Five Good Things: Carrier anniversaries and continued earthquake relief
For this week's blog highlighting good news in trucking, we two bulk carriers celebrate their longevity. Also, hundreds of tons of supplies are delivered to Turkey as the freight industry continues its aid for survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
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Trucker saves fellow driver having stroke
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Joshua Harris, from Cardington, Ohio, a Highway Angel for rushing to the aid of a fellow trucker having a stroke while driving. Harris drives for Scotts Miracle-Gro out of Marysville, Ohio.
Around 4 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2022, Joshua Harris was on his way to the Columbus Zoo with his family when he received an urgent phone call from his work colleague, Dusty. Dusty told Harris that he was having some sort of medical emergency while he was driving his truck and requested Harris come to his aid immediately.
“He was on the road with his tractor-trailer,” Harris said. “I didn’t know what to expect when I got there.”
Harris drove a half-hour to Mount Vernon, Ohio, to meet Dusty, who he found standing on the side of the road vomiting in the rainy, cold weather.
“He couldn’t get back in the truck,” Harris said. “At the time, I didn’t know it was a stroke.”
Harris said an Ohio state trooper was called and arrived just before he did. They waited for the ambulance to arrive, and Harris safely parked Dusty’s truck and held on to the keys. He then followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited in the ER for an update. Doctors determined the trucker had suffered a stroke, but he was released from the hospital the next day.
“I wanted to know what was going on—I care about the guy,” Harris said. “Thankfully, it turned out well.”
FedEx gives relief to Turkey
FedEx has committed more than $1,000,000 worth of in-kind freight to support earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria. From Feb. 17-21, FedEx made five flights using an MD-11 cargo plane to deliver about 250 tons of supplies, including tents, blankets, baby items, household supplies, and hygiene kits from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
See also: Five Good Things: Trucking responds with earthquake relief
“FedEx is committed to helping the many communities impacted by the earthquakes during this incredibly difficult time,” FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam said. “We are inspired by the heroic work of first responders and humanitarian organizations and grateful to use our global network to donate flights, logistics support, and aid to advance recovery, rebuilding, and relief in the region.”
FedEx (No. 1 on the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire) also donated $100,000 on Feb. 8 to the Red Cross in order to help distribute essentials such as food, water, and blankets, to establish shelters as well as provide psychological support and medical aid, according to the press release.
Additionally, on Feb. 8, FedEx delivered supplies from Istanbul to Malatya, Turkey, on behalf of the Istanbul Governorship and local municipality, including food supplies, as well as clothing donated by local residents. During the week of Feb. 13, FedEx provided shipping support for Canadian disaster-relief organization GlobalMedic, including the delivery of water purifiers. FedEx worked with U.S.-based World Central Kitchen to ship aid from Madrid, Spain, and Capitol Heights, Maryland, to Adana, Turkey. The deliveries included a deployable kitchen unit, kitchen supplies, and operations kits.
J&M Tank Lines celebrates 75th anniversary
J&M Tank Lines is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a family-owned and -operated trucking company.
J&M, now headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, was founded in 1948 by Jimmie McClinton with a loan of $125 from the Peoples Bank in Selma, Alabama. The fleet ranks No. 280 on the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire.
McClinton began with one truck, hauling primarily baled cotton and peanuts across the Southeastern United States, according to an article in Bulk Transporter, a FleetOwner sister publication.
In the early 1960s, Harold Sumerford, Sr., joined J&M as a bookkeeper and assistant manager at J&M’s terminal in Americus, Georgia. Following McClinton’s death in the early 1980s, Sumerford became the sole owner of the company with more than 500 tractors and a variety of flatbed, van, and tank trailers.
Sumerford, Sr.’s sons, Harold Sumerford, Jr., and Peter Sumerford, later followed in their father’s footsteps in joining the business. Sumerford, Jr., started in the late 1970s, and Peter began in the late 1980s, both working from the bottom up with stories of sweeping shop floors, washing trailers, and pulling nails out of flatbed tires.
“I am proud to be a part of such a massive accomplishment, for any company, but especially one my family has been a part of for so long,” said Peter, J&M’s president. “The work our drivers do every day to deliver on J&M’s promises to our customers is remarkable.”
Sumerford, Jr., and Peter assumed leadership of J&M following Sumerford, Sr.’s retirement in 2002. The brothers transitioned J&M to specializing in tanks, focusing on building a superior dry bulk company with customized services.
Today, J&M operates 450 tractors and 800 trailers at 11 terminal operations throughout Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas.
“I often tell people, I feel like I have never been to work a day in my life, even after 40 years of service to this industry and J&M,” said Sumerford, Jr., J&M’s CEO. “I love what I do and take great pride in the success of our company.
“We have built our reputation on being first class and plan to uphold that image as we grow.”
Bulk milk transporter celebrates three-quarters of a century
Milky Way, a bulk milk transporter in the Pacific Northwest, is also celebrating its 75th anniversary. Since 1948, Milky Way has expanded its business over the years from Washington to Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. By the 1970s, it was the largest motor carrier of bulk fluid milk within the state of Washington, according to a press release from parent company Lynden.
“Over the past 75 years, we have seen many changes, but some things have not changed,” said Milky Way President Eric Badger. “Our drivers are still the best in the business, safely and reliably picking up milk and delivering it to processing centers each day, and we have dedicated support teams in each location making sure our local dairies and other farms are supported. We are also grateful for the loyalty of long-standing customers, vendors, and partners that have contributed to our long-term success. We take pride in representing the traditional values of integrity, efficiency, and personal service throughout our organization.”
