Trucking Life
Team drivers haul across the country to keep store shelves stocked with vital products
VILLA RICA, Ga. — “We’re on the way to Rancho Cucamonga with a load of chicken,” said East-West Express team driver Bob Hamilton. That’s nothing unusual for Hamilton and girlfriend/team partner Kimberly Bishop. The couple does turnaround runs one after another, hauling chicken, flooring or carpet to California and returning with produce. “We run three main routes, I-10, I-20 and I-40,” Hamilton said. “It’s nice to have a choice, so if there’s a weather event or problem on one route we can take an alternate without losing a lot of time.” Hamilton and Bishop live near the current East-West Express terminal in Villa Rica, Georgia. “They’re building a new terminal pretty close to the old one,” Hamilton said. “It’s supposed to be ready by July or so, but I don’t know how the pandemic will affect the work.” The team has seen some changes since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived on U.S. shores, although the way they manage their team operation helps keep changes to a minimum. Hamilton explained, “It hasn’t changed as much for us as for some. We do most of our cooking at home and then portion it out and heat it when we’re on the road.” Bishop, however, is taking precautions to make sure the two don’t become victims of the virus. “We are more careful about bringing germs back to the truck,” she explained. “We wear gloves while shopping and take off our shoes and Lysol them when we get back to the truck.” She and Hamilton also carry small spray bottles of alcohol “for toilet seats, faucets and whatever,” she said, adding, “I don’t trust the cleanliness of other people.” About the only change the couple made to their routine was some additional stocking up on food and supplies “to build a reserve,” Bob explained. The team, which has been with East-West for five-and a-half years, said they love the company, especially now during the national crisis. Hamilton related the story of one shipper that asked drivers to report in using a provided telephone. “I sent an email to (the safety department) at East-West about everyone using the same phone,” he said. “Within minutes they had contacted the facility and got the process changed to where we can check in on our cell phones.” Safety isn’t the only department at East-West Express that is concerned about the coronavirus. “They’ve even changed the way they service trucks, with technicians wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) when they get in and wiping everything down when they leave,” said Hamilton. The couple has, however, noticed changes on the road. Hamilton said, “We haven’t seen truck stops actually closing. We can still get fuel, showers, everything we normally get. We have access to everything except the restaurants.” Those restaurants, he said, are often closed or have reduced hours with a takeout-only menu. Rest areas are another “area” of concern. “As a woman, closed rest areas are really a problem,” Bishop explained. Knowing her surroundings is the way she deals with the issue. “We run the same routes all the time, so I know from the mile marker what is up ahead. But, for women especially, having a place to stop is important.” Hamilton pointed out that some of the rest areas were closed long before the pandemic for construction or other reasons. Both drivers have noticed that highway traffic is greatly reduced. “Traffic has been really nice,” Bishop said. “It’s much more enjoyable.” She also pointed out that parking space is easier to come by in the rest areas that are still open. Hamilton said he thinks the lighter traffic is due to daily commuters and vacationers staying home. “I haven’t seen a reduction in truck traffic, but all the other vehicles missing really lightens the volume,” he said. Continuous west-coast turnarounds don’t leave a lot of time for hobbies. “I like to go fishing or to the gun range,” Hamilton said, “but honestly, we spend most of our time on the road and when we’re at home we’re preparing to go back on the road.” Bishop can pursue her passion while traveling, as long as she isn’t behind the wheel. She holds a seat on the board at Operation Little Brown Dog (operationLBD.org), a charitable organization that rescues and places Boykin spaniel dogs. The breed was developed for hunting turkeys and ducks in the Wateree River Swamp in South Carolina and is the official state dog. Both Bishop and Hamilton said they see good coming out of the current pandemic. Hamilton likes the focused attention on members of society that are often overlooked. “It takes something like this for people to realize the importance of truck drivers and a lot of blue-collar workers,” he said. “From pickers to the people that process and package our food to the drivers who haul it and warehouse people who store and distribute it — take any one out of the chain and everything collapses.” Bishop likes that people seem to be pulling together in a time of crisis. “Honestly, I have noticed that people have been far more pleasant,” she explained. “I’ve seen that more people are taking time to say hello. It’s not like Christmas spirit, but like our eyes were opened to the fact that we’re all in this together.” While many people are hunkered down in their homes, riding out the COVID-19 storm, this team continues to move vital products — together.
Project Feed the FaM supports truck drivers during pandemic
Courtesy: FOX59 News Fox59: Stay home during the pandemic. Millions of truck drivers are out there on the roads. They’re essential workers delivering your items we depend on every day. Shutdowns along their travels are impacting their time out on the road. And that’s Fox 59’s Melissa Crash shows us a group in Montgomery County wants to make sure drivers know they’re not alone. Melissa Crash: Along state road 32 in Crawfordsville, a sign to show appreciation got the attention of hundreds of truck drivers passing through town, and hopes some would stop for a quick bite. Isaac Welliver: Thank you for doing what you do. Melissa Crash: That’s the message restaurant owner Isaac Welliver wants all drivers to know. That their work is not going unnoticed during the pandemic. Isaac Welliver: Because without them, our society comes to a grinding halt. All of us got to see what it was like for Walmart to be empty for a little while, right? Imagine if it stayed that way. Melissa Crash: Welliver, along with other local businesses join together to hashtag Feed The Fam. Isaac Welliver: What we don’t realize is it seems like magic that there’s always food in our shelves, but this is how it gets there. Melissa Crash: With social distancing and hand-washing a top priority, Welliver brought his expertise from the kitchen to the truck stop. Isaac Welliver: We did get a chance to ask them about their experience and it’s been hard continuing to move things. Melissa Crash: It’s a gesture of appreciation that Welliver wants to give to not only truck drivers, but anyone who’s willing to step up during this difficult time. Isaac Welliver: By the end of the night, we’ll be over 500. Melissa Crash: That’s 500 people so far. He has also fed local families, firefighters, officers and healthcare workers. Mark Robinson: Without them in three days, our country shuts down. Melissa Crash: Former truck driver, Mark Robinson is helping lend a hand, as he’s in contact with truckers who are feeling the pressure. Mark Robinson: But he is finding his troubles … A place to stop the shower, a place to stop and use the restroom. Place to stop and get a burger. That’s the problems that they are telling me. Melissa Crash: Stepping up to the plate during an uncertain time to offer a meal and a thank you. Isaac Welliver: As long as we can keep ourselves strong and realize that we’re in this together, we’re going to be all right. Melissa Crash: In Montgomery County, I’m Melissa Crash. Fox 59 News. Fox59: A small gesture goes a long way and thank you to all those truck drivers out there. Now you can recommend someone or a public service group to receive a meal from Project Feed The Fam. We have information attached to this story over on our website, Fox59.com. Fox59: Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Ursa is making sure Hoosiers treating the coronavirus are protected from it. In a tweet earlier today, Ursa announced he’d obtained 10,095 masks and donated them to the State Department of Health to give out to area hospitals. Ursa has helped from the very beginning of the coronavirus crisis, matching donations to Gleaners Food Bank with a $1 million donation and even doing random giveaways.
Su Schmerheim combines love for animals, trucking as professional horse hauler
“Whoever said, ‘Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life’ was talking about me,” said Su Schmerheim, paraphrasing a quote attributed to Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel L. Clemens. Schmerheim has combined a love of trucking with an older love of horses, and now makes her living running the U.S. division of Ecclestone Horse Transport. She’s also the Women In Trucking March 2020 Member of the Month. Before hauling horses, Schmerheim participated in a far different field. “I sailed racing sailboats in the U.S. and Canada for 30 years,” she said. “I’ve sailed solo in everything from 19-foot to 55-foot boats, and I crewed for two years on an 85-foot schooner.” Passionate about horses since her teenage years, Schmerheim still shows Arabian and half-Arabian horses near her Michigan home. She said the opportunity to make a living working with the animals she loves was too good to pass up. After losing a job in web support, Schmerheim was put in touch with a woman-owned horse-hauling business in northern Michigan. “She asked if I had worked with horses,” Schmerheim explained, “and said it was easier to teach someone driving than how to handle horses.” She was invited to ride along on a day trip. “We clicked,” Schmerheim said, and soon she had her CDL. That business later downsized and Schmerheim began working with her current employer, Queensville, Ontario-based Ecclestone Horse Transport (EHT). She had met EHT President Kyle Ecclestone about a year earlier, online, when he was in the market for used commercial horse equipment. “I almost quit hauling horses,” she said, “but Kyle wouldn’t let me.” Today Schmerheim handles U.S. logistics for EHT, performing some customer-service duties such as quoting rates, as well as doing some of the dispatching and, of course, driving. EHT doesn’t skimp on the equipment; Schmerheim drives a custom Kenworth T800 pulling a custom-built Doyle 15-horse trailer. “We haul some of the top Arabs (Arabian breed of horse) in the U.S. and Canada,” she said, “and we have international clients, too.” Many of the horses participate in shows for the U.S. Equestrian Federation and other associations. “(These are) primarily show horses,” said Schmerheim, “and some Olympic clients, and then horses that have been sold and are going to new owners. Anyone who wants to move horses.” Included are “snowbirds” who spend winters in Florida and want their horses nearby while there. “We call it the ‘Florida Season,’” she said. Transporting horses takes some special driving skills in addition to knowledge of the cargo. “You always have to be alert to being cut off in traffic,” she said, “because you can’t brake hard. It’s kind of like hauling liquids in that you have to take curves and corners slowly.” One important difference is that liquids don’t fall over in the trailer and get injured when the ride gets rough. Delivering an expensive horse that has been injured during the trip isn’t an option, but other problems can have an impact on the animal’s show or race performance. “They can get sore muscles from leaning and bracing against the movement of the truck,” Schmerheim explained. Even stress can be a problem, as horses that are stressed are more difficult to handle and may not eat and drink properly. “Each horse is an individual,” said Schmerheim. “If you’re a ‘horse person,’ you learn how to tell when they’re stressed or they aren’t feeling well.” For many trips, the horses don’t require any special care other than smooth driving. “When we do mixed (multistop) loads, we give them hay and water and make sure they are traveling well,” said Schmerheim. For longer trips, horses can be put in “box stalls” that allow them room to walk around and even lay down. Hay can be placed on the floor, where horses can graze “naturally” by reaching down to eat. This helps prevent a condition known as “shipping fever.” Each shipment is different. Still, Schmerheim prides herself on service and attention to detail. “All horses on my truck get the same treatment,” she said, “whether it’s a $200 ‘mutt’ or a ‘bazillion-dollar’ thoroughbred.” Since livestock haulers are exempt from ELD requirements, drivers at EHT still use paper logs. That’s fine with Schmerheim. “How can a box tell you when to sleep?” she asked. Schmerheim has participated in a few truck shows, including the Trucker’s Jamboree in Walcott, Iowa, the Shiawassee County (Fair) Truck Show in Corunna, Michigan, and the Richard Crane Memorial Truck Show in St. Ignace, Michigan, where she was presented with Women In Trucking’s Member of the Month award by association President and CEO Ellen Voie. While the shows are fun and rewarding, Schmerheim doesn’t plan to enter many. “It takes a lot of work to clean everything to show standards,” she explained, “and it means shutting down for a while to do the work.” Her care for animals goes beyond the livestock in the trailer. It extends to her “co-driver” Jake as well. Formerly a “wild barn cat,” Jake is now a constant companion and EHT ambassador. The 6-year-old gray and white tabby has its own Facebook page (Jake Schmerheim) and is a registered service animal. The sound of an air brake being applied sends him rushing to the nearest window. “He loves to go trucking and has traveled more miles than most people have,” said Schmerheim. “He knows his own truck and will go to it and hop up on the step.” He also responds to the terms “cookies,” “kitty-crack” and “big truck.” Always on a leash when outside of the truck, Jake accompanies Schmerheim into truck stops and restaurants and is well known among her clients, who often inquire about him. The names “Su” and “Jake,” along with a paw print, are stenciled on the driver’s door of Schmerheim’s tractor. With Jake at her side, Schmerheim said she plans to continue pursuing the career she loves for some time. “My goal is to get there safely, no wreckers and no veterinarians,” she said. Horses in Schmerheim’s trailer, along with one lucky cat, can rest easy knowing they’re in for a smooth ride.
TRC shares their views on small business loans for truckers in these uncertain times
The Trucking Review Channel share some of their thoughts for the times we are in. Have a view on this? Let us know in the comment section below. Courtesy: Trucking Review Channel Transcript: I can’t believe that someone would think that they have some kind of value in the trucking industry. If you have 350 trucks, you are still not worth anything. No, you’re not. The government’s not going to come in and take over your company, but I’ll tell you what, if we don’t truck freight, if we aren’t able to stand back up when this is over and truck freight, then the government will truck freight, and when they truck freight they don’t need you no more. That’s just how it works. And then it’s called nationalized, and you want to be nationalized. I don’t. I don’t support nationalize the oil industry or aircraft industry or anything because that’s the road to socialism guys. But truckers, I am so sad. After hiring and employing so many truckers, I know that you can get into this game, as you people call it. It is not a game. It’s a business. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a living. And if you think that you can get into it and be anything, you have to think of it as more of a game, and you have to think of it as more than what you are able to bring to the table and what you’re going to give up, because if sacrifice is involved, would you or would you not haul freight for free? Would you or would you not go into your pocket to haul freight and deliver it for the betterment of the country? I certainly will. I’ve taken a few weeks off, and we’re going to see where it’s going to go. And I’ve got 40 or $50,000 stocked over here. And that don’t count. No tangible assets. That’s just cash. If I have to go into my pocket and haul medical supplies or food or anything else and not get $1 again out of it, I will do it. I will go into my pocket and do it. And as an American… No, as a person from any country, if you cannot do that in your country, then you are… You’re slag on the… Your country needs you and you do not step forward at your own volition and your own dime, then you are the scum of the Earth. Just totally the scum of the Earth. This is an emergency situation and getting financial gain out of an emergency situation is very sad. Just very sad. Now, I hate to be doing a video like this because I do have things that I want to do in my future, and I’d like to see my channel go to a specific way, but if I can reach five people, just five people who go, “You know what? TRC is right.” Then that’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter where the channel goes, doesn’t matter where anything goes, because right is right and wrong is wrong. If you are a soldier on the frontline of life, you give up your life. You don’t sit around going, “Oh, I’m scared.” Or whatever. Yes, you’re scared for your family. I can understand that. I can. But pre planning for your family should have started at day one. If you’re not… I hate to say this. I’ve got to say it. Truck drivers are the dumbest sons of bitches anywhere. Anyone can come up with the money to buy a truck. So they do. Let me give you an example. This really pissed me off and this guy, I’m sure he’s a nice guy. Okay, but he doesn’t know any better. Truckers know no better. He says, “I wouldn’t bother getting an SBA loan. Once you get it, you are under the control and can come in part of it.” Come in part of it? “Your company in stocks. OOIDA is a big union. This is dirty.” All right. Let me explain something. The AMA works for big trucking. OOIDA is here to help you. They have been here to help you as long as I have been a truck driver. OOIDA has been an organization for a good 10 years longer. I support OOIDA. I’ve been a member, excuse me, my whole life. it’s kind of like working with the NRA. I don’t always like the NRA because I don’t believe in any kind of gun registration, but I still support the NRA because it’s a matter of politics and sometimes you have to bend to get. Now, let me explain a little something about this SBA loan. I don’t believe in bailing out anyone. Not any damn one. I believe everyone should sink or swim on their merits just like your race or anything else. It’s all about your merits. But in this situation, I hate to say this, this country could come to a end under this situation if something isn’t done. President Trump, who I did not vote for, I didn’t vote… This is the first election I did not vote in, but president Trump has done a wonderful thing with this thing. He is trying to help you, because when this debacle, when this catastrophe, when this disaster is over, owner operators, if you don’t have 40, 50, 60, $70,000 set aside to survive a problem like this, there will be no owner operators left. There will be big companies that receive bailouts, because believe me, those companies have already filled their paperwork out and if you haven’t filled out your SBA paperwork, there’s a really good chance… Even if you are a lease driver, guys, you still matter. Fill out your SBA paperwork because what is going to feed you during this time when all of a sudden, when the freight dries up? Now don’t go running your mouth and tell and say anything about… Like you did on all of my videos about recession, about, “Oh, recession ain’t going to happen.” If you think that recession ain’t going to happen, if you think that bad things is not going to happen, the end of the world scenarios or whatever is not going to happen, then you’re full, because these things do happen. They may or may not happen in your lifetime, but problems do come eventually. You are now living in the lifetime of 1929 okay? You still may not see that, but you are. A deep depression is coming. We might bounce back from it in a year, but how are you going to survive that year? That’s my point to you. If you think that your trucking company… You’re at some company and you are leasing a truck. If you think that your company has any value, I’m sorry, you have zero value. Now, let me give you an example. When I was running… I’ll just back it up. I will back it up 10 years when I had X amount of trucks and my value was at $5 million. Someone wanted to buy my stuff for $5 million. You know what? The government don’t care about that $5 million. If you need a bailout and you’re worth $5 million, the government’s not going to attach to your stock options. I have bought stock in so many companies, and when I say stock, I mean startups stock. There’s a whole big difference between startup stock and NASDAQ stock. Your company’s worth nothing. If you got 40 trucks and you’re running… You’re not on the NASDAQ, guys. You’re not worth anything. You’re worth something to you and maybe to someone else that may want to buy into your company. Not pre planning for your family, get to it and get to work.
Trucker’s invention could be answer to many icing situations leading to jackknifed rigs
CHICAGO — “Jackknifing” is a trucking-related term most nontruckers understand. Many have passed the scene of an accident involving a jackknifed trailer during their travels. Unfortunately, jackknifing is a relatively common cause of accidents involving tractor-trailers, and drivers must remain alert and at the ready to handle a potential jackknifing situation. Keeping their rigs upright and on the road, and avoiding collisions with other vehicles, is something drivers may be able to read about, but it takes experience at the wheel to truly understand. Today, thanks to a former OTR driver, a proactive method helping to prevent jackknifing situations is now on the market. Bob Allen, a driver with 38 years of experience who now works for the City of Chicago, spent years thinking about a method to prevent brake lines from freezing. In 2013 he invented a prototype, and his invention, “The Brake Releaser,” manufactured by Milton Industries, hit the market late last year. “There’s a lot of reasons a tractor-trailer can jackknife,” Allen told The Trucker. “Most often, the brake shoes aren’t adjusted properly. But a trailer with frozen brakes is also common.” The Brake Releaser is designed to prevent frozen brake situations. Allen’s story began about 30 years ago. As a 28-year-old with seven years of driving experience already under his belt, Allen experienced a near-miss in a winter storm north of Indianapolis. “The weather conditions were a virtual whiteout,” Allen said. “Through the snow, I saw what I thought was another rig jackknifing alongside my truck.” Allen acted quickly, accelerating to move out of the other rig’s unpredictable path. After driving clear of the perceived threat, he realized the “other rig” was not another rig at all — instead, it was his own trailer on the verge of passing his tractor. Allen had narrowly escaped jackknifing his own rig and slamming into an Indiana State Trooper’s vehicle. Allen pulled his rig over. Using a time-proven but time-consuming method drivers still use today, he warmed his frozen trailer-brake system with a torch, using a hammer to release the brakes. Considering the weather conditions, working on the side of the road and getting the brakes to release was not only difficult but also dangerous. That experience in the bitter cold of a Midwest winter provided the inspiration Bob Allen needed. Knowing that frozen brakes were what caused his trailer to jackknife, Allen thought hard about ways to keep brake fluid and components from freezing or thickening in cold weather. He recognized moisture as a braking system’s worst enemy, especially in freezing conditions. Hammers, torches and possibly de-icing fluid were useful after a driver recognized an icing situation, but safety called for something to prevent brakes from freezing in the first place. Allen sought a proactive solution. “It really didn’t take a lot of time to figure it out,” he said. “I had the idea in my mind quite a few years, but I never had the money to pursue it.” In 2013, Allen created a prototype device that allowed a driver to inject a de-icing solution into a trailer’s brake system, either upon realizing moisture is in the system or in preparation for the truck to operate in extremely cold conditions. It took several years, but after several drivers proved the worth of Allen’s prototype, he happened to meet someone who was interested in manufacturing and marketing the device. “It was a true case of being in the right place at the right time,” Allen said. “I’d met the former CEO of Milton Industries through a friend, and he encouraged the new CEO to look at my device,” Allen said. “He was very interested. My prototype was even the same color as the Milton Industries logo.” In short order, Milton Industries and Allen signed a long-term licensing agreement. The company has secured patents on the device in the U.S. and Canada and has applied for a patent in Europe. Milton placed the device on the market last November, just in time for winter. “The Brake Releaser,” the name Milton Industries gave the device, is a small reservoir attached to the trailer emergency gladhand line and the tractor service hose. Holding about 8 ounces of de-icing fluid, the driver can easily access the reservoir, fill it, and after replacing the cap, turn a valve to let the fluid enter the brake system. A “chirping” noise will indicate the fluid is flowing. Before The Brake Releaser, if a driver wanted to pretreat a trailer’s brake line with fluid, it meant pouring de-icer into the narrow inlet of the emergency line and then holding the line as high as possible. Gravity would — hopefully — pull the fluid into the brake system. Often, more of the flammable fluid poured onto the driver and the ground than into the brake line. “The Brake Releaser is not something a driver should use after realizing the brakes have nearly frozen,” Allen said. “If I know the temperature is going to be at or below freezing where I’m driving, I’ll pretreat in the morning and be set for 24 hours.” The device is not designed to be permanently installed; in fact, a safety mechanism prevents the truck from moving with The Brake Releaser attached. The device is a safe and proactive way to help drivers prevent freezing before it happens. Servicing a tractor-trailer braking system before driving takes only a couple of minutes. According to Milton Industries’ website, The Brake Releaser is designed as a backup to the truck cab’s heater. When the heater malfunctions, or when temperatures are so low the heater is ineffective, a driver can use The Brake Releaser as an alternative to the “torch and hammer” method. The Brake Releaser can handle air-line pressures up to 300 psi and prevent freezing of brake components in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. At a retail price of $349, Milton Industries states The Brake Releaser will easily pay for itself in a single winter, citing the costs of calling a technician, paying travel costs, and time and labor expenses to thaw a frozen brake component. The product inventor echoes Milton Industries’ marketing efforts. “The product is geared more for independent drivers,” Allen said. “If a driver breaks down, it could be a three- or four-hour wait to get a service call, plus the cost of service.” Allen is attempting to convince the State of Illinois to mandate that the device be required for all trucks compatible with The Brake Releaser. Likewise, Milton Industries is in the process of becoming an approved vendor with the U.S. military. In the first few months, Allen said, sales have gone well. As for the future, Allen said he has a few other inventions in mind to improve the truck-driving experience. But for now, he is concentrating on helping Milton Industries turn The Brake Releaser into a widely used and profitable product. When that happens, Allen has ideas for his portion of the profits. “I want to build churches,” he said. “The reality of it is that this is God’s work anyway. I’ve been thinking of it all this time, and no one else has come up with the idea, so He gave it to me for a reason. I think building some churches and helping people is a good thing to do.”
Police department, local resident offer dinners to truckers from ‘a grateful west Texas’
LUBBOCK, Texas — Seeing a crowded truck-stop parking lot was all it took for Lubbock Police Department Cpl. Chris Paine to gain a new appreciation for the unsung heroes of the supply chain. Paine said he responded to a call at a local truck stop late one night. While there, he took notice of the volume of trucks parked there for the night. “I was so taken aback by the sheer number of semi trucks that were overflowing in the parking lots,” Paine said. “We’ve heard so much about doctors, nurses, first responders all thanked for being on the front lines. I dare to say that the men and women driving these trucks are rarely if ever thanked for the job they perform.” After making this observation, Paine did two things. First, he went to each individual truck and if the driver was awake, he “gave them thanks, and prayed a blessing over them in the name of Jesus.” “They are working tirelessly to provide food and supplies to a very inwardly focused nation during this difficult time,” Paine said. He then took to social media, reaching out to the community for an opportunity to offer a few meals to these truckers as a way of saying thanks from “a grateful west Texas.” At the time of the social-media post, he said, he hadn’t worked out the logistics. His call was met by interest from Heather Howell, a Lubbock resident with three daughters. She said his post “put it on [her] heart to make sure each one of [the drivers] could go to bed with a decent meal.” Howell and her daughters — 13-year-old twins and a 9-year-old — purchased 50 meals from Jason’s Deli. The girls also wrote thank-you notes to the drivers to be included with their meals. “God spoke and we simply listened and abided,” Howell said. “[Drivers] are sacrificing sleep and time with their families, and I just wanted to let them know that everything they are doing is not going unnoticed.” Howell asked Paine if he and some other officers would be interested in delivering the meals to the drivers. Paine jumped at the opportunity, and he and a few fellow officers did just that. The group delivered the meals the following night. Howell said this small gesture was also a great opportunity for her daughters to see that no matter the size of the effort, it can make a difference to someone. “I know [truck drivers] are extremely essential to our communities all over right now, and they deserve to know how much we appreciate everything they are doing,” Howell said. “I hope [my daughters] see that in times of crisis, we all need to do anything we can, big or small, to support one another and spread the love that God has filled our hearts with.”
PennFleet offers truck drivers traveling through Pennsylvania a place to rest
PHILADELPHIA – PennFleet has opened its five-acre property to truck drivers to provide parking for any truck drivers who need a place to stop and rest. PennFleet, a full-service repair shop specializing in fleet vehicles, has partnered with some of its customers to help provide portable toilets, a hand sanitizing station, snacks and beverages all free of charge. The site is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PennFleet is located a few miles off I-95 just south of Philadelphia at 591 Meetinghouse Road in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking spots on a first come, first served basis. For questions or more information, email [email protected] or call 610-940-1507.
UrgentCare Travel, TruckPark team up to provide COVID-19 evaluations, testing for drivers
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the U.S. and many Americans work from home, it’s “business as usual” for many of the nation’s truck drivers, who work long hours to make sure medical supplies, food, fuel and other essentials arrive safely at their destinations. With most restaurants closing their dining rooms and going to drive-though and take-out only service, some gas stations closing public restrooms and other amenities, and truck-parking at a premium, these hardworking men and women are facing new challenges in their paths. One question we at The Trucker have heard from several OTR drivers is, “What happens to me if I get sick out here on the road? What if I get COVID-19? Where can I go?” Thanks to a collaborative effort between UrgentCare Travel clinics and TruckPark Inc., drivers now have resources for gaining access to COVID-19 telehealth and testing resources, as well as safe parking that’s as convenient as possible to medical providers. Bob Stanton, an Illinois OTR driver and co-founder of Truckers for a Cause, was the driving force in bringing the two companies together to provide services for drivers experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. “The COVID-19 crisis sparked me to do something. I am at an extremely high risk for a bad outcome if I get this, and last week I started thinking, ‘If I get COVID on the road, what the heck do I do?’” he said. “One of the questions for today is, if you do have to self-quarantine, where can you? Rumors are that truck stops may not let you self-quarantine in their parking lots due to concerns for the truck-stop staff.” Stanton also has a word of advice for drivers who have four-legged co-pilots: Now might be a good time to give your pet a “vacation” at home. “Right now, just getting medical care for yourself is enough of a problem. If you get sick, who is going to take care of your pet?” he said. The result of Stanton’s pondering was a series of phone calls from Stanton to UrgentCare Travel, TruckPark and other organizations that resulted in a cooperative effort to provide a network of resources for truck drivers. Truckers experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 — including fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — can easily access UrgentCare’s telehealth evaluation services using the VSee Messenger app (available for Apple, Android and Windows products); click here for instructions to download the app and connect to an UrgentCare provider. There is a $40 fee, payable by credit or debit card, for using UrgentCare’s telehealth service; if testing or treatment is required, the fee will be applied to the patient’s total bill. Drivers experiencing some of the more severe symptoms noted by the CDC — including trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face — should seek medical attention immediately. “This telehealth service is a safe way for a driver to get an initial evaluation (of COVID-19 symptoms) from their truck versus having people congregate at the clinic,” said Mitch Strobin, senior vice president of marketing and relationship management for UrgentCare Travel. “Many drivers on the road today suffer from a chronic condition, like diabetes or hypertension, that puts them more at risk for the coronavirus,” he continued. UrgentCare operates a network of freestanding medical clinics at Pilot and Flying J travel centers across the nation. The walk-in clinics provide a variety of services, including primary care, chronic care management, DOT physicals and more. “We’re seeing that hospitals, medical facilities and offices are closing to those day-to-day medical services,” Strobin said. “We are open and we are committed to drivers, because they have daily needs on the road and don’t have many options (for easily accessible medical care).” If a clinic visit for testing or other medical care is necessary, drivers can find the nearest parking facilities by visiting TruckPark’s interactive location-finder map. The map pinpoints UrgentCare facilities and truck-parking locations; there is also a link to DOT Mentor’s DOT Examiner Directory, which includes a listing of additional health-care providers. Secure overnight parking is always important for drivers, but it’s critical for drivers who have been tested for COVID-19 and must self-quarantine until test results are available, said Anthony Petitte, CEO and founder of TruckPark Inc. “We are thankful for truck drivers all over and what they’re doing right now while we’re staying at home in our living rooms. They’re out there moving products safely,” Petitte said. In addition to partnering with UrgentCare travel and DOT Mentor, Petitte said he and the TruckPark team would like to offer additional assistance for drivers by helping to provide safe parking locations, whether drivers are simply taking a rest break or are under quarantine. To this end, TruckPark has reduced parking rates by 25% for drivers. Individuals and businesses looking for a way to help truck drivers can reserve parking, either for a specific driver or any driver, still at a 25% discount, Petitte added. To reserve a spot for a trucker, email [email protected] or call 1-872-205-6024. “We will make a reservation for the driver, and the driver won’t have to pay anything for parking because of the generosity of another person,” Petitte said. “It’s a way to show appreciation for truckers with everything that’s going on right now. We call it ‘old-school trucking,’ when people come together and help each other out,” he continued. “Sometimes with technology, the drivers become just another number — but they’re not just another number; they’re people. And they’re people with big hearts, and we want to help them make a difference.”
48 hours after testing for COVID-19, TRC documents their journey
Our friends at the Trucking Review Channel document their journey. Sending prayers to them and everyone else who is ill at the moment. Courtesy: Trucking Review Channel
Woman on a mission: Missouri trucker’s wife delights drivers with home-baked treats
NEVADA, Mo. — This week, truck drivers stopping by Buzz’s BBQ just off Interstate 49 at exit 101 in Nevada, Missouri, have been treated to a variety of freshly baked goodies, all made by Gaynell Williams of Schell City, Missouri. A photo of Williams in the back of her SUV, wrapped in a blanket for warmth and handing out individually wrapped treats, has made the rounds on Facebook, appearing on numerous trucking pages and gathering countless comments and thank-yous from truckers around the nation. As the wife of a trucker, Williams said she felt a calling to do something to help drivers passing through on I-49. However, when the idea of distributing home-baked treats first came to her late last week, Williams said she tried to dismiss the thought, telling herself it “wasn’t a good idea.” “I’ll be flat honest. I was lying in bed, having a ‘lull’ moment, and God started kicking me to get up and bake,” she said. “I tried rolling over to ignore my thoughts, but again he kicked me and told me to get up and get busy.” The next two days were spent busily baking and wrapping cookies and slices of cake and tucking a scripture card into each package as an added bit of encouragement for weary drivers. Monday morning, Williams said, she headed out “with the full armor of God protecting me” to the parking lot of Buzz’s BBQ, a local eatery that has given Williams permission to use the premises. “To my surprise, I spent the day doing what God called me to do, and one trucker shared (this photo) and it’s gone viral on the truckers’ [Facebook groups],” she said. “I had no idea how much it meant to everyone.” On Tuesday, Williams was back at Buzz’s with another load of treats to distribute. She said several drivers offered donations to help with baking supplies, and that she plans to continue her mission of providing small treats for drivers. Although flour is hard to find on grocery-store shelves right now, Williams said, “God has been providing me with flour. Last night, my brother in Michigan ordered 100 pounds (of flour) to help out. God is so good. I used the donations I got from truckers to purchase bags and other items for baking the goods.” Realizing that germs are a concern, especially at this time, Williams said she practices safe-food-handling techniques when preparing baked goods in her kitchen, securing her hair and wearing gloves. “I’m just a trucker’s wife trying to show appreciation for what (these drivers) are doing,” she said, adding that her husband, Michael Williams, has been driving for Creel Trucking in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, for 12 years. To find out when Williams will be distributing treats at Buzz’s BBQ, watch the Trucker Feed Facebook group for her posts. Williams has this message for the nation’s truckers: “They are appreciated. I wish I could reach out to them all. My little home-baked goods can’t do a lot, but if it helps someone in any way then it’s where God wants me to be. I can’t wait to meet more of them and hear their stories. Stay safe, and God bless.”
Toilet-paper trucker: Driver gets warm, unexpected reception when delivering TP to Costco
HAZLET, N.J. — As shoppers were lined up around the building at a New Jersey Costco, a white Freightliner Cascadia pulled up to the loading dock carrying a one of today’s most valuable consumer products — toilet paper. Chuck Small of Wareham, Massachusetts has been a truck driver for more than 30 years. In all of that time, he said, he’s never seen such appreciation for a truck driver carrying a basic commodity — but this was different. He hopped out of the truck and announced, “I’ve got your toilet paper!” and the shoppers and employees all applauded him as if he was a celebrity. “What a feeling that was to have everybody clap. That must be what a celebrity goes through,” Small said. “It is usually, ‘Park over there and we’ll call you when we’re ready for you.’ It could be hours upon hours.” Small said the experience was a strange one, noting that he drives for Napa Transportation out of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Procter & Gamble is one of the company’s biggest clients and he has frequently hauled household goods. “I felt kind of wanted, and like I’m doing something,” Small said. “Truck drivers over the years have gotten a bad name for themselves, but this kind of felt like I was wanted.” Small said he has never quite seen anything like the current precautions being taken against the threat of COVID-19. For him, though, there haven’t been any major disruptions on the road, except for limited ability to dine in at restaurants. “It’s a little crazy out here,” Small said. “Everywhere I go, I can only get take-out food. I’ve been doing Denny’s. You have to go up to the counter and get your food and then go to your truck to eat it. I have a refrigerator in my truck, but I like to sit down to a meal. I guess we can’t do that now.” With that adjustment being the one that affects Small’s daily activities the most, he said other adjustments include signing waivers at shippers’ docks and social distancing being practiced at truck stops. “You stand in line at a truck stop and you don’t even know who is next because everyone is standing so far away from each other,” Small said. Toilet paper isn’t the only necessity Small has hauled recently. Within the last week, Small has also hauled a load of Pellegrino water, which is produced in Italy. Some of his friends cautioned him about the product being imported from one of the countries most infected with the novel coronavirus. Other truckers, however, noted that the water could have been stored in a warehouse for months therefore presenting no threat. Either way, Small said he wasn’t concerned and carried on with business as usual. “I’m just doing Day 1 to Day 2, and I’m really not worried,” he said. “I feel healthy. I look at the statistics for how many are dying in each state, and it really isn’t that many. The big cities are most affected.”
California truck stop, Melton Technologies provide free breakfast for truckers
PASO ROBLES, Calif. — Starting today (Wednesday, March 25), truckers who stop by the San Paso Truck Stop, 81 Wellsona Road, will receive a free breakfast. The truck stop, in partnership with Melton Technologies Inc. are providing the service as a “thank you” to the nation’s hardworking drivers. Each meal will include a breakfast burrito, hot coffee and a thank-you card from San Paso Truck Stop and Melton Technologies Inc. “You have been helping us for years by visiting our San Paso Truck Stop and buying food, fuel and goodies from us,” said Andy Pham, owner of San Paso Truck Stop in a letter to truckers. “It’s helped a lot. Now our nation is in peril, and it is you, the truckers, who are the backbone for bringing our nation back on its feet again. Who in America knows the hard work you do? WE DO!” Located just north of U.S. 101, the San Paso Truck Stop has been serving motorists in wine country since the 1950s. Its partner Melton Technologies, a developer of fleet-dispatch technology, has been providing transport technology solutions since 1984. “Truckers, we thank you for all that you do,” Pham wrote. “Spread the word that you’re appreciated here at San Paso Truck Stop and by our partners at Melton Technologies, and together we’ll all get through this, one breakfast bag and one smiling face at a time. WE LOVE YOU!”
McDonald’s serves truckers with drive-thru alternative
WASHINGTON – McDonald’s received a special shoutout from Vice President Mike Pence during a White House Coronavirus Task Force press conference Tuesday afternoon, March 24. “We’ve seen industries really stepping up,” Pence said. “We’ve heard that McDonald’s is now offering curbside delivery to truckers who are unable to use the drive-thru.” Yes, indeed. McDonald’s recently announced that it will be serving truckers by promoting mobile ordering and providing a designated place for them to receive their food. “We realize that you can’t bring your rig through the drive-thru, and for safety reasons, we cannot accept walk-up orders at the drive-thru window,” said Bill Garrett, senior vice president of operations for McDonald’s USA. These quick steps can get truckers on the way to ordering from their trucks at McDonald’s: After arriving at a McDonald’s restaurant, use McDonald’s Mobile Order & Pay app; then select “curbside service” and walk to the designated “Trucker” curbside sign on the sidewalk outside the designated door. Finally, complete the order by entering the appropriate Trucker curbside number. A McDonald’s employee will bring the order to the designated door as soon as it’s ready. “Thank you again for all you’re doing during this uncertain time,” Garrett said in the company’s news release. “Know that we’re doing everything we can to be there for you as long as we can. We’re in this together.” For more information about the McDonald’s Mobile Order & Pay app, click here.
Truck stops across U.S. vow to meet truckers’ needs with fuel, food, other services
It’s no secret that the nation is in turmoil because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. rises daily, the streets – and grocery-store shelves – are emptying. Toilet paper, hand sanitizer and cleaning products are in short supply (did no one wipe their bottoms, wash their hands or clean their houses before all this?) and many are worried that soon the basic necessities of life will be unavailable. A quick trip made by this reporter to the grocery store over the weekend revealed frighteningly empty shelves. The meat cases were completely bare, there was no bread (even the flour was gone, except for the gluten-free varieties), eggs and butter were unavailable, and, of course, there was not a roll of toilet paper, box of facial tissues or bottle of household cleaner to be found. Enter a new breed of heroes, both men and women, who don’t wear capes or leap over tall buildings with a single bound. Instead, they wear jeans and comfy shoes, and they expertly handle huge rigs up and down the highways, through narrow city streets and up to loading docks, delivering precious cargo, from medical supplies to food, bottled water and – thankfully – toilet paper, along with a host of other items. These “knights of the highway,” as truckers were called in years past, are finally receiving long-deserved status as “essential,” and the public is taking notice. A scroll through social-media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram and others, will turn up post after post of corporations, communities, professional organizations and individuals offering thanks and praise to America’s truckers. Despite this outpouring of gratitude, truck drivers have reported difficulty in gaining access to basic necessities themselves, including prepared food, restroom facilities and showers. Many drivers have reported that even truck stops have limited access to facilities, citing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. In response to this growing problem, travel plazas and truck stops across the nation are pledging to provide these much-needed services to truckers. Some of the larger travel-plaza chains, such as TA and Petro, Love’s and Pilot/Flying J, have provided resource links on their websites, noting available amenities at locations around the country as well as necessary restrictions. Other companies, including Kwik Trip, Ambest and others, are also letting drivers know that facilities are open and available. Because retail employees, like truck drivers, do not have the luxury of working from home, some companies, such as Love’s, are offering bonuses to their staffs. While self-serve food options may be limited because of safe-handling concerns (the same restrictions are being implemented in fast-food restaurants around the country), customers still have access to the products, which are prepared and served by employees wearing gloves and following safety precautions. In addition, carry-out is available from restaurants within the travel plazas. Driver lounges, fitness centers and game rooms may be closed due to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to limit personal interaction, but other amenities, including restrooms, showers and laundry facilities, remain open in businesses that are equipped to offer these services. In addition, numerous businesses, organizations, law-enforcement agencies and individuals are offering assistance in the form of “grab-and-go” meal events and rides from truck-parking areas to amenities such as restaurants and laundry facilities. Some individuals have even posted to industry pages on social media, offering parking and showers at their homes. A Facebook group, Helping Truckers Help America, is a social-media gathering place of the outpouring of help that has recently come about for truck drivers. The group is open to the public. With more than 4,000 members, there are daily posts of opportunities for free meals and services to keep truckers rolling. A recent Facebook post by a trucker friend mentioned stopping at a rest area and seeing a couple of young girls holding up gaily decorated posters reading, “Thank you truckers!” Before pulling out, the driver said, the girls’ parents handed over carefully packaged goodie bags filled with bottled water, snacks and other treats for the road. “I was crying as I pulled back onto the expressway,” my friend said. Because this reporter is not a truck driver (be thankful that I can safely maneuver my economy-size Nissan), I can’t say that I know what you are going through. But know that I, and the nation as a whole, stands behind you and appreciate your service.
A trucker’s tale of quarantine
Our friends at the Trucking Review Channel hunker down awaiting test results for Covid-19. Courtesy: Trucking Review Channel
Small-town Sonics prioritize truckers with accessible menus, routes
The town of Valliant, Oklahoma, has a population of only 800 people. The town might not be big, but when it comes to truckers, the owners of the local Sonic have huge hearts. Julie and Tommy Dorries are lifelong residents of Valliant, and have long known the benefit of the logging industry to their small town. With a paper mill located only a few miles away, big truck traffic through the area is constant. After spending the better part of the last two decades giving back to their community by bringing life to old buildings and attracting businesses to their small town, the couple opened a Sonic in 2013. Tommy said it took the couple about 10 years to close the deal on bringing a Sonic to town. “Valliant was not real trucker-friendly, but we have a lot of truck traffic,” Tommy said. “There’s no way a trucker can do business at Sonic if they can’t get to it. We had truck traffic and we have plenty of property, so why not use it?” That’s exactly what Tommy and Julie did: They installed a route around the Sonic wide enough for an 18-wheeler to drive through. The creation of the route was special to Julie because her dad drove a log truck for several years. The big-truck route was dedicated to her dad, Jimmy Provence, or “Okie” as he was known on the CB radio. Tommy said the piece of property the couple purchased for their Sonic had plenty of room for an extra route. The only adjustments were placing a menu board at the height of a truck window. “No Sonic had a trucker route, so we went ahead and did it,” Tommy said. “This is a logging community and always has been.” Within a few years of Tommy and Julie opening their Sonic, a Love’s broke ground next door. Tommy said a representative from Love’s even noted their Sonic as a “check” in the “pro” category when considering where to open their newest location. Having Love’s nearby has helped with a shortage of truck parking, a situation Tommy said he became acutely aware of when truckers parked along the truck route at the Sonic overnight. Manager Tana Coleman, who has worked at the Valliant Sonic for five years, said she sees between 15 and 20 trucks come through each day and that her team tries to prioritize truckers and get them back on the road quickly. “I know that the truckers really appreciate being able to pull up to the stall, and they tell us constantly that they don’t ever get that kind of attention,” Coleman said. “They never get anyone to bring their food out to them where they don’t have to get out of their trucks.” Although Valliant opened their dedicated truck route in 2013, about five years later Sonic franchise owner Ricky Davis saw a similar need in the town of Fordyce, Arkansas. With a population of nearly 4,000, Fordyce is another community that benefits from truck traffic related to the timber industry in southeast Arkansas. Davis, who has been in the Sonic franchise business for more than 40 years, said he was looking to remodel the current Sonic location in Fordyce. After some thought, he decided to move the location near the U.S. 67/167 bypass instead of in the center of town. This location allowed him to purchase 2 acres of land for a lower price. That amount of space made it easy to accommodate truckers. “When we take on a project, we always take into consideration the community we are going to be in and the traffic we are going to have,” Davis said. “The timber industry is big [in Fordyce].” The truck route at the Fordyce Sonic provides a menu that will reach a semi truck’s window, and it also offers steps so the carhop to stand eye-level with the driver. Davis said the investment in the menu and route was not necessarily significant, but the return has been impressive. “I’ve had trucking companies from across the nation call me and tell me, ‘Thank you for taking care of our truckers. Everybody hates us, so we appreciate someone actually doing something for us,’” Davis said. “It has been pretty cool to get that feedback. It has done well.” At the end of the day, these two Sonic owners represent a dedication to the men and women who keep America moving, which is an appreciation Davis can proudly say he has. “Being a trucker takes a lot. When you have a to park a truck it takes a lot (of space), and most people don’t want them there,” Davis said. “They’re thought of as a hindrance, but they don’t hinder us at all. This really worked out, and it is a good addition.”
Iowa Motor Truck Association to provide free boxed lunches to truck drivers March 24-25
DES MOINES, Iowa – To show appreciation and gratitude for the trucking industry during the COVID-19 crisis, the Iowa Motor Truck Association (IMTA) will provide 1,000 complimentary boxed lunches for truck drivers Tuesday and Wednesday, March 24 and 25. IMTA, the statewide trade association that represents Iowa’s trucking industry, is working in collaboration with the governor’s office and the Iowa Department of Transportation to help the nation’s truckers as well support local restaurants. The lunches will be distributed at two weigh stations along Interstate 80. On Tuesday, March 24, lunches will be handed out at the Jasper County scale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 24; on Wednesday, March 25, the site will be the Dallas County scale, also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The weigh stations will be open for lunch distribution only at these times; there will be no enforcement activities. Iowa DOT will post signs at the ramps to the scales and will also provide traffic control, if needed. The distribution will be set up as a “drive-through/drive-by” scenario to comply with parameters set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) parameters. The boxed lunches will be prepared by Gateway Market, In the Bag Deli, Main Street Cafe & Bakery, and Palmer’s Deli, all local eateries. “We want to show our appreciation to the professional men and women that are playing a critically important role as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. We believe that providing a boxed lunch seemed to be the best way to achieve that goal since getting food on the road has become a bit more difficult in the current situation,” said Brenda Neville, president and CEO of the Iowa Motor Truck Association.
Sandwiches 4 Semis event to offer free ‘grab-and-go’ lunch to truckers in Oklahoma City Friday
OKLAHOMA CITY — Truckers who will be driving through Oklahoma City Friday, March 20, can receive a free lunch during the “Sandwiches 4 Semis” event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT at Exit 136 (both north- and south-bound ramps) on Interstate 35. The event, sponsored and hosted by TBS Factoring Service, was organized in response to a nationwide outcry from truckers who are having trouble finding open restaurants during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Drivers stopping by will be treated to a sack lunch featuring a sub sandwich, chips and a bottle of water — and they won’t even have to get out of their trucks, according to TBS Factoring Service’s CEO, Jennifer Lickteig. “Truckers are American heroes. This is just a small way for us to let drivers see that they are appreciated and that their efforts are valued,” she said. “It’s nothing big, just a grab-and-go lunch, but it’s our way of saying ‘thank you.’” The pre-bagged meals will be prepared by locally owned sandwich shops and franchises, and drivers are assured that each sandwich will be prepared by food-service professionals using safe food-handling techniques. In addition, the TBS employees who will be handing out the meals will wear food-service gloves as an added precaution. “When we started thinking about the normal ways truck drivers sustain themselves and how we could help, we immediately started to see the challenges they face in finding parking, accessible restaurants and prepared food, not just now, but every single day,” Lickteig said. In addition to helping the nation’s drivers in a time of crisis, Lickteig said the event helps benefit local businesses that rely on lunchtime traffic from the offices around them, many of which have temporarily closed as employees work from home in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. “If we can give away 1,000 sandwiches on a Friday, that’s a great investment on our part,” she said. “We would challenge other companies and organizations to host ‘Sandwiches 4 Semis’ events during the crisis.” Lickteig also has a message for all the consumers out there. “If you eat it, wear it or buy it in a store, a trucker hauled it there,” she said. “And while most of America shelters in place, truckers are hard at work, putting their own health on the line and making sure we have everything we need to survive in these difficult times,” she continued. “We can’t feed them all, but hopefully this will help draw attention to the problem — and maybe get restaurants to change their short-sighted policies (regarding semi trucks).”
ATA accepting applications for 2020 LEAD ATA class
ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations (ATA) is now accepting applications for the 2020 LEAD ATA class. Rising young trucking executives are encouraged to apply for the leadership-development program. Sponsored by Trimble Transportation, LEAD ATA provides up-and-coming trucking professionals an exclusive opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through the industry’s largest association. In addition to learning valuable leadership skills, program participants will gain an in-depth understanding of how the regulatory and legislative processes affect the trucking industry. LEAD ATA participants graduate with an understanding of the role ATA plays in influencing these processes as well as gaining an overall understanding of the trucking industry. The program coaches participants to use resources available to industry executives through ATA such as policy experts, industry-leading data, communications tools and networking opportunities. “As is the case in any major industry, news leaders and talent are required to achieve long-term sustainability and growth,” said Chris Spear, president and CEO of ATA. “Trucking is no different, and the LEAD ATA program is essential to that mission. The program has a proven, documented history of preparing the right individuals to take on and succeed in leadership positions within their companies.” The LEAD ATA program was launched in 2013 and is now in its eighth year. “Trimble is proud to continue its sponsorship of LEAD ATA,” said Alicia Jarosh, vice president of customer insights at Trimble Transportation. “Both LEAD ATA and Trimble share a commitment to developing trucking’s next generation of leaders, helping to ensure that our industry is in good hands — both today and in the years to come.” During the LEAD ATA program, participants gain a first-hand perspective of ATA’s government structure and how the member-led policymaking process functions in real time. Participants have the opportunity to meet with ATA executives and trucking-policy experts, receive professional training to enhance their public-speaking skills, gain insight into how ATA works with legislators to create a more efficient and profitable environment for trucking, and observe how ATA and its members are improving the trucking industry’s image. This summer, members of the LEAD ATA class will visit with their elected officials on Capitol Hill and educate members of Congress about critical trucking issues, as well as highlight their respective companies’ roles in their communities. “As the president of two trucking companies and a member of the ATA, I’ve watched the LEAD ATA program thrive, and I’ve watched as my son worked his way through the program and returned with meaningful new skills and knowledge,” said Randy Guillot, ATA chairman and president of Triple G Express. “ATA plays a major role in the legislative and regulatory processes that impact our industry,” Guillot continued. “It’s important that the next generation of leaders has a chance to see that up close and understand how we represent trucking’s interests in our nation’s capital and all around the U.S. LEAD ATA offers them that