As we stare down the barrel of summer, coronavirus concerns in some areas of the U.S. have been heightened, while others have subsided. Regardless of location, it’s important to remember those essential workers who are still fighting the pandemic every day – and celebrate them. Here are five good things that happened in trucking this week.  

Schneider featured driver hits more than 3.3 million safe driving miles

Meet Bounlieng “Bo” Nobouphasavanh. He emigrated by himself from Laos in 1980 as a refugee from the Vietnam War. To make ends meet, Bo got his first job as a mushroom picker at a farm in Michigan and went to school at night to learn English.

“I was given some options,” Nobouphasavanh said. “I pointed to Michigan on the map – it was close to all that water. The guy looked at me like I was crazy. The first winter was very cold, but I love people in the Midwest. They are easy-going and remind me of my friends in Laos.”

He enrolled himself in a welding course and found a job in a sheet metal factory. While he was quickly promoted to foreman,  Nobouphasavanh didn’t feel fulfilled and felt that he had a different calling.

After going to driving school, he joined Schneider in 1989 as an over-the-road driver and then transitioned to a regional intermodal driver.

“You are constantly planning and working to stay on schedule to ensure you make that cut off time,”  Nobouphasavanh said. “You experience many variables – from the hectic traffic in Chicago to navigating through the yard for your pick-up. Intermodal is tough, but I love it.”

Since his start in 1989, Nobouphasavanh has surpassed 3.3 million safe driving miles at Schneider.

“I can’t say enough about the people – they treat you as family,” he said. “Schneider also recognizes the importance of flexible options so I can spend time at home with my own family as well.

“I feel at home in the U.S. and at Schneider,” he continued. “This is it. I’ve found my place in the world.”

Mack Trucks thanks sanitation workers with video

To celebrate Waste and Recycling Workers Week, Mack Trucks took Wednesday to thank New York City's Department of Sanitation and all sanitation workers on the front lines for keeping cities clean and safe during the difficult times seen these last several months.

Watch the video below.

Women In Trucking seeks nominations for 2020 Influential Women in Trucking

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT), with support from Freightliner Trucks, are seeking nominations for the 2020 Influential Woman in Trucking award. 

A decade ago, the award was created to honor women who make or influence key decisions in a corporate, manufacturing, supplier, owner-operator, driver, sales or dealership setting. The winner must have a proven record of responsibility and have mentored or served as a role model to other women in the industry.

“When I first started my career, there were very few women in the trucking industry let alone in leadership positions,” said Kary Schaefer, general manager at Freightliner and Western Star product marketing and strategy at Daimler Trucks North America. “It’s amazing to see how the industry has changed and women are now a driving force in all areas of trucking. Freightliner is proud to sponsor this award and recognize those women who are not only making a difference in their own roles but for all women in the trucking profession.”

NFI Industries arranges ‘Everyday Hero’ t-shirts for truckers

NFI Industries, out of Camden, N.J., specializes in worry-free supply chain solutions in transportation, distribution, real estate, global, intermodal, freight brokerage, and port drayage.

This week, the company celebrated truckers with ‘Everyday Hero’ t-shirts arranged by its transportation team. The company shared the drivers all across its network wearing the shirts to prove that essential work is teamwork.

UPS driver receives big thanks from local neighborhood

UPS driver Gregory Watkins received a huge welcome and thank you this week from the Long Island, N.Y., neighborhood he’s been delivery to for more than 10 years. In a video shared by NBC Nightly News, Watkins is speechless as community members and families present him with cards, presents and overwhelming appreciation.

“He is completely genuine,” Christine Grazia of Smithtown, N.Y., said. “He does everything from his heart, not because it’s his job. He does it because it really cares about people.”

Watch the heart-warming video below.