Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for rescuing stranded couple in Florida floodwaters
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver George Maxwell from Tampa, Florida, a TCA Highway Angel for rescuing a stranded couple from their home during a hurricane. Maxwell works for TransAm Trucking Inc. out of Olathe, Kansas.
On Oct. 10, around 3 a.m., in Plant City, Florida, Maxwell put the safety of others before his own. As the storm approached, he made his way to a truck parking lot where his semi-truck was parked. He drove his personal pickup truck through the worsening conditions to move his semi-truck to higher ground before the rising floodwaters could cause any damage.
“I’m in the truck,” Maxwell said. “I’m watching the water come up higher, and it’s getting bad.”
Maxwell eventually realized he had no time to save his personal vehicle. He abandoned his pickup and focused on getting his semi-truck to safety. While preparing to leave, Maxwell noticed the owners of the truck parking lot were trapped in their nearby home.
“They said they thought they were safe there, but it’s not safe,” he said, noting the water was chest-deep by this point. “The rain was pouring nonstop, and the wind was blowing like 100 miles per hour.”
Maxwell made his way to the house and led the couple back to his semi-truck before driving to higher ground. Thanks to Maxwell, the couple was saved from what could have been a catastrophic situation. Maxwell’s personal vehicle was not so lucky.
“It’s totally gone,” he said regarding his pickup truck, which was ruined in the flood. Looking back, he said he did the right thing by taking the couple, his semi-truck, and himself away from the floodwaters.
“I would do it again,” he said. “I just did what I’d hope anyone would do for me.”
Peterbilt supports United Way of Denton County on Peterbilt Pride & Class Day with annual parade
Peterbilt recently hosted United Way of Denton County’s 7th annual parade on the City of Denton’s Peterbilt Pride & Class Day. The Pride & Class Parade raises awareness and donations for United Way of Denton County and took place around the historic Denton Square in Denton, Texas. More than 50 exclusive Peterbilt trucks from across the U.S. and Canada were featured in the parade.
Peterbilt has partnered with United Way of Denton County for over three decades and supported a week of giving leading up to the Pride & Class Parade. Denton-based employees contributed individually and participated in company-sponsored fundraising activities and contests during the weeklong campaign.
“Peterbilt and United Way of Denton County share a rich partnership that has positively impacted this community for over 30 years,” Gary Henderson, president and CEO, United Way of Denton County, said. “The financial support and generosity of time to many of our programs leaves no doubt as to why Peterbilt and its employees have created an indelible mark on the Denton County community.”
During the event, Jason Skoog, general manager at Peterbilt and VP at Paccar, noted how proud the company was to mark the occasion with the annual parade celebrating locally built trucks and the spirit of giving. “The parade rounds out our United Way campaign week, spotlighting the craftsmanship of our employees and the passion of Peterbilt owners and fans but more importantly reminding us that together we are a driving force for positive change in our local community,” said Skoog.
Isaac rewards fleets for driver retention, safety and compliance improvements
Isaac Instruments recently honored C.A.T. Inc. for its driver retention efforts and Kriska Holdings for its commitment to safety and compliance. The two North American trucking fleet award winners were honored at a dinner during the recent Isaac Horizon 2024 User Conference in Dallas, Texas.
C.A.T. Inc. claimed the Driver Retention Award, which honors trucking fleets leveraging Isaac’s platform to better cater to their professional drivers.
C.A.T. has historically experienced a retention rate of more than 98%; during 2024, its average IsaacCoach score has exceeded 92% (out of a possible 100%) across its entire North American fleet. The result has been a drop in collisions and incidents as well as more drivers receiving safety and performance bonuses. Isaac’s judges were impressed with C.A.T.’s driver-focused initiatives, including working with customers to eliminate freight falling out of trailer doors through improved loading practices and testing a new dispatch system with integrated artificial intelligence that runs on the Isaac platform.
In 2023, C.A.T. was named North America’s top fleet in the large carrier category in the annual industrywide Best Fleets to Drive For contest.
Kriska earned the top prize in the Safety & Compliance category, which recognizes fleets using the Isaac platform to enhance their safety culture and compliance results. Kriska continues to be among the safest fleets operating across North America, based on U.S. Department of Transportation and Ministry of Ontario safety records.
Kriska has used the Isaac platform and additional technologies, including SpeedGauge, to lower speeding events while increasing miles per gallon. Compliance figures have continued to rise as Kriska leverages Isaac to reduce the burden of paperwork and other manual tasks for drivers. Kriska also uses the integrated Isaac InView camera system to improve driver training. The fleet offers six weeks of in-cab training for new drivers alongside some of the industry’s most experienced driver trainers.
Both fleets received $3,000 USD to distribute at their discretion and a video highlighting their tremendous achievements, paid for and produced by Isaac.
See also: The Women In Trucking Association releases results of annual index
FMCSA announces winners of 2024 Road Safety Student Art Contest
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently released the 2024 Road Safety Student Art Contest winners with a congratulatory video. This year’s Road Safety Student Art Contest received nearly 300 entries from students across the U.S.
Each year, students from kindergarten through high school are invited to enter the Road Safety Art Contest and use their artistic skills to raise awareness about staying safe on the road, particularly when driving, biking, or walking around large trucks and buses.
“Every student’s submission to our Road Safety Art Contest not only reflects creativity and imagination but also the need for all roadway users to focus on safety,” Vinn White, FMCSA deputy administrator, said. “We look forward to proudly showcasing the winning artwork at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C.”
Winners for this year are as follows:
- Grades K-2:
- Grand Prize: Hannah Hong, California
- People’s Choice: Alyssa Robinson, Texas
- Honorable Mention: Dylan Kim, New Jersey
- Grades 3-5:
- Grand Prize: Aahana Tiwari, Georgia
- People’s Choice: William Do, New Jersey
- Honorable Mention: Claire Wang, New Jersey
- Grades 6-8:
- Grand Prize: Saanvi Bajaj, Georgia
- People’s Choice: Aditya Yogesh, Michigan
- Honorable Mention: Anwesha Joshi, Florida
- Grade 9-12:
- Grand Prize: Cheyenne Chu, California
- People’s Choice: Jennifer Choi, California
- Honorable Mention: Feite Ban, New Jersey
To learn more about the Road Safety Student Art Contest and see high-resolution versions of the winning entries, visit here.
Atlas Van Lines and Paxton Van Lines sponsored meal packing initiative
Atlas Van Lines, in collaboration with Atlas Interstate Agent Paxton International and Paxton Van Lines, recently partnered with Move For Hunger and WERC for a meal packing initiative hosted at GWS, the organization’s cornerstone global event in National Harbor, Maryland.
Volunteers joined an assembly line to prepare 800 meal kits. Each meal kit feeds a family of four, equating to 3,200 total meals, and is packed in a reusable bag. The event aimed to raise awareness and support the growing number of families facing food insecurity in the greater Washington, D.C., and southern Maryland areas.
“We are happy to team up with Paxton and Move For Hunger to make an impact on food insecurity in the communities we serve, as well as bring awareness of Move For Hunger’s mission to so many in the relocation industry,” Ryan McConnell, president and COO of Atlas Van Lines, said. “We applaud Paxton for the outstanding work they do here in the Washington, D.C., area, and we’re proud to play a part at WERC’s signature event.”
Hunger has been rising in the United States since 2021. In the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, 37% of residents, accounting for nearly 1.5 million people, don’t always know where their next meal will come from.
“Hunger is a year-round issue, not just a concern during the holidays,” Adam Lowy, executive director of Move For Hunger, said. “By turning this event into an opportunity to give back, we aim to highlight the ongoing need for support and inspire attendees to leave the community better than when they arrived.”
