Five Good Things: Trucking responds with earthquake relief

For this week's blog highlighting good news in trucking, we recognize trucking's charitable efforts both at home and abroad as the freight industry knows no bounds.

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Daimler supports earthquake relief

Daimler Truck AG is donating one million euros (about $1.07 million) as emergency aid to earthquake-affected regions in Turkey and Syria. The sum will go in equal parts to the German Red Cross and to Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund, to support their aid projects for survivors of the Feb. 6 earthquake.

In addition, Daimler is offering vehicles and, together with partners, organizing convoys to deliver supplies to survivors.

Turkey has been an important location for Daimler Truck AG for decades, according to a company press release. Buses have been produced there at the Hoşdere plant near Istanbul since 1967, and Mercedes-Benz trucks have been produced in the central Anatolian city of Aksaray since 1986.

From the Aksaray plant, which is closest to the earthquake area, a first aid transport loaded with donated goods had arrived in the earthquake area as of Daimler’s announcement Feb. 10. In cooperation with the German Red Cross Aalen, the company said it would send three loaded trucks to the disaster area this week.

Schneider honors Air Force anniversary with a special truck

Schneider driver and U.S. Army veteran Jeff Waggoner.

Schneider paid tribute to the U.S. military with its 2022 Ride of Pride truck. The truck from Schneider (No. 7 on the new FleetOwner 500 For-Hire list) celebrates the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force and its accomplishments. Pictures on the truck show the academy, aircraft, and airmen in service.

The driver, Jeff Waggoner, is a 24-year Army veteran combat engineer who split his time in the Army into two parts. He first joined right after graduating high school in 1985 and left in 1989 before he re-enlisted in 1998.

“I’m honored beyond belief to do this and not only represent Schneider, but also represent veterans and those on active duty. It shows we appreciate the sacrifice people have made and continue to make,” Waggoner said.

Driver saves fellow trucker from overturned tractor

Larry Barnes, driver for ABF Freight out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Larry Barnes, from Stockbridge, GA, a Highway Angel for stopping to rescue a trapped trucker after his bobtail truck overturned on a slick road. Barnes drives for ABF Freight out of Fort Smith, Arkansas. ABF Freight is a subsidiary of ArcBest (No. 29 on the new FleetOwner 500 For-Hire list).

Around 1 a.m. on August 25, 2022, Barnes was driving on an offramp of the Florida Turnpike in Wildwood. He planned to take a 30-minute break, but while still driving, noticed a truck overturned in the woods off to his left. The road conditions were very slippery due to the constant rain that day.

Barnes grabbed his gloves, hammer, and knife and ran to the truck, which was overturned on the driver’s side.

“He was stuck in his seatbelt,” Barnes said, but the man assured him he was not injured, though he seemed dazed.

“I jumped down in the tractor,” Barnes said. Once inside, he cut the trapped driver’s seat belt so he could move, then climbed out of the truck and reached back in to pull the driver out of the tractor.

Once out, the driver hesitated to jump down to the ground.

“He was afraid of heights,” Barnes said, so he encouraged the driver by first jumping down and then reaching up to help catch the man as he jumped down. The moment Barnes got him out, emergency vehicles arrived. The man told Barnes thank you and that he was an angel that appeared out of nowhere.

“I like to help people,” Barnes said.

Swift supports children's hospitals with donations, raises awareness with specially wrapped truck

Swift Transportation presents Phoenix Children's Hospital in Arizona with a check for the amount drivers and driving support team members donated throughout the year. Driver Casey S. (left) received the keys to a new wrapped Kenworth tractor.

Swift Transportation supported Children's Miracle Network Hospitals with a donation of over $160,000. Knight-Swift (No. 3 on the new FleetOwner 500 For-Hire list) also hand-selected a driver, Casey S., to receive a new wrapped Kenworth Truck, the company announced on LinkedIn.

Kenworth awards dealer for support against human trafficking

Don Blake, sales manager at the Phoenix, Arizona dealership Inland Kenworth, received the Kenworth Industry Impact Award at the recent 2022 Kenworth Dealer Meeting in San Diego. The award annually honors an outstanding leader in the Kenworth dealer network, or an employee of Kenworth's parent company Paccar, who serves dealers and has made a significant impact in the broader trucking industry.

In the past five years, Blake spearheaded the effort to build three special “Everyday Heroes” Kenworth T680s sold at auction, with the $573,000 total proceeds going to Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT). The Everyday Heroes trucks were specially wrapped to help promote the organization’s mission on the road.

“I’m very honored to receive the Kenworth Industry Impact Award. The important work of Truckers Against Trafficking has dramatically raised awareness in the trucking industry about human trafficking and its significant impact on society. I look forward to continuing in this battle,” said Blake, who serves on the TAT board.

Last fall, Blake received the TAT Champion award from Truckers Against Trafficking. That award honors individuals who have found innovative ways to support the organization’s mission in the battle against human trafficking.