Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, truck drivers and the trucking industry are being recognized as the economy's stronghold during these unprecedented times. Truth is, while the added CDC regulations have increased responsibilities, truck drivers and the trucking industry are doing what they always do — giving back to their communities, providing assistance when needed, and offering a helping hand at the earliest opportunity. Here are five good things that happened this week in trucking.
A. Duie Pyle driver helped local Bronx community during furlough
A. Duie Pyle, a transportation and logistics provider in the northeast, was one of the many trucking companies to feel the effects of the novel coronavirus. The company chose to temporarily furlough employees as to not permanently lay off its team.
“We implemented a voluntary furlough program that allowed anyone at higher risk and staff with longer length of service to take furlough during this time,” said Peter Latta, CEO and chairman of A. Duie Pyle. “We furloughed 410 of the 500+ people who volunteered, and as of July 20, we were down to just 12 people left on furlough, all of which will be back to work by August 3.”
One of the furloughed drivers was Angel Rodriguez, a driver based at Pyle’s terminal in the food distribution center in the Bronx, N.Y., who took the furlough through April and May.
Rodriguez stayed busy during the furlough by volunteering in his local Bronx community. He organized grocers and butchers, who had lots of extra, unused food due to restaurant closures, to sell meat, rice, beans, and other groceries at charity prices. This allowed Rodriguez' Brooklyn church, Most Precious Blood, and his Knights of Columbus council to donate them to New York residents in need.
“We were getting 200 families every Saturday. We’d give 800 pounds of chicken, 400 pounds of ground beef,” Rodriguez said. With more now back at work, “it’s down to 80 to 100 families the past couple of weeks. I had my son with me, he’s 18; he realized how lucky we are to be on this side of the fence.”
While senior leadership at A. Duie Pyle took a 15% wage reduction and everyone else took a 10% wage cut that went into effect April 13, no wages were cut below $15/hour and all pay levels were fully restored on June 1, as business volumes recovered.
“We could not be prouder of how they performed during this crisis,” Latta continued. “On July 3, we distributed a $2 million special payment, which largely restored the seven-week pay reduction the team endured.”
Miami health care workers received 100,000 masks from BYD
TBG Tech Co., a local business specializing in supply and logistics of personal protective equipment (PPE), has donated 100,000 National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified N95 respirator masks manufactured by BYD (Build Your Dreams), to the front-line health care workers of the City of Miami Beach. The company also launched a new social responsibility campaign to encourage all people to wear masks in public places called Wear.One.
"We're very grateful for TBG Tech's donation, which couldn't have arrived at a more critical time for us," said Virgil Fernandez, chief of the Miami Beach Fire Department. "These masks will allow our firefighters to safely respond to COVID-19 calls and prevent us from taking the virus home."
The masks arrived at Miami Beach Fire Station 2 on Friday during a critical time when many cities are experiencing renewed shortages of lifesaving PPE. The N95 soft, vertical flat-fold masks meet all current U.S. regulatory requirements.
This donation is personal for the local Miami Beach company.
"We need to protect our families; we need to protect our neighbors,” said Jay Floe of TBG Tech Co. “We want to bring awareness of the importance of using the correct masks and that when you wear one, you become something bigger than yourself. It's our duty to show compassion to our community, and it starts by putting on a mask."
SCF received $62,500 donation
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF), the nonprofit that provides financial assistance to ill and injured truck drivers, has received a $62,500 donation from MoLo Solutions, a Chicago-based third-party logistics company and freight broker.
The donation came through an internal fundraising campaign in which the company agreed to donate $5 for every load moved in the month of May. The initial campaign goal of $50,000 was exceeded on the last day of the campaign when employees themselves stepped up and donated more than $12,000 in less than one hour.
“After several months of working remotely and everything that came along with the COVID-19 pandemic, we were looking for a way to not only rally our employees but also give back directly to the people that take care of us,” said Andrew Silver, CEO of MoLo Solutions. “Our employees embraced the effort from day one and I could not be prouder of what we have done for St. Christopher and all the drivers out there who need our support.”
Chuck Norris thanks truckers with the help of GP Transco
GP Transco, a trucking logistics company based outside of Chicago, teamed up with Chuck Norris to show American truckers how much their hard work in keeping the country fed and supplied during the pandemic is appreciated.
“GP Transco and I would like to thank all the truck drivers for delivering goods during the COVID-19 time. You guys go above and beyond and without you we wouldn’t have food on shelves, medical supplies, and other important things,” Norris said.
GP Transco was recently named the top fleet to drive for by trucking technology company Samsara in its annual fleet awards.
“It is our priority to stay competitive with pay to make sure our truck drivers are compensated well for their work,” Marija Jamontas, vice president of human resources and safety at GP Transco, said last year. “We think that the new OTP (outstanding trucking professionals) performance bonus program helps tremendously. This, combined with health benefits, 401k matching, life insurance, and other perks adds up to a compelling package.”
Watch Chuck Norris’ full video below.
Trucker saves life of teenage crash victim
During the early hours of July 18, trucker Chuck Copley was on his way to Kentucky when a speeding car in front of him lost control and crashed, according to Fox 59 News in Indianapolis.
Copley, a former volunteer firefighter, pulled over his truck and immediately went to assist the teenagers in the crashed vehicle. He noticed one of the passengers, a young woman, was screaming and missing her hand. From his previous experience as a first responder, he borrowed a passenger’s bandana and used it as a temporary tourniquet.
“I then went and got a bungee cord out of the semi and came back and wrapped that around her arm,” Copley said.
Copley stayed until first responders showed up and then continued his journey to Kentucky. Less than a day later, he got a video message from the 19-year-old victim, Haley Waters. Since Saturday’s accident, Waters has had to undergo multiple surgeries.
“It shows there are good people out there, and no matter how dark the world may seem right now, there are good people out there that will help you,” Waters said.
