As the Southeast U.S. tries to recover in the wake of Hurricane Helene, the trucking industry continues to support their efforts. Learn how in this week’s Five Good Things.
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Averitt contributes $100,000 to Hurricane Helene relief efforts
As communities across the region continue to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Averitt announced a contribution to support relief efforts. In response to the needs of those affected, Averitt is donating $100,000 to Samaritan’s Purse through Averitt Cares for Kids, made possible through associate-driven contributions and a company match to the program.
“Our associates and customers have been deeply concerned for the communities and families affected by Hurricane Helene,” Gary Sasser, chairman and CEO at Averitt, said. “We want to do our part, and this contribution represents our desire to support recovery efforts and provide relief to those in need.”
In addition to the monetary support, Averitt associates are donating bottled water and wet wipes as part of the company’s Team Up Community Challenge, Averitt’s community service initiative. These two necessities were chosen by direct feedback from Averitt’s associates in the impacted areas.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this storm,” Sasser said. “We are thankful for the resilience shown by our associates and the communities they call home, and we hope this contribution brings some relief during this difficult time.”
Pilot activates round-up campaign in support of Hurricane Helene relief efforts
Pilot is mobilizing its network of travel centers to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene through an in-store round-up campaign for the American Red Cross. In addition to the round-up, Pilot is donating $300,000 to hurricane relief efforts, including $100,000 to Red Cross Hurricane Helene relief and $200,000 across various local nonprofit organizations in highly impacted areas.
From October 4 to October 18, guests can visit any U.S.-owned and operated Pilot, Flying J, and One9 travel center location to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar to provide aid to those affected by the hurricane. One hundred percent of funds raised will support Red Cross response efforts in impacted communities across the Southeast.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the countless individuals, families, and communities, including our own team members, experiencing the utterly devastating effects of Hurricane Helene,” Julius Cox, Pilot’s chief people officer, said. “Pilot is profoundly thankful to our team members and emergency personnel for all they are doing to support the affected communities. We are working around the clock to ensure our stores are open and able to provide essentials like fuel and food as we start down the road to recovery together.”
Since Hurricane Helene, Pilot has worked to restore operations as safely and quickly as possible to serve the communities and emergency responders.
Penske donates $1 million to Hurricane Helene relief efforts
Team Penske and its affiliated companies, including Penske Automotive Group and Penske Transportation Solutions, are donating a total of $1 million toward the relief efforts in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
The donation will be made to Samaritan’s Purse, which is based in Boone, North Carolina, and its efforts to assist the people within the region at this time. Team Penske, PAG, and PTS all have substantial business presence in North Carolina.
See also: New Penske venture wants to help fleets with charging infrastructure
Trucking Cares Foundation donates $25,000 to South Dallas Driving Academy
The Trucking Cares Foundation recently donated $25,000 to South Dallas Driving Academy, a nonprofit that provides free driver education courses to low-income teens and young adults. TCF previously donated $15,000 in seed money to SDDA, which helped launch the program in 2021, and an additional $20,000 in 2023 as part of TCF’s ongoing support of the program.
“The South Dallas Driving Academy has been instrumental in removing roadblocks to rewarding careers in trucking," Phil Byrd, chairman of the Trucking Cares Foundation, said. “Providing young Texans with the tools they need to succeed empowers them to break the cycle of poverty and build a bright future for themselves and their families. This organization has grown exponentially in such a short time. It is truly amazing to witness. The Trucking Cares Foundation is proud to continue our support of this transformative program that invests in the next generation of our industry.”
Nearly 40% of low-income individuals in urban areas in the U.S.—and nearly half in South Dallas—do not have a valid driver’s license because of the lack of accessible, affordable driver education. South Dallas Driving Academy provides a dual program pathway for residents of South Dallas to obtain their driver's licenses in preparation for a career in transportation. SDDA is offered at no cost to Bonton and South Dallas residents with a student course completion and program graduation rate of 90%.
“Because of the continuing support of the Trucking Cares Foundation, the SDDA is able to provide the tuition and scholarships that are required for men and women to matriculate through our quarterly Class A/CDL Commercial License Program and launch career pathways into the trucking industry,” Von Minor, president and executive director of SDDA, said. “What was once a barrier has become an economic pathway.”
TAT announces 2024 Harriet Tubman Award winner
Charles Bernsen, general manager of Petro in Florence, South Carolina, has been named the winner of the 2024 TAT Harriet Tubman Award presented by Progressive Commercial.
The award, which includes a trophy and a check for $5,000, was presented to Bernsen by TAT Executive Director Esther Goetsch and TA CEO Debi Boffa at TA Florence, South Carolina, the location where Bernsen worked as general manager during the incident for which he was recognized. Nikki, the trafficking survivor Bernsen aided, also attended the awards presentation. It was the first meeting between the two since the incident that first brought them together.
Bernsen, one of 18,000 TA employees who receive TAT’s human trafficking training annually, noticed a distressed young woman hanging around the store. She would disappear for periods into the restroom but then reappear in the lobby area. After a couple days of seeing her, Bernsen approached her and asked if she needed help. She burst into tears, telling him she had escaped a man who had been holding her captive in a hotel across the street from the TA where he’d been selling her for sex.
Bernsen offered her food, clothing, a blanket, and information about TAT. He had her call the National Human Trafficking Hotline and speak to them. He then purchased a bus ticket for her to get home and provided money for expenses along the way. The young woman, Nikki, later made a video with TAT about her experience and said Bernsen’s soft-spoken demeanor and compassion enabled her to trust him.
Bernsen said the TAT training better prepared him for this situation. “Once you’ve been exposed to all this evil,” he said, “it’s always in the back of your mind that this could be happening, and it could happen in the blink of an eye. The education, the videos, and conferences we’ve gone to have been a huge help.”
TAT (formerly Truckers Against Trafficking) created the annual award to honor a member of the trucking, bus, or energy industry, whose direct actions help save or improve the lives of those exploited or prevent human trafficking from taking place.
“We are extremely proud of the actions Charles took when encountering Nikki and are so grateful for the positive outcome in this situation,” said Boffa, TA CEO. “Charles is a true role model for all our team members, and I know his actions and this award will inspire others when they see something. Here at TA, we remain committed to educating all of our team members on human trafficking awareness and empowering them to take action; they are the eyes and ears of our nation’s highways, and as Charles has shown, we can make a difference.”
