Five good things that happened in trucking this week - Friday, April 3

COVID-19 has overwhelmed the American people in just one month. Social distancing protocols to avoid the spread of COVID-19 have caused a higher level of panic and anxiety for Americans. Despite the country-wide angst, people are still coming together to lift spirits and support those who are keeping America running. Here are five good things that happened this week.

Sysco to donate 2.5 million meals

Sysco announced it will donate 2.5 million meals over the next four weeks as part of its community response strategy to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company’s response strategy is focused on working with its key national partners, Feeding America in the U.S. and Second Harvest in Canada, in support of food redistribution efforts across North America.

• Donating products 
• Delivering to food banks
• Providing additional storage
• Supporting development of a mobile distribution platform

“Issues related to food accessibility and increasing food insecurity of our most vulnerable populations are adding to the unease in our communities,” said Kevin Hourican, Sysco president and chief executive officer. “Sysco is considered a critical infrastructure provider, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, and we have a special responsibility to maintain our business operations in times of national disaster or emergency.

Happy Heart Hunt spreads love, positivity

Happy Heart Hunt, a private group on Facebook, was created to spread happiness, love, kindness and positivity during these unprecedented times. The group’s task is to create items around the theme of hearts to decorate homes, cars, sidewalks, places of work, etc. and then share the pictures when spotted in everyday life.

This message, spotted in Iron Ridge, Wis., was created to spread the love for any truck driver who passes by. Created by a trucking family, the owners of Last Call Logistics, based in Iron Ridge, focuses on hauling dry van freight within the borders of Wisconsin.  

Sandwiches 4 Semis Challenge

With restaurants closing nationwide and some rest stops overcrowded, access to even a meal is challenging for truckers. Sandwiches 4 Semis is challenging the community to host a Sandwiches 4 Semis event in their community to provide food to truck drivers.

With grocery stores burdened with such high demand, partnering with locally owned businesses in the community to make lunch bags for truckers is a great way to support the local economy.

The company suggests finding a safe spot with signage and banners to host the event where truck drivers can pull over and pick up the lunch. Getting approval from local law enforcement can aide in the accessibility of a site.

To help spread the word, post your location on social media with #Sandwiches4Semis, especially on their Facebook Group, Sandwiches4Semis.

FedEx Custom delivers bagged lunches for Memphis students

When Richard Smith, FedEx Express regional president received a request from Ron Redwing, president and CEO of Redwing Group, for a temperature-controlled truck to transport lunches for students in Memphis, he called on FedEx Custom Critical to find a solution.

“When I learned of the extended precautions the governor [of Tennessee] was taking, I knew something needed to be done,” explained Redwing. “The Shelby County School District is an essential part of this community, and even more so, the students, their families and school faculty within it.”

In collaboration with the Redwing Group, the YMCA, Southwest Community College and the City of Memphis, FedEx Custom Critical helped deliver bagged lunches for more than 120,000 Shelby County School District students.

FedEx Custom Critical Operations Supervisor Wendy Davy worked directly with Redwing and FedEx Custom Critical independent contractors David and Michelle Storie to make the first round of deliveries possible.

“After discussing the needs of the school district with Ron, we planned to station the temperature-controlled straight truck at one location, so it would act as a cold storage-unit for the food,” said Davy. “From there, community centers receiving the food collected the lunches to distribute to students.”

UPS delivery driver spreads joy through song

Thirty-four-year-old UPS driver, Ben Hertle, took to Facebook to spread joy the only way he knew how – through song.

In a recent video posted to Facebook, Hertle, of Maple Grove, Minn., performed Lenny LeBlanc's worship song, "There's None Like You” as he sat in his UPS truck on break.

According to TODAY, Hertle started out delivering groceries many years ago until he was laid off during the 2008 recession. He was able to land a job at UPS and has been working there ever since — but said he still has empathy for the workers losing their incomes this time around.

“I’m watching person after person after person lose their job; I have a job and I’m grateful for that, but at the same time there’s so much pain around me that I’m seeing as a driver,” he said.