Mike Mozley of Kool Pak, LLC, Lake Oswego, Ore., was named the Truckload Carriers Assn.’s latest Highway Angel for his good deed assisting a grieving motorist in placing chains on his vehicle.
On Jan. 18, Mozley was heading south on I-5 in southern Oregon when he passed a DOT sign stating that chains were required as the road continued into California. The trucker pulled over to put chains on his rig when he noticed a motorist struggling to place chains on his Cadillac.
The motorist’s mother had just died the previous day, and he and his wife were en route to her funeral 400 mi. away in Walnut Creek, CA. The grief-stricken man had been attempting to put his chains on for at least 20 minutes before Mozley came along.
The trucker offered to help and immediately spotted the problem: The man had a front-wheel drive vehicle, but was trying to put the chains on the rear tires. Mozley placed the chains correctly and showed the motorist how to do it himself for future reference.
The motorist later wrote a letter to Kool Pak calling Mozley a “Good Samaritan” who “offered his assistance in a true time of need.”
“I could see that he was really struggling. I had already pulled over to do my own chains, so it was no extra effort to do his at the same time. I’m glad I could help,” said Mozley, who has assisted several motorists throughout his 11 years as a truck driver.
For his efforts that day, Mozley has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. Kool Pak also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.
Since its inception in August 1997, the Highway Angels program has recognized hundreds of drivers for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job. TCA has received letters and e-mails from people across North America nominating truck drivers for the program.
To learn more about the program or to nominate a driver, go to www.truckload.org/highway-angel or visit the Angels’ Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/tcanews.
For additional information, contact TCA at (703) 838-1950 or [email protected].
