Averitt delivers over 18,000 holiday cards through ‘10,000 for the Troops’ program
Averitt continued its support of military service members by participating in the "10,000 for the Troops" program. In 2024, Averitt associates collected and shipped more than 18,000 holiday cards to troops overseas. Contributions included 4,000 cards from Averitt's corporate office and additional cards from 17 different facilities, primarily in Texas.
The cards were organized, counted, and prepared for delivery to ensure they reached service members in time for the holidays. The initiative aims to boost morale and show appreciation to military personnel during the festive season.
“Our partnership with this program is both an honor and a privilege,” Larry Vannatta, regional VP of sales for Texas, said. “Seeing the impact of our efforts is truly rewarding.”
In addition to collecting cards, Averitt matched the time contributed by associates with a contribution to Averitt Cares for Kids, the company’s charitable giving organization that primarily supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Lily Transportation committee donates to City of Saginaw Animal Services
Employees of Lily Transportation had a “paw-sitively amazing time” hosting the City of Saginaw Animal Services recently at the company’s Fort Worth location. Coordinated by the Lily Paws committee, the event was the perfect opportunity to personally meet with the incredible shelter team, acquaint them with the mission of the PAWS committee, and formally present them with much-needed dog food donations and supplies.
The Lily Paws committee is dedicated to supporting shelter dogs across the country. Thanks to generous donations, it provides supplies to a variety of shelters while also providing volunteers to offer hands-on assistance. The committee is dedicated to finding forever homes for shelter dogs and promotes adoptable dogs on social sites to ensure they receive the attention they deserve.
Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for assisting after fatal hit and run
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Brian Manzo, from Anaheim, California, a TCA Highway Angel for assisting an injured woman and man after a hit-and-run. Manzo works for ABF Freight out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
On November 12 around 6 p.m. in Santa Ana, California, Manzo was traveling when he saw two pedestrians—a male and a female—lying in the middle of the six-lane road in the southbound lanes. The pedestrians had been struck by a dark sedan traveling southbound, which Manzo saw traveling at a high rate of speed with the driver’s side headlight broken and smoke coming from the vehicle. He looked at the injured man on the road.
“The guy was lying in the middle of the road; he’s not responsive,” Manzo said. “I’m looking at this guy, and I watch two cars hit him.”
Manzo said the accident victims appeared to be transients, and he believes they were together. No one else got out of their car to help the victims, so he stopped in the middle lane, turned on his flashers, and began honking his horn to bring attention to the situation.
“Two cars hit this guy, so I immediately get on my horn and immediately cars start stopping,” he said. “I look up the road, and I see a lady lying there also.”
Manzo called 911 and approached the female victim, who was conscious, and told her to stay still because she had been involved in an accident.
“She had blood all over her face, and she was disoriented,” he said. She stood up and ran across the street to get out of traffic. Manzo stayed on the phone with 911 until he could hear the police sirens before he left the scene.
A police officer called him a few days later and confirmed that the male pedestrian died and that the driver of the car that hit the man and woman eventually did stop and contact police.
Schneider participates in CPKC Holiday Train event
Schneider participated in CPKC’s Holiday Train event in St. Paul, Minnesota, on December 11. Schneider leaders were onsite handing out goodies during the festivities, which included a short concert, and the company made a donation to Merrick Community Services, a local nonprofit that assists individuals and families in the transition from poverty to self-sufficiency.
“As a responsible company, we have a long history of investing in communities around the country, and we were excited about this opportunity,” said Erin Van Zeeland, Schneider CCO, group SVP, and general manager of logistics. “Being able to work with CPKC on a charitable cause shows that our longstanding relationship doesn’t just bring value to our customers but is also an avenue for us to give back.”
Each year, the Holiday Train raises money, food, and awareness to support food banks across CPKC’s network. Since its inaugural journey in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $24.3 million and collected approximately 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S.
Western Star transports Martin Mars Bomber to British Columbia Aviation Museum
Western Star had the honor of transporting a piece of aviation history to the aviation museum in Victoria, British Columbia. Martin Mars bombers were the largest aircraft in the world, roughly the size of a Boeing 747, built for U.S. military service and used at the end of World War II for about six years before being retired. Only seven were built. The planes were converted to water bombers in the early 1960s.
Nickel Bros from Nanaimo, hired by Coulson Aviation, used a Western Star 4900SF truck to haul the iconic 120-ft.-long aircraft from Victoria Airport to the B.C. Aviation Museum. It will become part of the museum's permanent historical exhibit, commemorating a 50-year legacy in Canadian aviation forest firefighting.
“It’s not often that you get to say you were part of something historic,” Alex Martin-Banzer, Western Star brand marketing and communications manager, said. “The aircraft has a wingspan of 200 ft. and weighs approximately 76,000 lb. when it's empty. Western Star is honored to have been able to provide a heavy haul truck that could carefully guide this amazing aircraft to its final home.”
The aircraft was loaded onto a 360-turning trailer secured seven feet above the ground. It crawled across the active Victoria Airport taxiways just under two miles to the B.C. Aviation Museum.
“There were some moments where we passed fences and poles with an inch or two to spare,” Tim Nickel, Nickel Brothers Moving, said. “It may have been nail-biting for the onlookers, but it was just another day at the office for our movers.”
