Five good things that happened in trucking this week - Aug. 27
As the summer comes to a close and schools go back in session, the world returns to its routine. Trucking's routine, however, stays the same—delivering our goods day in and day out. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's to be thankful for what we have and for those who bring it to us. In that spirit, here are five good things that happened in trucking this week.
#TruckloadStrong Needs Your Help
To kick off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) on Sept. 12-18, while also commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) will be holding a parade—America Rolls Strong—in Claremont, North Carolina, at 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 11.
This 25-truck parade, hosted by TCA's Immediate Past Chairman Dennis Dellinger as well as Cargo Transporters, is in need of three additional trucks and as many spectators as the truckload community can provide.
If you have a truck and driver available from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on the 11th of September, please contact LaunchIt Public Relation's Susan Fall.
If you live near Claremont, attend the parade and cheer them on as they roll down Main Street to celebrate the professional truck drivers, their essentiality, and show how America Rolls Strong.
Follow #TruckloadStrong on LinkedIn for updates and photos of the parade. If you see a photo you like, share it on your personal social networks.
Southern Recipe Pork Rinds uses TikTok to celebrate NTDAW
In Southern Recipe’s annual Truck Driver Appreciation campaign, the company will shine a light on the truck driving category and support St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF) with a $5,000 donation. From Aug. 15-Sept. 18, consumers are invited to help raise funding and awareness for SCF through an interactive, fun, and highly engaging TikTok campaign that affords them the chance to win cash prizes and pork rinds by lip-syncing along with our selected truck drivers—and weekly voting for their favorite TikTok driver video.
Six SCF-related truck drivers will be selected for their lip-syncing abilities to support SCF’s mission and awareness efforts with Americans nationwide through each lip sync video. Meanwhile, consumers will be invited to do the same and submit their entries to Southern Recipe via the social media platform of their choice. As the nation votes weekly for their favorite drivers’ videos, consumers will be incentivized to participate and spread awareness with the chance to win $1,000 and six months of free pork rinds. Southern Recipe’s TikTok drivers will also receive pork rinds plus a matching cash prize automatically for their talents and efforts.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Southern Recipe again this year and support our road warriors,” said Shannon Currier, Director of Philanthropy and Development at St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund. “Tik Tok has become relevant across all ages, genders and professions. Truck drivers find it a source of entertainment as well as an outlet for self-expression. We think this is a great way to help everyone know just a little more about their daily struggles, plight, and passion for the profession, too.”
Tacos for Truckers 2 comes to Auburn truck stop
On Sept. 16 from 11:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Convoy Technologies will team up with Flora & Lily’s Mexican Kitchen to offer free meals for commercial drivers at the rest stop at MM325 on northbound I-69 Auburn, Alabama. They will be calling the event “Tacos for Truckers II,” after the first event like this the company held in April of 2020.
Drivers will be able to choose among tacos, burritos, bowls, nachos, and quesadillas. The food truck will be stocked to provide up to 400 meals through out the day while Convoy Technologies will also be offering drinks and care packages.
“These drivers didn’t stay home during the lockdowns like the rest of us,” Convoy Technologies’ President Ron Harker said. “They kept getting up every day and hitting the road. That’s why we still had food on the shelves at the grocery stores. That’s why our doctors and nurses were getting the supplies they needed to take care of our friends and loved ones. And they’re still going full-speed today—and then some. We should all be grateful to them. We felt buying them lunch was the least we could do.”
Love’s Travel Stops donates $100,000 to St. Christopher Truckers Fund
Love’s Travel Stops has donated another $100,000 to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund. Love’s first donated to St. Christopher in April 2020 when the company gave $100,000 to help drivers during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Professional truck drivers keep America moving, and this is one way we’re thanking them for all they do for the country,’’ said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer of Love’s. “St. Christopher is a great organization that helps drivers every day, and we’re glad to continue to support the organization.”
The relief fund helps with expenses like rent, mortgage, utilities, insurance, and vehicle payments as well as provides health and wellness programs for drivers.
“The trucking industry is the backbone of our economy and professional drivers are the heart of the industry. We depend on those drivers every single day and they can depend on St. Christopher Truckers Fund every single day,” said Shannon Currier, director of philanthropy and development for SCF. “We are humbled by the continued generosity of Love’s Travel Stops and their commitment to ensure the men and women of this industry have support when they need it most. Thank you for being a hero to our highway heroes.”
Trucking celebrates National Dog Day
On Aug. 26, the world celebrated National Dog Day, sharing photos of their favorite pups. The trucking industry did not hesitate to join in. Check out trucking’s companions, at home and on the road.