Everyone needs help every now and then, and the trucking industry always seems ready to lend a hand to those in need. Read more about trucking’s lending hands in this week’s Five Good Things.
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Peterson Manufacturing celebrates 80 years of innovation and excellence
Peterson Manufacturing Company, a provider of truck lighting solutions and vehicle safety products, is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Founded in 1945 in Grandview, Missouri, and now with a 670,000-sq.-ft. vertically integrated production facility, Peterson has been a trusted name in the transportation industry. It delivers customizable lighting and harness solutions for commercial trucks, trailers, and specialty vehicles.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate 80 years of success, growth, and dedication to quality,” said Al Anderson, VP of sales and marketing of Peterson Manufacturing. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and vision of the entire Peterson team, as well as the trust and loyalty of our customers. We’ve evolved with the industry over the years, but our commitment to delivering exceptional products and customer service has remained the cornerstone of our success.”
As Peterson Manufacturing celebrates this important milestone, the company focuses on the future. This includes developing a refreshed brand identity that represents a step in the company's evolution. This transformation involves updating the visual identity and enhancing the mission, vision, and values, all aimed at repositioning and strengthening Peterson’s presence in the market.
“This brand refresh enables Peterson to be in full alignment with our mission, values, and vision, and signals to our customers that we are evolving alongside them and prepared for the future,” said Missy Pinksaw, director of marketing. “The new brand identity will be featured on an updated Peterson website set to launch in early 2025, accompanied by comprehensive digital marketing and advertising campaigns aimed at strengthening and supporting our customer partnerships as we advance into the future.”
Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for helping injured truck driver
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Brian Sims from West Milton, Ohio, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to help an injured trucker when he was struck in the head while working on his trailer. Sims drives for ABF Freight out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
On December 9, in Union, Ohio, Sims was out making a delivery. Another truck driver was stopped in front of him, attempting to slide his trailer tandem axles. The other driver was underneath the trailer, hitting his pins with a hammer. When the pins released suddenly, the trailer lurched downward, struck him in the head, and knocked him out.
“The trailer comes down and knocks him out cold in the middle of the street,” Sims said. “I thought he was dead—he went completely limp and out on the ground.”
Along with a few other witnesses, Sims pulled up and exited his truck to check on the man. The unconscious man had a large, bloody gash on his forehead. Sims talked to a 911 operator and tended to the man, who regained consciousness. Just a few minutes later, before the ambulance arrived, the man decided to drive away and left the scene.
“I don’t know if he was embarrassed, but he hopped back in his truck, and away he went,” Sims said. “He had blood running down the side of his head. He was a mess. I had just stopped and tried to do what’s right.”
Trucking Cares Foundation donates $25,000 to Voices for Awareness
The Trucking Cares Foundation recently donated $25,000 to Voices for Awareness, a national organization aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of illicit fentanyl in the U.S. VFA and TCF have established a partnership to combat the fentanyl crisis by leveraging the reach of the trucking industry to disseminate awareness messages across American communities. The grant brought TCF’s total charitable giving in 2024 to $200,000.
“Voices for Awareness is making a huge difference in supporting families that have struggled with losing a loved one to addiction and has helped countless others avoid experiencing this heartbreak,” said TCF Chairman Greg Owen, head coach of Ability Tri-Modal. “The Trucking Cares Foundation is proud to deepen our partnership with this esteemed organization. Through our combined efforts, VFA and TCF have effectively utilized the trucking industry's nationwide presence to deliver life-saving information about the dangers of fentanyl to a broad audience, thereby enhancing community awareness and contributing to the prevention of fentanyl-related tragedies.”
Founded in 2018, VFA’s mission is to raise awareness that illicit fentanyl is added to virtually every street drug today. Illicit fentanyl is highly addictive and can cause sudden death. It is found in cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and counterfeit pills disguised as Oxycodone, Percocet, Adderall, and even marijuana. Every five minutes, one American is killed by an overdose.
See also: Study: Does technology help improve your fleet’s mpg?
Lily Transportation partners with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program
Over 500 toys collected by Lily Transportation locations for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program were delivered to local Toys for Tots centers throughout the country for distribution during the holidays to less fortunate children in the community. Valerie St. John, director of compliance, driver retention, and driver relations, who coordinated the effort for Lily, said this is the sixth year the company has brought the joy of Christmas to children, collecting over 6,000 new toys total for the local Marine Toys for Tots.
Merchants Fleet advances community impact with second year of Give With Merchants program
Merchants Fleet recently completed its second annual Give With Merchants program.
During a two-week giving campaign encompassing Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday, Merchants empowered each employee with $150 to donate to a charity of their choice. This initiative led to a collective contribution of $61,300 to 77 charities, demonstrating Merchants’ employees' commitment to driving change within their communities and beyond.
"The Give With Merchants program exemplifies our dedication to fostering meaningful change within our communities," said Brad Burgess, interim co-CEO of Merchants Fleet. "Any company can write a check, but this initiative is special because it empowers our employees to contribute to the causes they care about, ensuring every voice is heard and valued. It’s inspiring to see the collective impact our team can create.”
Merchants absorbed all processing fees for the Give With Merchants initiative, ensuring that 100% of the donations reached the chosen charities.
