes of becoming First Fleet manager. “From my first terminal manager, Ray Willis, to my support team today, First Fleet has been good to me,” he said. “It’s an honor and a blessing to work for them.” When the time for retirement does come, Britton says he’ll spend a lot of time with his wife, Shemeka. “She has supported me 100% every step of the way,” he said, adding that he’s also looking forward to seeing more of his two daughters, two sons and three grandchildren. “As far as what I’ll actually do when I retire, I always thought I’d like to drive a health care van, one that takes people to appointments and such,” he said. Britton wants to see the appreciation on the faces of his customers. Regarding his 25 years as a resident of Clarksville, Tennessee, Britton said he never realized the city is the hometown of Clarence Saunders, founder of Piggly Wiggly, a grocery store chain that in 1916 introduced the concept of “self-service” grocery shopping in Memphis. “It’s funny you mentioned that,” Britton said. “The neighbor who gave me those toy trucks I played with as a kid parked a Piggly Wiggly truck in front of his house every afternoon.”

The cat in the cab: Feline friend brings comfort to driver while on the road

Their staunchly aloof nature may never garner cats the title of “man’s best friend,” but Muninn Myrkvi, an over-the-road truck driver for GP Transco, has found his ideal travel buddy in Pickles, a Maine Coon cat. “Pickles has the ability to brighten anyone’s day,” Myrkvi said. “Whenever anyone spots him through the window, I get smiles and a thumbs up.” A cat is perhaps a good match for Myrkvi, a self-described loner who said the relative independence of truck driving is what drew him to the industry a couple of years ago. Although he values the solitude of the open road, he said, he wanted a companion to accompany him. That’s what led him to adopt Pickles, then 6, from a friend in August 2019. “Pickles had never been in a truck when I adopted him,” Myrkvi said. “At first he was very curious about everything, exploring every nook and cranny — but he was very confused and skittish when the truck started moving.” It only took a week for Pickles to settle down and begin peeking through the passenger window during drives, Myrkvi said, adding that the feline still has a fear of truck washes. Pickles spends most of his time snoozing in the passenger seat, on the sleeper bunk or — his favorite spot — the upper storage area above the top bunk of Myrkvi’s 2019 Volvo VNL 760. Pickles enjoys the same pampering as any house cat … with a few modifications. Myrkvi said he keeps Pickles’ water dish inside another container to avoid spills while the truck is moving, and he uses pine pellets instead of clay litter to reduce odor and facilitate easy cleanup. “I feel really fortunate that Pickles is so attached to being in the truck,” he added. “One of my greatest fears is that he’ll somehow get out, and he’ll be lost forever.” Indoor cats make great truck pets because they’re content in confined spaces and view the outside world with a leeriness that discourages them from running away, Myrkvi said. He advises truckers to avoid adopting outside cats that wouldn’t appreciate being cooped up in a cab. Unlike dogs, cats do not need to be walked, he added. Myrkvi said he knows a few road cats that enjoy outdoor strolls, but Pickles is not among them. “In the early days, I would occasionally encourage him to take walks with me outside on a harness and leash I got for him, but he made it very clear that he wasn’t interested,” Myrkvi said. “Occasionally he’ll work up the courage to come out of the door and sit on the step if I’m nearby, but he’ll dart back into the truck at the slightest strange noise.” Myrkvi said he would recommend a truck pet to any driver with the ability to care for the animal (along with a pet-friendly company policy). Myrkvi’s company, GP Transco, allows drivers to take their pets on the road without paying pet fees, he said, but drivers are responsible for any damages to the company’s trucks. “I’m fortunate that GP Transco has a liberal pet policy,” he said. “Other drivers at GP Transco also have cats. We keep in touch from time to time regarding our cats and their various adventures.” Myrkvi drives to all 48 contiguous states, but he prefers to stay close to Indiana, where he is starting an alpaca ranch. “I’ve always wanted to be able to get into farming of some sort. Preferring animals, yet preferring not to kill them, led me to alpacas,” he said. “I love their demeanor. They’re a lot like cats in some ways — curious, affectionate, but on their own terms.” The alpacas are currently being boarded while he fences the land and stocks up on supplies in hopes of bringing them home next spring, he said, adding that he has lined up a couple helpers to care for the animals while he drives. Myrkvi takes Pickles to visit the property, where his mother lives, when he has home time every other weekend. “He likes it there, possibly even more than the truck, although he never has time to fully adjust,” Myrkvi said. He added that he is thinking about leaving Pickles at “home” for longer periods of time if his mother is willing to care for the critter — but it is clear that Myrkvi enjoys having his furry friend with him on the road. “Just knowing Pickles is around helps keep my anxiety down as I go through my day,” he said. “I tend to keep to myself even more than the typical OTR trucker, so Pickles helps alleviate loneliness. I also love when he cuddles up at night.”

‘A fresh start’: Trucking proves to be the right road for WIT’s Tracy Gaudette

Like many professional drivers, Tracy Gaudette came to trucking via a circuitous route. “I’ve never wanted to stay in one place too long,” she told The Trucker. “I was a military brat and then went into the Air Force myself, so I’m used to traveling.” While Gaudette worked locally and stayed home to raise her young daughter, her mom and stepdad worked as an over-the-road team. Because Tracy worked clerical positions, mostly at medical facilities, she could only listen to the stories of their exploits on the road and dream of being there herself someday. She is living and working that dream today as part of a driving team at U.S. Xpress. Her efforts have earned her Team Driver of the Month and Team Driver of the Year awards at the company, and she was Women In Trucking’s pick for October 2020 Member of the Month. Gaudette said she struggled through single-parenthood, followed by years in an unhealthy marriage. Eventually, she found herself at a crossroads, contemplating what to do with the rest of her life. “I found myself thinking about the future. It was a fresh start, and I wanted to think through my next steps,” she explained. She thought about her dream of traveling and how well it had suited her mom. Then she chose Truck Driver Institute in Forsyth, Georgia, to earn her commercial driver’s license (CDL). “It was a three-week course, but I was wishing it could be longer so I could learn more about the industry instead of just passing the CDL test,” she said. (Due to changes in student loan rules, many CDL schools shortened their programs to utilize reduced funding.) After training, she received offers from multiple carriers who presented at the school, but a long-term friend at U.S. Xpress who had earned her trust offered to train her — so that was her top choice. When her training was completed, she went solo with the carrier. It didn’t last long. “I made a couple of rookie mistakes and then I got sick and was hospitalized,” she explained. “We didn’t know how long I’d be in the hospital, so they recovered the truck and stored my belongings.” Once released, Gaudette was bused to the nearest terminal, but the only available trucks had manual transmissions. “I learned to drive manuals in school, but all my training and experience since then was in automatics,” she said. “I didn’t feel comfortable — or safe — taking a truck with a manual transmission, and I almost quit because of it.” While U.S. Xpress searched for a suitable truck, Gaudette said she thought about what could have happened during her illness. “It really made me wonder who would even know if something happened to me out on the road. I wanted the security of another person knowing where I was,” she said. She was offered the option of teaming up with her former trainer, and they’ve been working together ever since. The team drives the “U.S. Navy” truck, one of five military-themed units in the fleet. “We’re both former military,” she said. “He was in the Marines and served aboard Navy ships, while I was in the Air Force.” They have displayed the truck in parades in Chicago, Washington and other cites and participated in the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Truck Show and multiple recruiting events at military bases. “We’d get the truck shiny and prettied up and talk to people about trucking and U.S. Xpress,” she said. “It’s such a great experience when kids climb up in the cab and want to blow the air horn.” Another event Gaudette participated in was Wreaths Across America. With a wreath attached to the truck’s grille, they made two drops in New York to complete their part of the program. “We picked up in Maine,” she said. “All these trucks staged with drivers waiting to get loaded — it’s like one huge family there.” While in CDL school, someone told Tracy and the other female students about the Women In Trucking Facebook page. “It was a great tool to help us get started,” she said. “I found the page helpful, but I didn’t associate it with membership in WIT.” Two years later, the group asked for volunteer administrators of the page. She quickly joined and became an administrator. “Now I also do the weekly new-member welcomes, and I make sure to remind them to join WIT,” she said. When she’s not driving, Gaudette likes to visit her two daughters back home. The oldest is 27 and works in retail management, and the younger daughter is still in school. “She thinks what I do is cool, but she says she wants to be a culinary chef,” she said, adding that the family frequents a nearby adventure park. “They have zip-lining, rides and other things to do. We try to experience something new each time we go.” If there’s time, Gaudette will have her nails done or her hair styled, two services that are difficult to find on the road. Then, there’s Pokemon. “Believe it or not, I enjoy playing Pokemon Go. It gets me walking and meeting other players,” she said. Walking is also a way she supports two causes she is passionate about. “I support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org) both financially and by participating in their ‘Out of the Darkness’ walks when I can,” she explained. “I have experienced circumstances where I felt hopeless, and I want others to find the help they need.” She said has also known people who took their own lives. “The people they leave behind are changed forever.” In addition, Gaudette said she supports the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (ww5.komen.org). “I lost an aunt to breast cancer a few years ago,” she said. “I participate in their ‘More than Pink’ walks and contribute financially.” While Gaudette is finally living the dream she was denied for so many years, she has a message for her fellow drivers: “Trucking is supposed to be a brotherhood, or sisterhood. We should be helping and encouraging one another,” she stated. “There’s enough negativity directed at the trucking industry from the outside. We don’t need to be negative to each other.” She is proud of her role as a trucking professional and encourages other women to let their professionalism shine through, regardless of circumstances. She also reminds everyone to keep learning. “I’m always trying to learn new things, to be a better person,” she said. After some rough miles, the road is smooth, and the view ahead is clear.

South Carolina driver makes fitness a priority, takes first place in women’s division in push-up contest

CONWAY, S.C. — Hannah Oldham hasn’t been in the trucking business very long, but she’s already figured out the importance of maintaining health and wellness on the road. The 23-year-old from Conway, South Carolina, won the Fit to Pass Fittest Driver Push-up Contest that wrapped up Sept. 12. Oldham, who drives for Prime Inc., posted a video during the final week of the contest showing her completing 47 push-ups to take home the championship belt buckle and a Bluetooth Hyperice Hypervolt. She bested second-place finisher, Nicole Patterson of Pomona, California, by just one push-up. “I’ve always been pretty fit, and I’ve always been kind of competitive,” said Oldham, a native of Bedford, Pennsylvania. “Growing up and in high school, I always went to the gym, trying to watch my weight. With getting into driving and coming to Prime, they’re very particular on trying to keep their drivers fit. They have a lot of health classes that they take us through.” Oldham, who has only been driving for two years, found out immediately how easy it was to gain weight while on the road. “The first year I probably gained 20 pounds, and I was like, ‘This can’t keep happening,’” she said. Determined to make a change and get back to her ideal weight, Oldham took a serious inventory of what she was eating, cutting back on fast food in favor of cooking healthier meals in the truck. “Cooking in the truck definitely makes things a lot easier,” she said. “Anything you cook, just about, is better than eating at a fast-food restaurant. Now I have a refrigerator on the truck and mainly do a lot of cooking on the truck versus a burger and fries.” Oldham also committed to a workout regimen. She and her driving partner, Craig Skiba, stopped off regularly at local gyms along a route — or lacking that, parked the truck and exercised on the pavement when necessary. “We try to go to Planet Fitness a lot. I give them a lot of credit; that’s what helped me lose weight and gain muscle,” she said. “But when we can’t get to the gym, we do push-ups and sit-ups outside the truck.” Oldham said Skiba was an essential part of her success, providing accountability for when her motivation was running low. “I consider [an accountability partner] really important,” she said. “Some days we’ll stop at the gym and I’m like, ‘Man, I really don’t feel like going!’ and he’s like ‘No, we need to go.’ It helps boost me. It gives me what I need to get up and go in.” Given the diet changes and fitness routine she was already doing, Oldham might have had a slight overall head start on other competitors in the Fittest Driver competition. But, she said, she had a lot of work to do to build the upper body strength needed to complete push-ups. “When the contest started, I could do like, five push-ups,” she said. “I started out with the five; and then I would do what I consider ‘girl push-ups,’ where you’re on your knees. I would do as many as I could with that, up to like 25 or 30. “Then I’d go back and restart and do the five regular push-ups again and then do the 25 or 30 girl push-ups. I think just doing that in repetition built my muscles up in my arms a lot. I did that every day,” she concluded. Oldham initially posted a video during the competition phase of the six-week Fit to Pass program in which she completed 30 push-ups. She thought that was good enough to win until a challenger stepped up late in the contest. “I held the lead up until two days before the end,” she said. “Then another girl jumped in with 45 and I was at 30. I was like, ‘No, I’ve held the lead this long!’ So, I pushed myself until I was able to get to 47, and I came out first.” Since the contest wrapped up, Oldham has kept push-ups as a part of her workout regimen. She says that beyond the usual health benefits, eating right and being fit has also made her a better, more engaged driver. “It definitely does affect me. If I don’t go to the gym a day or I skip a week or so, I just feel groggy,” she said. “You don’t feel good about yourself — at least I don’t. Especially with what you eat; going to a fast-food restaurant and getting something, I feel like I’m bloated. I feel horrible after I eat that versus eating healthy.” As the duo have continued their winning routines — Skiba placed fourth in the competition with 77 push-ups — they’ve found they sometimes have to be creative to get in a good workout during the age of the coronavirus. “COVID definitely changed things, because the gyms shut down for a while. It was really depressing, because it’s nice to go into the gym. The gym environment just makes you want to work out more,” Oldham said. “That’s when we really got into working out outside the truck. We had to figure out things to do, and that’s where the push-ups, sit-ups and (bringing) little dumbbell weights on the truck came in.” As for her fellow drivers, Oldham said there’s no excuse not to get some exercise in, whether it’s on the road or between hauls: All it takes is some commitment and imagination. “We’re all busy,” she said. “We hardly ever stop because it’s a team truck, but when we switch out, we try to switch out at a gym every other time. We’ll just stop and go in for an hour or so for a break. Or, just get outside the truck; like, in 15 minutes you’re done.” Other winners in the women’s division of the contest include: Second place: Nicole Patterson of Pomona, California, 46 reps Prize: Yeti cooler provided by Michelin Third place: Allison Golany of Didsbury, Alberta, Canada 30 reps Prize: One month of CDL meals by Fresh n’ Lean Fourth place: Genevieve Erasmus of San Antonio, 28 reps Prize: Road Pro cooler and water bottle Fifth place: Amanda Christy of Jackson, Missouri, 27 reps Prize: Solar charged battery backup by Transflo To read more about the winner in the men’s division, click here.  The Fittest Driver Push-up Contest, presented by Fit to Pass and The Trucker, was designed to test the strength and conditioning of professional drivers and get them on the road to better health. The virtual online event challenged drivers to perform as many push-ups as they could in one uninterrupted set. There were separate divisions for men and women, and prizes were awarded to the top five finishers in each division. To read a note from Bob Perry, The Trucker Trainer, click here.

Veteran, former boxer focused on staying fit, takes first place in push-up contest in men’s division

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — How does a 36-year-old former Golden Gloves boxer stay in shape when on the road? “I try to work out when I get the chance,” said Lanod Westmoreland. “I carry a 55-pound dumbbell and some rubber ropes (for resistance training) and a dip bar. I run sometimes around the truck stop, far enough to get the heartbeat raised.” Westmoreland isn’t boxing anymore, but he still trains for the ring, and the results are obvious. He’s the first-place winner in the men’s division of the Fit to Pass Fittest Driver Push-up Challenge, having racked up an incredible 125 pushups in a single set during the contest. Physical fitness was instilled in Westmoreland by his father, a career military man who brought his family along to multiple assignments. “I’ve always been into sports and athletics. I boxed in high school and college as an amateur, and Golden Gloves in Hawaii,” he said, adding that he even considered a shot at the Olympics, but other plans took precedence. Westmoreland started driving trucks in 2018 after his own stint in the military. “After I got my associate degree, I joined the Air Force as an intelligence analyst,” he said. “We dealt with drones overseas, but they were controlled from here in the U.S.” Following four years in the Air Force, Westmoreland’s employer changed but his efforts to support the military didn’t. “After the Air Force, I worked for a civilian contractor. I went to Afghanistan as a tactical controller,” he said, noting that he worked overseas for four years. Needing a break from military matters after eight years, Westmoreland found warehouse work — but it was the trucks and drivers coming to the warehouse that caught his attention. “I kept seeing these trucks come in and out,” he explained. “I thought, ‘I can do that.’” Currently employed by J&R Schugel Trucking, based in New Ulm, Minnesota, Westmoreland hauls refrigerated and dry loads. “Reefer is kind of laid back, but appointment times are important,” he said. Westmoreland generally stays on the road two weeks to a month at a time. “We haul all 48, but most of the time I run Florida, East Coast to Midwest,” he said. While working in the Air Force, Westmoreland continued his education, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in digital cinematography and computer networking from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. He then founded JusNod Productions, where he could combine his talents and education to produce music and videos. “Music has always been a hobby,” he said. “My brother plays trumpet, and we performed together at some events.” Westmoreland plays keyboard instruments, including piano, and sings — a little, he said. “I carry a microphone and keyboard in the truck and work with them sometimes, writing songs or creating beats in R&B and Hip Hop,” he explained. I’m very creative.” His production company has been on hold for a few years, but Westmoreland said he plans to get it going again. “I’d like to start it back up,” he said. It’s kind of a dream I have.” While he enjoys creating music, he said, “My real interest is in using my cinematography education to produce short stories and films. That’s what I’d like to do.” Producing videos isn’t Westmoreland’s only dream. “I’ve been thinking about starting something fitness-related, specifically for drivers,” he explained. “Maybe some tips every week on how to eat right on the road. It’s so hard to eat healthy with the choices at truck stops.” To help keep his own diet healthy, Westmoreland said he depends on stops at Walmart to obtain fresh foods and ingredients for balanced meals. He also takes a daily protein supplement. Another dream involves physical fitness and helping younger people. “I’d like to open up a boxing gym and work with youth as a coach or mentor,” he said. Trucking is a way to earn a living while he works toward his longer-term goals. “Trucking is something to keep in my back pocket,” he said. “It’s like insurance when I need it.” Westmoreland credits his faith as an anchor for both his driving and his dreams. “First and foremost, I thank God for keeping me safe and getting me home to my family,” he said. His advice to fellow drivers? “Take it one day at a time so you’ll finish the race.” Wherever the road takes Lanod Westmoreland, you can be sure he’s staying in shape — and bringing his dreams along for the ride. Other winners in the men’s division of the contest include: Second place: Kenneth Johnson of Tampa, Florida, 81 reps Prize: Yeti cooler provided by Michelin Third place: Oleg Poleacovschi of Citrus Heights, California, 78 reps Prize: One month of CDL meals by Fresh n’ Lean Fourth place: Craig Skiba of Houston Texas, 77 reps Prize: Road Pro cooler and water bottle Fifth place: Igor Pavlyukh of Houston, Texas, 71 reps Prize: Solar charged battery backup by Transflo To read more about the winner in the women’s division, click here. The Fittest Driver Push-up Contest, presented by Fit to Pass and The Trucker, was designed to test the strength and conditioning of professional drivers and get them on the road to better health. The virtual online event challenged drivers to perform as many push-ups as they could in one uninterrupted set. There were separate divisions for men and women, and prizes were awarded to the top five finishers in each division. To read a note from Bob Perry, The Trucker Trainer, click here.

Happy fleet: Now a recruiter, Rick Miller found that AG Trucking ‘truly cares about its drivers’

GOSHEN, Ind. — Spending 35 years with one company is impressive. For a driver to accomplish that with a transportation company — now that’s almost unheard of. “I got the sense right away when I started with AG Trucking in 1984 that they were a family- oriented company that truly cared about its drivers,” said Rick Miller, who drove for the company for 25 years before transitioning to his current role as a recruiter for AG Trucking. “The company always had us in well-maintained, quality equipment and made a point to make life easier for us drivers on the road,” he explained. “I actually encouraged my dad to come work for the company, and he did. He spent 20 years driving for AG.” According to Casey Stump, vice president and general manager for AG Trucking, maintaining a high level of driver satisfaction is a key component to AG Trucking’s success. The Goshen, Indiana-based company specializes in hauling food-grade liquid and material, such as sand and limestone, across all 48 contiguous states as well as Canada. AG Trucking also has a small regional division dedicated to hauling dry bulk commodities throughout the Midwest. “We’ve worked hard at establishing a company culture where drivers want to be,” Stump said. “We have several driver-focused programs in place and provide our drivers with Kenworth T880s that are spec’d to maximize driver comfort. We have a number of drivers who have spent more than 15 years driving for us — some eclipsing more than 30.” AG Trucking operates 157 company-owned Kenworth trucks, including 120 Kenworth T880s purchased since 2017 from Palmer Trucks-Fort Wayne, Indiana. The majority of the T880s are spec’d with 76-inch mid-roof sleepers, 450-horsepower engines and 9-speed manual transmissions. According to Tim Boehlke, founder and president of AG Trucking, Kenworth vocational trucks have long been a part of the company’s operation. “Kenworth trucks have played a large role in our business since the very beginning,” said Boehlke, who founded AG Trucking in 1978. “We’ve operated other truck makes in the past, primarily trucks that we’ve acquired through business deals with companies, but we have always found trucks manufactured by Kenworth to be the best.” AG Trucking specs all its Kenworth T880 76-inch mid-roof sleeper units with refrigerators, inverters, TV mounts, Kenworth Diamond VIT interior trim packages and other driver-centric options to enhance the over-the-road experience, according to Stump. “We’re always looking for the latest features and amenities we can spec our trucks with so that our drivers are as comfortable as they can be on the road,” he said. “Aside from what we’ve added to our trucks, our drivers have mentioned how much storage space they have in their sleepers.” While providing drivers with amenities that allow for a more comfortable stay on the road is key to maintaining high driver acceptance of the trucks in the fleet, Stump acknowledged that operating reliable equipment is just as important. The more the company maximizes its uptime, the more profitable its drivers and the company are. Drivers in the company’s food-grade liquid and pneumatic divisions easily exceed 100,000 miles per year on the road. “At the end of the day, our drivers want to be in equipment that they like driving and that is reliable,” Stump noted. “Drivers don’t want to be in equipment that breaks down all the time, and we don’t want to accrue the costs associated with that.” With driver turnover a top concern for most fleets, Stump said providing drivers with high-quality equipment, combined with other driver-focused programs, has helped AG Trucking stay well below the industry turnover rate. “By providing drivers with high-performing and comfortable trucks, not only are we able to better retain our top drivers, we’re also able to recruit and gain the attention of quality candidates,” he said. “We are able to reduce the costs involved with onboarding new drivers. And when we do need to hire new drivers, we’re able add experienced and safe drivers who will fit right in.”

Holland driver Herschel Evans is dedicated to trucking advocacy, nonprofit volunteerism

Ask almost any professional truck driver when he or she was hit by the trucking “bug,” and they can point to a specific time and place. For Herschel Evans, now 53, that time and place were the days, long before he had a license to drive a truck, when he would drive a long-nose blue Peterbilt tractor to the local dairy bar to grab a hamburger for lunch. Born and raised in downtown Atlanta, Evans’ first inkling of the “bug” was a desire to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a heavy-duty truck mechanic. His father was an early advocate of the DIY concept. “My father never paid anyone to do anything around the house,” Evans said. “He did the plumbing, the electrical work, carpenter repairs, truck repairs. You name it — he did it.” Friends would drop by the Evans’ home with their big rigs, asking for help with repairs, and the younger Evans would help his father with the fix. “I was putting clutches in trucks before I was old enough to drive,” Evans said. He first encountered those long-nose blue Peterbilts while working for a company called General Truck Leasing. One of his duties was washing the trucks — which required driving them around the terminal yard. “I got fairly good at driving,” Evans said. “It wasn’t legal, but I thought it was the coolest thing to be in one of those big rigs, drive up to the local hamburger joint and go inside to get a burger. Since then I’ve always been fascinated with big trucks.” Evans got his real break in becoming a driver when General Truck Leasing bought 30 new trailers to lease to a customer. “It was more economical to let the low-grade employees that hadn’t been there very long deliver the trailers to the customers, so I was tasked with taking the trailers to the customer and doing the in-service on the new equipment,” he explained. Equipped with a Class 5 license (CDLs were not part of trucking then), delivering those trailers eventually led Evans to a part-time, two-day-a week job with another company, delivering freight in metro Atlanta. Not yet ready to give up on his desire to become a mechanic, Evans hired on at Ryder Truck Rental, starting out in the business as a fuel/wash man and working his way up to mechanic. But the thrill of driving that blue Peterbilt into the parking lot at the hamburger joint never left him. Evans eventually shifted to the driver’s seat at Ryder, and in 1994 he joined Holland, part of YRC Worldwide (YRCW). He now has logged over 3.1 million accident-free miles as a professional truck driver hauling freight as a City C&P driver. He also serves as a trainer at Holland. While Evans is known today for his driving, he is just as well known — perhaps even more known — as a trucking advocate and a leader in the industry. In 2011, Evans took over an intercompany truck-driving championship and transformed it into the Safety Drive for a Cure. He’s been involved for 33 years with Atlanta Ride for Kids, a nationwide motorcycle charity ride. He and his wife, Holli, are active participants in both events, which benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Evans has been a member of the American Trucking Associations’ America’s Road Team, and in 2017 was presented with the Mike Russell Trucking Image Award for representing the industry through his role as an America’s Road Team Captain and for creating the Safe Drive for the Cure competition. In 2018, he received the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Driver Excellence Award. Evans’ accomplishments extend to state and national truck driving championships, too. He was the 5-Axle National Driving Champion in 2008 and 2011, and he has won several first-place awards in state competitions. In addition, Evans was one of two drivers chosen by TravelCenters of America as a 2020 Citizen Award honoree in recognition of his work both on and off the road. The award recognizes professional truck drivers who demonstrate traits that elevate respect in the truck-driving profession, including good citizenship, safety, health and wellness, community involvement and industry leadership. As part of the honor, honorees select a TA, Petro or TA Express location to be name after them. Evans has chosen the Petro Atlanta site.   “When I talk about our YRC team, I often say that we’re just ordinary folks with extraordinary determination,” said Darren Hawkins, president and CEO of YRC Worldwide. “Throughout Herschel Evans’ career in this great industry he has exhibited ‘extraordinary determination.’ He leads by example in working safely and providing excellent customer service, and always brings his best game when competing at truck driving championships or hosting a trucking fundraiser for charity. All of us at YRC are proud of Herschel and his accomplishments.” Evans said he is humbled at being chosen a Citizen Driver by TA, adding that he simply does what he thinks is right. “First of all, I’m a Christian,” he said. “If you’re able to help someone, that’s what you ought to do. I don’t have a boatload of money, but I can put muscle in it, I can put a little sweat into it. I can help make someone feel better about their situation.” One cause that is especially close to Evans’ heart is the Atlanta Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, which will receive the $2,500 cash award he received for being named a Citizen Driver. “That’s always been a wonderful feeling, to be involved with raising money for kids who have a brain tumor,” he said. To say Evans takes pride in trucking is an understatement. “I’ve been all over the United States, from Maine to San Diego to Portland to South Florida,” he said. Being able to interact with people in all levels of trucking, from mechanics and drivers to dispatchers and executives, has been a thrill, he said. “There’s just something about trucking. It’s appropriate that we’ve been described as the ‘salt of the earth’ people,” Evans said. “It’s a skilled job, and not everyone can do it. If you want to do it safely and do it for a number of years, you have to dedicate yourself to knowing what you are doing. You have to know the rules, the laws, to know your equipment. The industry is full of all kinds of good people.” Those good people include Herschel Evans.  

Purposefully pink: Pam Cox’s breast-cancer awareness Peterbilt is more than a show truck

It’s hard to miss Ohio-based livestock hauler Pam Cox on the highway. She’s the blonde with the big smile who’s driving a hot pink 2016 Peterbilt 389 Pride and Class tractor, embellished with lots of chrome and a big breast-cancer-awareness ribbon. As far as she knows, hers is the only pink livestock truck traveling the U.S. “You can see it from miles away. At night, I switch all my lights over to pink,” she said. “The biggest comment I get from other drivers is usually, ‘I don’t like pink, but I like your truck. It is sharp.’ “When my farmers, ranchers and growers see my truck, they ask, ‘What kind of guy is driving that truck?’” she continued. Cox has had the eye-catching tractor for three years and has displayed it at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as at truck shows in Iowa and Illinois. The truck has also been featured at local car shows and cancer-awareness events. Driving a truck that raises awareness of breast cancer is important to Cox because of the impact the disease has had on her friends. Marleen Burgess, the woman who served as Cox’s mentor when she entered the trucking industry 33 years ago, is a breast-cancer survivor, and Cox’s mother’s best friend also battled breast cancer. In addition, Cox said, her daughter had a best friend whose mother died from breast cancer. When Cox started driving more than three decades ago, she said it was difficult to find acceptance among her male peers. She had to “earn her stripes” and work to gain their respect. “One of the hardest things when I first started was the fact that a lot of truck stops didn’t have any things for women, including separate bathrooms,” she said. “They would have to shut the men’s bathroom down so (women drivers) could go into the shower.” Often Cox had to show her CDL to gain access to truck-stop amenities because employees assumed that she — as well as other female drivers — were actually “lot lizards.” “(Women) have to do what the guys do, but do it better, without complaining and without trying to push the issues,” she said. “I think for the single female drivers, everybody expects you to have a male in the truck. I don’t need a man in my truck. I can do this job.” Cox discovered an interest in trucking after watching her father and grandfather drive, and she enjoyed riding along with her father on some of his trips. Her grandfather, however, told her that women didn’t belong in trucking — which just made her want to do it more. “I enjoy the freedom of the road,” she said. “I haul livestock and so I put my two passions of driving and animals all in one. Every day is a different challenge, when you wake up.” For almost her entire career, Cox has hauled livestock, but she said she took a year “off” to haul vehicles for Ford. Cox is an active member of the S.H.E. Trucking Sisterhood group, a Facebook online community with more than 9,000 members. The group was founded in 2017 by Sharae Moore, a professional truck driver from Chattanooga, Tennessee. “S.H.E. Trucking is a sisterhood of truck drivers, and we help give other female drivers resources, mentorships and community. We have a mentorship program, where I pair experienced drivers with inexperienced drivers,” Moore said. “I met Pam at a truck show, and she stood out because of her pink truck. She was one of the first women I saw in the show; usually it is only men. I wanted to support her any way I could,” Moore continued. “I thought her truck was so pretty, and every woman loves a pink truck. It is very inspiring. I thought it was amazing.” Cox said she had never met a person like Moore, adding that Moore has an “aura” about her and is very enthusiastic about trucking. “She draws you; it really is an amazing group to be a part of,” Cox said, adding that while the S.H.E. Trucking Sisterhood is primarily an online group, members do run into each other while on the road. “We are a group of lady drivers that uplift and support one another,” Cox said. “We provide encouragement and help, whether you have been on the road for six days or 30-plus years. It is a sisterhood; that’s the only way to describe it.” Moore said she finds Cox inspiring and encouraging. “I love what she stands for and her mission,” Moore said. “She is easy to connect with and is one of the strongest women I know. She is amazing. She inspires many women with her pink truck. She is an encourager.” S.H.E. Trucking started as a clothing line for women truckers that Moore founded when she couldn’t find T-shirts, hats and jackets designed for female drivers. Moore said she wanted women to be proud of their careers in trucking. Since its founding, S.H.E. Trucking has expanded, growing a community and sisterhood for women in the industry. “That is something I wanted as a woman driver, so that’s why I started it. I wanted a community of other women drivers,” Moore said. “Whether it is trucking-related or family-related, we are there for one another,” Cox said.  

Never too young to make a difference: FMCSA honors winners, honorable mentions in 2020 National Road Safety Art Student Contest

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the winners of the 2020 Road Safety Student Art Contest yesterday (Sept. 28). Top honors were awarded to Gianna Liu, a second-grade student from Hillsborough, New Jersey, and Sanjana Arudala, a sixth-grade student from Irving, Texas. “This year’s winners show that it’s never too early to make road safety a top priority,” said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Wiley Deck. “The impressive artwork from these students will help effectively communicate FMCSA’s important safety messages to motorists throughout the country.” The contest was open to all students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Student entries focused on educating drivers of passenger vehicles, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians, to safely coexist on the same roadways as commercial motor vehicles and work together to reduce crashes. The two grand-prize-winning entries will be displayed in FMCSA’s headquarters in Washington. FMCSA also recognized 10 honorable-mention entries. The grand-prize drawings, along with the honorable mentions, will be featured in the 2021 Road Safety art contest calendar. The honorable-mention entries include, in alphabetical order by last name: Pranav Balakrishnan, a first grader from Plano, Texas; Michelle Chen, a fourth grader from Lewisville, Texas; S. Shiva Haritha, a kindergartner from Schaumburg, Illinois; Riya Karadge, a sixth grader from Clifton Park, New York; Bella Lee, a fifth grader from Dublin, Ohio; Hsing-Yu Liu, a second grader from San Jose, California; Ryan Mastropierro, a second grader from Barnegat, New Jersey; Ana Pinto, a second grader from Fort Worth, Texas; Preetiggah Sudhakar, a third grader from Simpsonville, South Carolina; and Adithi Vattem, a fifth grader from McDonald, Pennsylvania. The annual Road Safety Student Art Contest is organized by FMCSA’s Our Roads, Our Safety Partnership, which includes more than 30 other government, safety, industry and private organizations. To learn more about the Road Safety Student Art Contest, click here. To see additional entries from this year’s contest, click here.