Trucking Life

IRVING, Texas — One is steady as a rock. The other’s a risk-taker, but both are Drivers of the Month for National Carriers, Inc. The company named Ernie Garcia and Reggie Ely as the award winners for November and December respectively. Each receives a $1,000 bonus and a chance to win a $10,000 Driver of the Year prize at NCI’s annual banquet in Arlington, Texas. Garcia, hails from Lytle, Texas, and has been trucking for 40 years, the last nine of which have been with NCI. He focuses on delivering freight throughout the Southwest. “I’ve worked with Ernie for four years, and he always keeps a pleasant attitude toward life and work,” said his driver manager, Barbara Armstrong. “He’s committed to knowing his lanes and providing on-time service to every customer.” While Garcia keeps steady, his fellow winner, Ely, says, “Give me a challenge!” Joining the Elite Fleet in 2018, he quickly established himself as a can-do driver. “Reggie does whatever I need him to do. He drives safe, but never shies away from a demanding delivery,” said Mike Holloway, his driver manager. “He even loves running deliveries to New York City!” “I try to do things that challenge me and make me feel like I’ve accomplished something,” said Ely. “I wanted to be a trucker who would deliver anywhere. I was scared the first couple of times I went into New York, but it got easier and easier. I just had to face my fears.” Of course, any driver taking on a challenge needs a great team backing him. “I think a driver is only as good as his driver manager,” said Ely. “At my last job, I went through many dispatchers. My driver manager, Mike, knows his job and has been my only dispatcher at NCI, and I’m grateful for him. “What makes me a successful driver?  Good equipment, good freight, and a team effort. I had no idea I could be treated this great by a trucking company,” concluded Ely.

THOMASVILLE, N.C. — Old Dominion Freight Line, the Official Freight Carrier of Major League Baseball, will drive the annual spring training sendoff tradition with MLB clubs across the country. The company will deliver clubs’ equipment to warmer locations as the teams start spring training. Before the trucks hit the road, teams will celebrate the unofficial start of the 2020 baseball season with fans, coaches, current players, alumni and team mascots. “spring training sendoffs are a player- and fan-cherished ritual. It’s our pleasure to be a part of these special events and ensure the teams’ equipment arrives safely and on-time,” said Dick Podiak, vice president of marketing and communication for Old Dominion Freight Line. “We are delighted to ring in the 2020 season as a corporate sponsor for 12 MLB clubs and as our fourth year as the Official Freight Carrier of Major League Baseball.” This year, Old Dominion will partner with eight teams for the spring training celebrations, including the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies. The festivities will begin with the Chicago White Sox 28th annual event, SoxFest, on Jan. 24-25. With the help of the White Sox mascot, Southpaw, Old Dominion will move the team’s equipment to the new SoxFest location, McCormick Place. Fans will have the chance to collect autographs and take photos with former and current stars of the Chicago White Sox. On Jan. 25, the New York Mets will host the inaugural FanFest event at Citi Field. The sendoff will take place at noon in the player’s lot, where one trailer will be packed with more than 10,000 items, including 600 baseball caps, four pitching machines, 10 cases of chewing gum and 1,000 pounds of weight equipment for the team, and depart for First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Thousands of Braves fans are expected to attend ChopFest at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan. 25, where Old Dominion will celebrate with the team before their departure. The event will include interactive areas with players and coaches, pictures with team mascot, BLOOPER, a Braves history chalk walk, free autographs for kids and more. Following the Kansas City Royals FanFest activities in downtown Kansas City, the team will move from Kauffman Stadium to Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona on Jan. 30. The team will pack up two 28-foot trailers and begin the 1,280-mile journey to Surprise Stadium. The Los Angeles Angels are gearing up for an exclusive celebration on Feb. 4 where Old Dominion will load commemorative trailers with exercise equipment, consumable products for the clubhouse, and other Spring Training essentials, before hitting the road to Tempe, Arizona. To wrap up the sendoffs, on Feb. 7, the Philadelphia Phillies will host a community event at Citizen Bank Park to celebrate “Truck Day.” With the help of the Phillies’ mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, Old Dominion will move a variety of items, including 10,000 12 oz. sports drink cups, 2,400 baseballs, six bicycles, one Phanatic hot dog launcher and more into two 28-foot trailers. The Phillie Phanatic — alongside rally-towel waving fans and local sports mascots — will escort the custom-wrapped trailers out of Citizen Bank Park to begin the journey to Clearwater, Florida. The Old Dominion tandem trailers will cruise through eight states, traveling 1,058 miles until it reaches their destination at Spectrum Field.

Bob Perry didn’t think he had a choice. Born in northeast Ohio, trucking was in Bob’s blood. Between his father and two brothers, the Perry family has 60 years of driving experience—or 61 if you include Bob’s one year behind the wheel. In 1972, family tradition called for Bob to climb in the cab of his first (and only) truck. He did as was expected. For about a year he drove… and thought… and thought… and drove some more. All that thinking allowed Bob to reach a swift conclusion. “Trucking just wasn’t for me,” he said. And so ended Bob Perry’s career on the highways. But fate had the final word. He might have been finished driving a truck, but he was far from finished with the trucking industry. “I soon became involved in health and wellness,” he said. By 1975, Bob had worked in the healthcare industry and for several years after managed and owned fitness centers. But being so close to the trucking culture, he knew drivers as people, not just anonymous faces he passed on the interstate, and he understood the truckers’ lifestyle. “I realized my experience in the personal health arena could be applied to improving truckers’ lives,” Bob said. “Drivers don’t have opportunities to train, join a fitness center, or even shop at health food stores.” Shifting gears About 20 years ago, Bob combined his knowledge of personal health and trucking to provide information to medical clinics with substantial numbers of truck driving patients. But it was a brief encounter in 2008 that set Bob’s wheels turning. The connection between driver health and the trucking industry’s needs became clear. Bob stood outside a Georgia truck stop chatting with a couple of drivers. The subject turned to lifestyles on the road. The drivers weren’t particularly satisfied with their health status, so Bob provided a few tips they could put to immediate use. They followed Bob’s lead and later told him those tips led to notable health improvements. “A couple of drivers for Covenant Transport out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, caught wind of the advice I offered and asked if I could help them as well,” Bob said. “They convinced Covenant to let me work with a couple of other drivers. Before long I was working with all Covenant drivers. Bob built on his strong start and grew his list of clients. Sherwin-Williams, Greyhound Bus Lines, and Hogan Transportation soon signed on. “The growth really validated what I was doing,” Bob said. His understanding of truck drivers and their families also helped him realize the payoff of his efforts. “Drivers’ families depend on them,” he said. “When parents can’t pass a DOT exam, and the family loses a source of income, it impacts both adults and kids.”  He noted that truck driving is a unique occupation and lifestyle. When a driver can no longer work, adjustment is difficult. “Not just any job is going to provide satisfaction to someone who has been on the road for years,” Bob said. Even without fear of job loss, the lonely life of driving takes its toll in the form of depression and other mental health issues, conditions Bob is incorporating into his programs. In 2009, Bob founded “Rolling Strong,” an initiative encouraging drivers to become health-conscious. Rolling Strong worked with travel centers to install self-administered “StayHealthy” stations where drivers could check weight, BMI, blood pressure, and vision. As the stations became widely available, Rolling Strong developed the first truck driver-focused wellness app for the iPhone. By 2012, Freightliner took note of Bob’s work and asked him to join them in developing the first in-cab gym, “The Fit System.” He soon became in great demand as an advocate for trucker wellness. One thing Bob has learned when presenting health information to a group is to keep the message simple and speak in terms that hit home with his audience. Rather than a narrative about the importance of wellness, for instance, Bob may tell a group to take a “peek under their personal hoods,” suggesting drivers should “check their personal oil and gauges” just like they do those in their trucks. Or, he may compare drivers’ awareness of truck maintenance needs to that of their health. “If a light is out on a truck,” Bob said, “the driver will see that it is fixed quickly. On the other hand, if a health-related warning light is going off, chances are they’ll ignore it.” “My job is to help drivers make the best choices while on the road so they can get home safely each and every trip,” Bob said. The 90-day window Bob’s company, Health in Transportation, has launched a new initiative, “Fit to Pass.” The program’s goal is to provide drivers information to remain healthy year-round. If they do remain healthy, when it comes time to renew their CDLs and pass DOT medical exams, they won’t have to worry—something creating more stress and adding to health problems. “Fit to Pass” was largely inspired by a former Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) driver of the year who visited with Bob, noting his poor health had resulted in his being issued a 90-day card. “Here is a national driver of the year—he’s been driving for 47 years with over 5 million accident-free miles—and he’s stuck with a 90-day card,” Bob said. “The industry can’t afford to lose drivers with his level of experience and skill, especially with the problems carriers have in recruiting and retaining new drivers.” Bob coached the driver to make some simple changes in his lifestyle over the 90 days he had before his renewal would be reconsidered. The result? A loss of 35 pounds and a new one-year card. “Fit to Pass” capitalizes on the driver of the year story, and while the program doesn’t encourage drivers to wait until crunch time to get healthy, it is designed to put on a “full press” as exam dates approach. To increase his program’s effectiveness, Bob has teamed up with Espyr, a nationwide company conducting Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for many organizations. “Espyr has the large call center, professional coaches and counselors and ability to touch base with drivers throughout the year,” Bob said. “Drivers can call any time they need advice or assistance.” Espyr’s services are available to fleets at the cost of one dollar a month per enrolled driver. “Based on experience, I know that we’ve saved carriers hundreds of thousands of dollars in driver turnover costs alone. A dollar a month is insignificant compared to a lawsuit resulting from an accident in which driver health plays a role,” Bob said. He also notes that regardless of how much money a carrier invests in technology to increase safety, it is the driver who makes the difference. Espyr also provides mental health services, something Bob sought as he looked for a partner. Mental fitness—silent key to wellness “There is so much depression in the industry,” he said. Espyr has provided mental health services for over 30 years; in fact, Espyr personnel were on-scene at the El Paso, Texas, Wal-Mart on August 3 following the shooting that killed 22 people and injuring dozens. The staff offered immediate counseling to employees, customers and first responders, helping them process what they had witnessed and preparing them for what they might expect in the months and years ahead. But drivers don’t need to witness a traumatic event to develop mental health issues; sometimes the loneliness of the road is enough. Solutions may be as simple as driving with a pet companion, usually a dog. “If I ask a group how many in the room travel with dogs,” he said. “usually about 40% of the hands go up. Then I ask them if they fed their dogs that morning. The same hands go up. Finally, I ask if they fed their dogs a donut and a cup of coffee for breakfast, then lit up a cigarette for them.” Bob’s point hits home. “Drivers are more concerned about their pet’s health than they are their own wellness,” he said. While Bob Perry hasn’t driven a truck in nearly 40 years, he remains on the road—or at least in the air—logging over 125,000 flight miles a year. He conducts orientation sessions and classes across the country up to three weeks out of each month. And he remains active in promoting driver health and wellness within the industry. Bob served two years as vice-chair of the American Trucking Associations’ Health and Wellness working group followed by four years in the chairman’s slot. He remains active with the organization and is also involved with the American Bus Association Safety Council (after all bus drivers face the same long hours on t the road, and they carry the nation’s most precious cargo). OTR health in an industry taking notice After being featured on many national television and radio broadcasts as well as in the nation’s largest newspapers and magazines, most recently, TravelAmerica Centers (TA) named Bob its “wellness ambassador.” “TA requires all of its locations to provide some sort of fitness area for drivers,” he said. “A walking trail, a basketball court, even a horseshoe pit—anything encouraging exercise is great.” TA also provides health clinics at about 20 locations, with more being added. And access to healthcare while on the road is problematic for truckers and leads them to put off seeking the care they need. “CVS has about 1,500 locations where offering health care services ranging from DOT exams to access to doctors,” he said, noting that at this time the chain is probably a trucker’s best choice when needing immediate health care. So, the question is, as a driver, are you fit to pass? If today is the deadline for your DOT medical exam, can you walk in worry-free, or would it be best if you just didn’t show up? If your answer is the latter, that’s why The Trucker and Bob Perry are joining forces. In future issues of The Trucker, Bob will write a column providing tips you can put to immediate use to improve your health along with information and stories to inspire you to remain focused on wellness As you read, remember, simple lifestyle changes can be the difference between losing your CDL and being “Fit to Pass.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Truckload Carriers Association has recognized three drivers as “Highway Angels” for their efforts in assisting accident victims and helping prevent secondary accidents. Jeffery Zeeb, a Canada-based driver for Bison Transport, was recognized for his efforts in assisting a motorist who hit a tree fallen in the roadway while directing other motorists away from the scene. In the early morning of August 18, 2019, Zeeb was returning to his home in Revelstoke, British Columbia. Approaching a blind curve, he saw a car that had crashed into a fallen tree blocking the roadway and virtually invisible in the rain and fog in an already dark area of highway. As the driver appeared to be uninjured, Zeeb recognized the dark site was primed for another accident. He placed flares, safety triangles, and a warning light to alert other motorists. He then directed traffic through the one passable lane until help arrived 45 minutes later. Charles Jasewicz, a driver with H.O. Wolding, was recognized as a Highway Angel for assisting a motorist who had been ejected in an accident and was pinned under his vehicle. In November 2019, Jasewicz was driving east of Tucumcari, New Mexico, when he saw a vehicle just a short distance off the road. As abandoned vehicles are common along New Mexico highways, Jasewicz wasn’t initially alarmed; that is, until he saw legs moving underneath the vehicle. With the engine still running and the driver pinned with his neck in contact with the vehicle’s exhaust pipe, Jasewicz could see his neck being severely burned. Jasewicz knew he couldn’t lift the car, but a team of Old Dominion Freight Line drivers pulled over, and all were able to lift the car enough to wedge a spare tire beneath it and take pressure off the victim’s neck. Thirty minutes later, first responders arrived and pulled the victim free of the vehicle. Jasewicz later learned that the driver survived the accident. Robert Digrazia, a driver with ABF Freight Systems, Inc., was recognized for his efforts to extinguish a vehicle fire and ensure the safety of a young driver. On September 2019, Digrazia was in route to Bradenton, Florida, to pick up a load of freight.  As he approached the terminal, he saw a vehicle with flames coming from the driver’s side door. Pulling next the to the burning car, he saw young lady, likely not yet 20 years old, inside. Fearing she was in shock and unable to understand her car was on fire, Digrazia went into action. When he reached the driver’s side with his fire extingisher, the young driver had kicked open the door, and Digrazia put out the fire. He helped the driver call her father and kept her from danger along a roadway with no shoulder. Passing motorists paid little attention, blowing their horns in anger for Digrazia blocking the road. No one else stopped to help, but Digrazia was the only angel along the highway the young lady needed that evening. In recognition of being named Highway Angels, Zeeb, Jasewicz, and Digrazia all received certificates, patches, lapel pins, and trucking decals. Likewise, the carriers received certificates recognizing their drivers as Highway Angels.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Wreaths Across America’s annual trek from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery has earned a reputation as the world’s largest veterans’ parade. More than 70 trucks lined the highway in late December to carry the hundreds of thousands of wreaths that were to be placed on the graves at the country’s largest veterans’ resting place. Elisabeth Barna, executive vice president of industry affairs and senior advisor with the American Trucking Associations, said the response from the trucking industry is a sight that always leaves her in awe. “We are a very patriotic and community-based industry and we would do anything for anybody,” Barna said. “I think that this project is really special. You talk to anybody, whether they are competitors or retired drivers, everybody wants to participate in it.” Wreaths Across America began as a small ceremony led by the Worcester Wreath Company in 1992 as a way to distribute a surplus of wreaths, but as plans were underway several other organizations and volunteers stepped up to help. The annual tribute went on quietly until 2005, when a photo of the wreaths at the cemetery garnered national attention. By 2007, Wreaths Across America was formed as a non-profit organization and has grown exponentially each year since. Today, wreaths are carried into the cemetery by the truckload. In addition, the convoy makes stops in smaller communities along the way to spread the word of the importance of remembering those who are currently serving as well as those who have been laid to rest. “It is incredible,” Barna said. “Any of the drivers who participate in the convoy, they become one big family.” This year, the organization along with numerous volunteers and donors were able to place wreaths in 2,100 cemeteries across the nation and 70 trucks brought more than 254,000 wreaths to the national cemetery. “Pickup trucks just wouldn’t make it,” Barna said. “You don’t see the trains and ships going into cemeteries, so they really do need the trucking industry for this.” Barna said there are normally more than 40 trucks and at least 38,000 volunteers waiting at Arlington on the morning of the wreath placement, but that hasn’t always been the case. “I remember the first four or five years, you could just drive your car into Arlington and park alongside your truck and help unload and it would take hours and hours to unload the trucks and place the wreaths on the graves,” she said. “Now you can hardly get on the Metro because so many people want to help and volunteer and depending on your location, you may only get one wreath to place because the lines are so long.” The American Trucking Associations’ Workforce Heroes trucks leads the convoy each year and selected two Army veterans to drive the trucks to lead the 2019 convoy. “Year-to-year, [the drivers] really look forward to seeing each other,” Barna said. “It is an instant, automatic family. Our drivers fight to get to drive one of the ATA trucks.” Trucking groups from across the country join forces to make this annual event one to remember. Kansas-based Cline Wood and Missouri-based Buchheit Logistics joined the efforts for a fourth year this by delivering two truckloads of wreaths that were placed on veterans’ graves in cemeteries in Illinois and Missouri. The Wreaths Across America Honor Trailer, which was sponsored by UPS this year, was escorted to Arlington to support National Wreaths Across America Day. Missouri-based TransLand delivered wreaths to Ohio as well as Arlington. Additionally, TransLand joined with the Springfield Area Motor Carriers Club and ensured that all U.S. veterans in Springfield were honored with wreaths. Last year, only 6,000 veterans’ graves received a wreath. This year, 14,500 graves received wreaths. “A lot of these drivers do this on their own time,” Barna said. “There are owner-operators who help with this and fleet drivers as well. While they are out doing this, their families are at home getting ready for the holidays.” Even as the event grows and garners more national participation, the mission of remembering veterans remains the same. “It is about teaching the new generation about our heroes — our fallen heroes and the ones that are still over there fighting for us and making us have the life that we have,” Barna said. “It is about remembering them and not just about throwing a wreath on a grave.” The wreaths that were placed at Arlington National Cemetery in December have now been collected and recycled. The wreaths typically stay in place until the second Saturday in January. Anyone in the trucking industry looking to get involved in the 2020 convoy or participate in any other way can visit trucking.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Setting yet another record for its largest-ever donation, truck drivers and other employees of Averitt Express raised $1,000,001 in 2019 that was recently donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It marked the fifth consecutive year Averitt employees have either matched or set a record in their donation to St. Jude. The amount is also the largest-ever employee-giving contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, eclipsing the previous record of $750,001 that was also held by Averitt. “This donation is a team effort, and I’m humbled by our team’s giving spirit that makes it possible,” said Gary Sasser, Averitt’s chairman and chief executive officer. “It’s also a great example of what St. Jude founder Danny Thomas once said – ‘I’d rather have a million people give me a dollar than one give me a million.’” The donation was fueled by weekly contributions from Averitt employees as part of Averitt Cares for Kids, the company’s charitable employee-giving program. More than 96% of Averitt associates participate, giving $1 per week to help St. Jude and other important causes. Additionally, the company makes contributions to Averitt Cares for Kids in recognition of associates’ accomplishments, participation in community service projects, and life events. “An important theme for our team is ‘The Power of One’ – it represents the positive impact all of us can make as we work together toward a common goal,” Sasser added. “That’s why the extra dollar in our donation is so important to our team. I’m proud of the way we’ve worked together to accomplish this milestone, and I’m even more excited to see how we’ll make a bigger difference in the future.” Since Averitt Cares for Kids began in 1987, it has contributed close to $11 million overall to numerous charities, including more than $8 million to St. Jude. Averitt Cares for Kids completed a $1.5 million endowment to help fund the initial construction of the St. Jude Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic, where most St. Jude patients are treated. Averitt associates’ most recent contribution will continue to support the innovative research and lifesaving care at St. Jude, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic.

When some people enter the trucking industry, it’s a career change. For Jessica Luttrell, it was a life-changing experience. “I wasn’t getting anywhere in Arizona,” she said in a recent interview with The Trucker. With a past that included raising her two children with government assistance and periods of homelessness, Luttrell needed a change. Thus began a transformation that continues today, thanks to the trucking industry and one special driver. That transformation includes selection as the Women in Trucking December 2019 Member of the Month. Jessica hauls dairy products between distribution centers for Umpqua Dairy, a 75-truck operation with headquarters in Roseburg, Oregon. She typically works evening/night shifts, running dairy products to Umpqua “depots” for the coming delivery day. “I think I have it easy compared to some other drivers,” she said. “I don’t do the retail runs, I haul truckload to the Umpqua distribution centers.” Like many, her trucking career began with a solo over-the-road position. Once her boyfriend obtained a CDL of his own, they teamed together for a couple of years before Jessica found local work in order to spend more time with her two children. “I worked for a farm that serviced septic tanks and porta-potties,” she explained. Her job was to haul the fermented sludge to local farms, spreading it on hay fields as fertilizer. She also drove dump trucks for a local construction firm before hiring on as Umpqua Dairy’s first female driver. “I love being able to support myself and my kids, provide benefits and all the things that the trucking industry provides,” she said. Luttrell’s odyssey in trucking began with her (then) boyfriend’s suggestion that they give Oregon a try. They loaded their possessions into an RV and hit the road. “Unfortunately, our RV broke down and we had to get a U-Haul for our belongings, so we were travelling in a U-Haul with two kids a dog and a cat,” she explained. “Then, the money ran out.” The young family found themselves stranded at a truck stop in Corning, California, without the funds to complete their trip. That’s when a big-hearted trucker did what truckers so often do. “A woman truck driver walked up and asked ‘What’s your story? I can tell that I need to help you.’ Then she told us to pull the U-Haul up to the pump. She filled it up and then gave us money to buy food,” Luttrell said. That fuel and the encouragement that came with it was enough to complete the trip. “I can’t believe I didn’t even get her name,” she said. Once in Oregon, she couldn’t help but notice the large variety of trucks plying Interstate 5 and local roads. “They were amazing,” she said. “I still want to try heavy haul and I want to drive a log truck.” Her curiosity piqued, Jessica began to check out the industry. “It looked fun and seemed to offer (financial) stability,” she said, but she didn’t get much support at first. “People told me ‘that’s stupid,’” she said. “Nobody took me seriously until I got my permit.” That’s when she applied for a scholarship to the Umpqua Community College CDL program through Umpqua Training and Employment, a partnership between the college and local trucking businesses. It wasn’t easy. “I had to pass an assessment, interview drivers and participate in a scholarship selection process,” she explained. “I thought I was going to have to take a remedial math class to go to CDL school!” When all was said and done, “I was awarded a scholarship for the four-week CDL course at the college.” Since then, she’s worked to become more active in trucking, joining WIT and visiting classes at the community college with her (now ex) husband. She was interviewed by WIT President and CEO Ellen Voie for the organization’s radio show and also appeared in a promotional video for the college where she obtained her CDL (youtu.be/wnbsyXc9NxU). Currently, she’s communicating with a representative of the college about making regular visits to address the classes. Luttrell’s future plans are to move into management. “I am like the safety police,” she laughed, “so I think I would do well in a safety role.” She knows, however, that more knowledge leads to more opportunities. “The more I learn about the industry, the more I want to learn about the different parts and how everything works.” She understands that a move from her current residence in a small town a half-hour from the Umpqua headquarters in Roseburg may be necessary. When asked about her hobbies and work outside of the trucking industry, Luttrell was specific. “My kids are my life, my dogs are my life,” she explained. One of her two daughters is 19 and has since moved out of the home, but the 11-year old still lives with Luttrell. That’s another reason she’d like to work regular daytime hours in the office. She also describes herself as “a hardcore animal lover,” who is proud of the work she and her ex-husband did with Gettin’ Em Home Transport (gettinemhome.com), a charitable organization that utilizes volunteers to transport dogs and cats from animal shelters to rescue centers and foster homes in other states. “Some of them were great to travel with and some we couldn’t wait to get rid of, but we loved doing it,” Luttrell said, explaining that it wasn’t always easy. “There were a lot of relays to get the animal where it was going,” she said. “Some didn’t understand we were in a big truck and kept trying to arrange a meet at Starbucks, but we worked it out.” Luttrell still has one dog from the program, along with another rescued elsewhere. She understands that there’s a message in how far she’s come, with credit to the help she received getting started, and she wants others to know their lives can improve, too. “I want people to know you can make a future for yourself,” she said. “If you’re stuck in a rut in your life, go out there and do something for yourself.” As a member of the family of trucking, she has a simple message to her fellow drivers. “We are all on the same team and we all have some of the same struggles,” she said. “Let’s work together.”

LOWELL, Ark. – J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. recently recognized its first company driver to complete five million safe miles driven without a preventable accident, an unprecedented achievement at J.B. Hunt and rarity for the industry. Phil Fortin, a J.B. Hunt Intermodal driver based in South Gate, California, reached five million safe miles in December 2019. “The professional commitment and resilience it takes to achieve five million safe miles is almost unthinkable,” said John Roberts, president and CEO of J.B. Hunt. “Thank you, Phil, for your dedication to this company and for setting the bar of excellence in safety for others to follow.” Fortin earned his first safe mile at J.B. Hunt in 1984 as a driver for the company’s Truckload division. Nearly 35 years later, he is one of the company’s most decorated drivers, having received 33 safe driving awards. Fortin reached four million safe miles in 2010, an achievement shared by only 16 other J.B. Hunt drivers. He will receive a $50,000 safe driving bonus for reaching five million safe miles, bringing his career total in safe driving bonuses to $125,000. “I want to thank Mr. Hunt for having a dream and committing to it, because in the wake of his pursuit, he created so many opportunities for others, me included,” said Fortin. “Together as a team, we make it all work, and I’m grateful for all those around me who helped me reach this milestone.” J.B. Hunt implemented the Million Mile program in 1996 and has since recognized more than 3,600 company drivers for achieving one million-plus safe miles. Each driver is listed on the Million Mile Wall at corporate headquarters and receives a safe driving bonus for their achievement. In total, the company has awarded more than $28 million in safe driving bonuses. Fortin will receive additional recognition at the company’s Million Mile event in April. J.B. Hunt has hosted the annual ceremony since 2001 to recognize drivers who achieve one, two, three, four, and now five million safe miles. In addition to an honorary lunch and visit with company leadership, drivers participate in J.B. Hunt’s Million Mile Walk of Fame, a long-standing tradition where employees line four flights of stairs to congratulate them with applause and high-fives. Also during the same month, J.B. Hunt hired its 10,000th veteran since 2014, a commitment the company has worked diligently to achieve. More than 15% of J.B. Hunt employees are now veterans, and the company has several programs to help transition them from service to a career, whether it be in management, maintenance, office, or driving. “There’s so much potential for veterans in this industry, so we’ve established a support effort to help them develop rewarding careers that match their skillset with our opportunities,” added Roberts. “This was a bold and honorable goal for us, and I am very proud of all who helped make it happen.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Truckload Carriers Association has announced the 2019 Company Driver of the Year and 2019 Owner Operator of the Year finalists. Each year, the Driver of the Year Contests recognize company and owner-operator professional truck drivers who provide safe and reliable transportation of North America’s goods. The top six finalists were selected based on their demonstrated ability to operate safely on public highways, their efforts to enhance the public image of the trucking industry, and their contributions to their local communities. The 2019 Company Driver of the Year Contest finalists include: Robie Jensen of Fremont, Nebraska, who drives for Fremont Contract Carriers also of Fremont, Nebraska. Randy Kuryk of Sicamous, British Columbia, Canada, who drives for Bison Transport of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Don Lewis of Republic, Missouri, who drives for Wilson Logistics of Springfield, Missouri. The 2019 Owner-Operator of the Year Contest finalists include: Jesse Dennis of Springfield, Missouri who is leased to Prime Inc. also of Springfield, Missouri. Kevin Kocmich of Litchfield, Minnesota, who is leased to Diamond Transportation System of Racine, Wisconsin. Robert and Tracy Roth of Coldwater, Ontario, Canada, who are leased to Erb International of New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada. Grand prize winners in both categories will be announced at TCA’s Annual Convention — Truckload 2020: Orlando — at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, on March 3. Each grand prize winner will receive $25,000, while the two runners-up in each division will win $2,500. “These contests continue to bring forth the best of the best in our industry year-after-year” said TCA President John Lyboldt. “From being a mentor behind the wheel, to being a leader in their community, these drivers are so deserving of this recognition. I look forward to seeing which driver takes home the grand prize at Truckload 2020.” For more information on the Driver of the Year Contests, visit truckload.org/DOY.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Truck Writers of North America (TWNA), a professional organization dedicated to producing trucking industry information, Tuesday said it had donated most of its remaining funds to truckersfinalmile, a charitable organization that offers assistance to North American truck drivers. TWNA leaders made the decision after the organization disbanded, except for its Technical Achievement Award committee. “We chose truckersfinalmile to receive the funds because it is a group that supports truck drivers, the very people who keep the industry we all serve moving,” said TWNA Treasurer Lyndon Finney, editor at The Trucker News Organization. “This group provides support for the families of drivers when they need it most, so we felt that they could use the remaining resources of TWNA to continue to fulfill their mission.” truckersfinalmile,an IRS 501(c)(3) recognized charity, reunites truck drivers and their families in the event of death, debilitating injury or serious illness. The organization assists with travel, lodging and ground transportation for truck drivers and their immediate families, whether to the driver’s location or for the driver to travel home. Additionally, in the event of the loss of a driver’s life on the road, the group will pay for the transportation of his/her remains. Robert Palm, an independent contractor leased to Roadrunner Transportation, founded truckersfinalmile. “Every day, as many as three million commercial truck drivers are on the roads of North America, and inevitably health related issues and accidents occur,” he said. “Most of us do not have a plan for these events and a great deal of trucker families live paycheck to paycheck. “The generous donation by the Truck Writers of North America is enough to bring one deceased driver home to their family, something we do about 60 times each year,” Palm continued. “With those funds and the continuing support of our donors, we will have the resources to provide drivers with the help they need, should any crisis befall them or a loved one while they are performing their daily duty of keeping the North American economy moving.” Founded in 1988, TWNA is a professional organization of writers, editors, public relations specialists, marketing personnel and others involved in the business of creating or producing information related to the world of trucking. Each year since 1991, the group has presented its Technical Achievement Award to a product or service that exhibits a high level of technical innovation, has wide applicability and availability in trucking, and offers significant operating benefits. Renamed the Jim Winsor Memorial Technical Achievement Award in honor of the highly respected, 50-year truck journalist who passed away in 2015, the award will continue to be presented with industry support.