GM details California wildfire support measures
General Motors is taking steps to help employees, customers, and others recover from the Los Angeles wildfires.
“GM is extending targeted local support to our customers and employees who have been impacted by the California wildfires,” said Duncan Aldred, VP of global commercial growth strategies and operations. “We’re finding ways to help get people back on the road and using our resources to make a difference in the recovery in the weeks and months to come.”
GM will provide mobile charging stations in targeted areas for people who no longer have access to their regular charging locations. From February 1 through April, GM will deploy three different mobile EV charging solutions across the LA metro region to aid those who have lost their homes.
GM’s response to the crisis also includes:
- Employee giving campaigns to benefit the American Red Cross Los Angeles region and the California Fire Foundation;
- Planned philanthropic contributions to nonprofits serving affected communities, addressing the immediate and long-term needs of the local education systems;
- Vehicles provided to the Red Cross for immediate assistance;
- OnStar complimentary Crisis Assist Services, which customers with OnStar-equipped vehicles can use to help get information about the fires, receive routing guidance, and access emergency assistance from an OnStar advisor;
- Consumers with damaged or destroyed GM vehicles can receive assistance toward the purchase or lease of a new vehicle, subject to certain terms and conditions;
- Deferred payments for impacted customers, subject to certain qualifications and restrictions;
- Collision repair deductible costs for damage to GM vehicles incurred from the wildfires will be covered, subject to certain qualifications and restrictions; and
- Expediting parts shipments to impacted areas.
Chevron announces $1M donation to Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts
Chevron recently announced a total contribution of $1 million to the California Fire Foundation, American National Red Cross, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Small Business Disaster Recovery Fund to support relief efforts for wildfires in California.
“Chevron’s legacy in California dates back more than 145 years—with generations of employee families, operations, and business partners throughout Southern California,” said Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and CEO. “We are heartbroken by the devastation in Los Angeles, inspired by the bravery of first responders, and stand committed to assisting with relief and recovery efforts throughout greater Los Angeles County.”
- California Fire Foundation will receive $500,000 to support first responders and provide financial aid to impacted residents.
- American National Red Cross will receive $250,000 to support impacted families with food, shelter, clothing, emotional support, and financial assistance.
- Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce will receive $250,000 to support business recovery efforts, foster community engagement, and advocate for disaster relief and rebuilding programs.
In addition, Chevron will match qualifying donations employees and retirees make to wildfire relief efforts and will provide financial contributions to organizations where its employees volunteer.
Trucking Cares donates $200,000 in 2024
The Trucking Cares Foundation recently announced that it donated $200,000 for a variety of charitable causes in 2024, from supporting disaster relief and workforce development to combatting human trafficking and fentanyl.
“The extraordinary generosity and profound altruism of the trucking industry leaders and companies that contributed to the Trucking Cares Foundation are truly awe-inspiring. I would like to express my most heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our donors who made this record-breaking year of donations possible,” TCF Chairman Greg Owen, head coach of Ability Tri-Modal, said.
To keep the Trucking Cares Foundation on a firm financial footing and ensure that it can continue making investments in nonprofits and other charitable causes in perpetuity, the Trucking Cares Foundation is redoubling its fundraising initiatives to create an endowed fund.
The organizations the Trucking Cares Foundation supported in 2024 are as follows:
- $50,000 for the Pardee Hospital Foundation in Hendersonville, North Carolina, to provide funds for housing repairs, mold remediations, tree removal, and other essential services in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
- $5,000 for the NCTA Foundation to provide supplies for the purchase and delivery of pallets of water days after Helene hit the western North Carolina region.
- $40,000 for the Next Generation in Trucking Foundation to support the development of a physical and mental health curriculum in the CDL training courses.
- $25,000 for the South Dallas Driving Academy to support SDDA’s mission to help underprivileged youth and adults obtain their Class C driver’s license and begin their careers in the trucking industry.
- $5,000 for the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Gala in memory of the late David Parker, a founding member of the TCF Board of Directors.
- $25,000 for TAT to support the organization’s continued work training transportation professionals to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking.
- $25,000 for Voices for Awareness to continue a collaborative partnership to combat the fentanyl crisis.
- $10,000 for the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund to help truck drivers recover from injury or illness, as well as support the overall health and wellness of truck drivers.
- $5,000 for Hands on Nashville, continuing a tradition established in 2023 of contributing to a charity tied to ATA’s Management Conference & Exhibition host city.
- $5,000 for the Ollie Otter Foundation, in conjunction with the Tennessee Trucking Association Foundation that also donated $5,000, for the purchase of up to 200 new car seats to provide to families in need.
- $5,000 for Harmony House, an organization in Springfield, Missouri, that provides shelter and support services to domestic violence survivors. The contribution was made in the name of Dee Sova, a professional truck driver with Prime Inc., who was honored with the John Lex Premier Achievement Award during ATA’s MCE.
See also: How trucking is aiding LA fire victims
Kenworth T880 concrete pump truck generates a donation of $505,000 to CIM education program
Kenworth donated a T880 concrete pump truck to sell in support of Concrete Industry Management, which produced a major financial contribution to the CIM education program, thanks to Kenworth, Alliance Concrete Pumps, Papé Kenworth, and other Kenworth supplier partners.
The Kenworth T880 concrete pump truck was purchased for $505,000 by Esh’s Masonry in Paradise, Pennsylvania. The entire purchase amount goes to CIM to help fund scholarships for students pursuing four-year Bachelor of Science degrees in Concrete Industry Management at Middle Tennessee State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Texas State University, California State University – Chico, and South Dakota State University.
“Education is fundamental to building a stronger workforce, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to support CIM through the sale of this special Kenworth T880 concrete pump truck," Kyle Kimball, Kenworth director of marketing, said. “We give a special thanks to Esh’s Masonry for purchasing this truck, which helped generate a significant donation to CIM.”
This year marks the sixth time Kenworth has partnered with industry suppliers and Kenworth dealers to donate a Kenworth truck for sale to benefit CIM.
Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for helping trapped truck driver
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Kingsley Ogieva, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a TCA Highway Angel for helping a truck driver trapped in his rolled vehicle on the highway. Ogieva drives for XTL Transport out of Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.
On November 27, 2024, in Bowden, Alberta, Canada, Ogieva was driving along Highway 2. As he traveled, he noticed a tractor-trailer rolled over, blocking the southbound highway.
“When I passed through, I saw that the driver was stuck in his truck and wasn’t able to come out,” Ogieva said. “I went to park safely up ahead, and I went to assist.”
He approached the wreck and saw the driver kicking at the windshield. Ogieva and another bystander climbed onto the truck and began prying the windshield away to free the driver from the vehicle.
“We tried to look for how to break his windshield so he could come out,” Ogieva said. “While we were trying to get the windshield out, from nowhere we heard a big bang.”
Just then, the truck was struck by a cattle hauler, trapping Ogieva and pinning his legs. While Ogieva was trapped, he saw diesel fuel spilling onto the floor.
“I was screaming, telling everybody they should not smoke or come with anything that could trigger a fire,” he said.
Eventually, emergency service personnel arrived on the scene and lifted the truck so Ogieva could be extracted. Miraculously, he had no broken bones.
Reflecting on the event, Ogieva said he would stop if it happened again but would do some things differently.
“I would stop and use my truck as a shield to make sure that oncoming traffic is aware of the situation in front before going to help,” he said. “That day, I saw another driver in distress, and I knew he needed my help. If we were not there to help him, it could have been worse.”
