Five good things that happened in trucking this week – June 12
The trucking industry is starting to see the other side of the coronavirus pandemic. The FMCSA extended emergency relief excemptions to July 14, but only for three categories instead of the previous 10. Companies are moving their viewfinders to the future: Nikola furthers plans for the Nikola Badger, Daimler focuses on fuel cells, and Plus.ai continues toward autonomous vehicles. As we continue to look to the future, here are five good things that happened in trucking this week.
Mack and NASCAR work together to donate to frontline workers
NASCAR, or the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, supports some of the biggest racing events in the United States. Most recently, they had a race at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., on June 10.
On their way to the race, some of the NASCAR haulers stopped by Mack Trucks’ HQ in Greensboro, N.C. to pick up donated items to gift to the front-line workers at Sovah Health Hospital in Martinsville.
Uber Freight delivers 10,000 care packages to truckers
Uber Freight is providing 10,000 care packages for truck drivers across the U.S. – with the support from FourKites, Howes, and Smashmallow – that include necessities like cleaning supplies and masks. To help distribute the care packages on the road and at truck stops, Uber Freight has partnered with nonprofits like Meals for 18 Wheels, REAL Women in Trucking, truckersfinalmile.org, and Truckers Emergency Assistance Responders (TEAR).
“Our volunteers are now able to distribute in many more nationwide locations from our collective product donation sponsors that include Uber Freight,” said Desiree Wood, founder and president of REAL Women In Trucking. “Together, we want to spread appreciation to the truck drivers and let them know there are people that care about them. We hope others will join us and do the same.”
In addition to the care packages, Uber Freight also provided Uber Eats credits and is offering free coronavirus telehealth assessments to carriers on the Uber Freight platform, showcasing the efforts of shippers and industry partners like CHEP, Ryder, and Progressive, which are currently offering Uber Eats vouchers to truck drivers it insures, so they have access to warm meals while on the road.
PEAK BlueDEF launched a sign and comment donation challenge for St. Christopher Trucker’s Relief Fund
PEAK BlueDEF has challenged the community to make and share Thank a Trucker signs. For every sign created, posted on social media tagging PEAK BlueDEF, the company will donate $5 to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. For every comment on this tweet below, the company will donate $1 up to $10,000. Get to creating and commenting!
Tennessee Trucking Association created trucker t-shirt campaign to support truckers
The Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA) launched a Thank A Trucker t-shirt campaign to support the Tennessee truck drivers.
With two different shirt designs, one for the trucker themselves who would like to represent their essential role, and one for friends and family who want to show their thanks, each shirt design comes in multiple styles such as t-shirt, long sleeves, and tank tops. They both have several different colors provided for each, with youth sizes for children.
TA revealed its 2020 Citizen Driver winners
On Tuesday, June 9, TravelCenters of America (TA) announced Herschel Evans of Bremen, Ga., and Jerry Seaman of Huron, S.D., as its seventh annual Citizen Driver Award winners.
As part of the honor, Citizen Driver Award winners may select a TA, Petro Stopping Center or TA Express location to be dedicated in their name, allowing their story to be continuously displayed for all travelers that pass through. In addition, TA makes a $2,500 donation to each winner’s charity of choice.
Evans, who has a 32-year driving career and is employed by Holland Inc., has chosen the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Safety Drive for a Cure as his charity to receive the $2,500 donation. The Petro in Atlanta will soon be dedicated in his name.
As a strong advocate for safety, he has logged 3.1 million miles, all accident-free. For the past 33 years, he has been involved with Atlanta Ride for Kids, a nationwide motorcycle charity ride that benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. In 2011, he took over an intercompany truck driving championship and turned it into the Safety Drive for a Cure benefiting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Seaman, a lifetime member of OOIDA and the Truck Historical Society, has a 48-year driving career and currently employed by NTA Trucking LTD., has chosen the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund as his charity to receive the $2,500 donation from TA. The Vermillion, South Dakota, TA Express will soon be dedicated in his name.
He has logged more than 5 million miles in his career, all accident-free. Seaman is devoted to working with the Special Olympics and has been involved with the South Dakota Convoy for Special Olympics since its inception in 2002. He has worked this event every year since and has been an instrumental part of its growth and success.
