Daimler Truck AG and DHL Supply Chain donate, and TCF receives funds

This week, the trucking industry is all about using funds for good. Check out the latest trucking donations in this week’s Five Good Things.

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Cox Enterprises starts STEAM-Powered Classroom Challenge with DonorsChoose to provide classroom materials

Cox Enterprises is partnering with DonorsChoose, an education nonprofit empowering public school teachers to request essential classroom materials. The Cox Enterprises STEAM-Powered Classroom Challenge will match up to $100,000 in individual community contributions dollar-for-dollar on qualified STEAM and sustainability-related DonorsChoose projects in schools in under-resourced communities. Cox is dedicated to empowering the next generation of STEAM leaders with diverse skills, the gifts of curiosity and innovation, and a passion for exploration and growth that will make our world a better place.

Cox aims to empower 34 million people to live more prosperous lives by 2034, making a positive impact in its communities and building a better future for the next generation. Cox will match public donations for classroom projects in schools where most students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. The campaign will run for approximately two months or until all funds are distributed. The $100,000 donation will support classrooms in the following 10 regions in which the company does business:

Atlanta, Georgia
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Gulf Coast, Florida
New Orleans, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vermont
Austin, Texas
Manheim, Pennsylvania
Gaston County, North Carolina
Detroit, Michigan

“Partnering with DonorsChoose on the one-to-one public match not only aligns with our ambitious goal to empower 34 million people in the next 10 years but also encourages people to contribute to their own communities,” said Maury Wolfe, VP of corporate responsibility and social impact at Cox Enterprises. “Cox is committed to promoting access to education and ensuring students of all economic backgrounds have the resources they need to succeed. This partnership is a great opportunity to encourage the next generation to embrace the power of creativity and innovation through STEAM classroom projects.”

Cox is currently matching more than 100 projects on the DonorsChoose website.

Daimler Truck donates another one million euros to Ukraine

Daimler Truck AG continues its support for the people in Ukraine and is donating another one million euros to locally active aid organizations: 700,000 euros will be donated to the United Nations Children’s Fund and 300,000 euros to the German Red Cross, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz.

“For two years, the people in Ukraine have been suffering from the horrible consequences of the war,” Martin Daum, chairman of the board of management for Daimler Truck AG, said. “The need for humanitarian aid remains immense. That is why we want to help improve the situation on-site and ease the burden somewhat with our donation—and send a sign of solidarity and hope for an end to the suffering.”

The partners will use the donation for different, demand-orientated relief actions. The support of UNICEF is focused on education, medical, and psychosocial assistance, as well as the supply of electricity and water to children and families in Ukraine. The German Red Cross works with the Ukrainian Red Cross in emergency aid, disaster control, and health and social services.

Since the start of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine in February 2022, the company and its employees have provided money and donations in kind, as well as vehicles for aid convoys, with a total value of more than 4.3 million euros. Donations were made to UNICEF, the German Red Cross, and the United Nations’ World Food Program. In addition, Daimler Truck employees have supported transporting around 3,900 tons of humanitarian aid supplies to Ukraine, with more than 200 truck convoys over the last two years. They were used purposefully on-site in cooperation with various partners and aid organizations. Daimler Truck will continue to provide trucks and transport capacities for aid transports in the future.

Meridy drives for Angie’s Transportation out of St. Louis, Missouri.

Woman driver named TCA Highway Angel for rescuing Navy veteran

The Truckload Carriers Association named truck driver Michelle Meridy a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to help a man who crashed his motorcycle in the middle of the night and lay injured and unconscious on the highway. Meridy drives for Angie’s Transportation out of St. Louis, Missouri.

On November 29, 2023, around 1:55 a.m., Meridy was driving on Hwy 270 northbound in Hazelwood, Missouri, when she came upon a body lying in the left lane of the highway. As she slowed down to pull over, she noticed a crashed motorcycle off the side of the road. She parked and ran back to the man.

“I get to him—he’s alive—he told me to call his girlfriend, and he gave me her number, so I called her,” Meridy said. “I called the police, but the police were going the wrong way, so I had to run down there to flag them down.”

The motorcyclist hit the highway’s center median and flew off his motorcycle. Crash victim Michael Stewart, who nominated Meridy for the TCA Highway Angel Award, said he remembers little about the night except that Meridy called his girlfriend and stayed on the phone with her until emergency personnel arrived. He also remembers her directing traffic around him.

“She’s my guardian angel; she saved my life,” the Navy veteran said. “She needs to be recognized for this.”

Steward said he wants to meet Meridy in person to say thank you and that he plans to get a tattoo with ‘Guardian Angel’ on it with Meridy’s name.

In 2023 alone, the company donated nearly 500 volunteer hours assisting during natural disasters and other crises and, through its North American Blood Drive program, more than 1,300 units of life-saving blood to the American Red Cross.

DHL Supply Chain supports American Red Cross disaster relief efforts with $500,000 donation

DHL Supply Chain recently donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross’ Annual Disaster Giving Program. The contribution helps ensure that the nonprofit organization is prepared to meet the needs of people affected by disasters across the U.S.

“The American Red Cross makes a tremendous impact on lives every single day through the work they do, and DHL Supply Chain is proud to support their efforts, both financially and through our logistics expertise,” DHL Supply Chain North American CEO Scott Sureddin said. “In times of crisis, the availability of critical supplies can be a matter of life or death. As the world’s leading logistics company, we feel a responsibility to provide help and deploy our employees to work in Red Cross warehouses to provide additional support in times of greatest need.”

In 2023 alone, the company donated nearly 500 volunteer hours assisting during natural disasters and other crises and, through its North American Blood Drive program, more than 1,300 units of life-saving blood to the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross responds to more than 65,000 disasters annually—mobilizing a team every eight minutes—providing people relief, comfort, and hope during the worst days of their lives. As large disasters like wildfires, tornadoes, and hurricanes increase in frequency and intensity, donations from ADGP members continue to fuel Red Cross readiness and build response capacity in times of crisis.

“We count on ADGP members like DHL Supply Chain because they understand the importance of being prepared before a disaster strikes so we can respond immediately,” said Anne McKeough, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. “We’re extremely grateful for DHL Supply Chain’s donation, which will help ensure we can continue to build our capacity and resources ahead of time, keep up with the pace of frequent disasters, and assist people in their time of need.”

Trucking’s charitable arm receives $3.7 million boost from 37 industry leaders

The American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Cares Foundation announced that 37 companies and individuals have made substantial financial commitments to strengthen the trucking industry’s charitable arm. These donations will help extend the reach and longevity of the foundation and ensure its mission becomes a reality.

The 37 members comprise the TCF Founders Club, a special class of donors who each have agreed to make a $100,000 contribution over 10 years.

“We are deeply grateful to all our Founders Club members for their dedication to the Trucking Cares Foundation and for giving back to their communities. Trucking is a close-knit family, and these selfless acts of kindness reflect the philanthropic, caring spirit that makes our industry so special,” said John Lynch, president of the Trucking Cares Foundation. “The indispensable role trucking plays remains as vital today as ever. We serve virtually every corner of our country, and when disasters strike, members of our industry are among the first on the scene to deliver humanitarian relief. These generous contributions will allow TCF to continue amplifying the profound difference trucking makes in communities nationwide and respond quickly when the need arises.”

The Trucking Cares Foundation focuses on several core areas tied to trucking, including: humanitarian initiatives, disaster relief, eradicating human trafficking, workforce development, strengthening the industry’s relationships with law enforcement, military, and veterans’ organizations, and safety and research opportunities.

The complete list of TCF Founders Club members is below. Their seminal contributions will be memorialized in a display at the American Trucking Associations’ headquarters.