The trucking industry this week shared its veteran pride, was honored for philanthropy, and more. Read about how the industry honored service members in this week’s Five Good Things.
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Roy Chandler named TCA Highway Angel after helping crash recovery
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Roy Chandler of Diamond Transportation System a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to help a woman who crashed into a semi-truck on a rainy highway in northeast Texas.
The woman hit the back end of the trailer and flipped multiple times into the median.
After witnessing the crash, Chandler immediately pulled to the side of the road and ran to help the woman. She was responsive and her injuries were minor, but she was trapped in the car. Chandler called 911, stayed with the young woman, and consoled the driver of the truck she hit. He was visibly shaken and complained of dizziness. Chandler also helped to clear the road, stayed on the scene until a state trooper arrived, and provided his dashcam footage to law enforcement.
Chandler is a second-generation truck driver on the road for 37 years and has assisted with several accidents.
“It’s always what we’re supposed to do. As a Christian and as a truck driver, I’m supposed to help wherever I can,” Chandler said. “To me, it was just another day at work.”
Werner drivers share veteran pride
Werner Enterprises professional drivers Marvin and Ricky proudly showcased their Operation Freedom Trucks at the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Grand Opening in Papillion. Over the last two days, they ensured their trucks were spotless and had the chance to thank many fellow veterans attending the event.
The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors Nebraskan military personnel killed in action. The memorial opened to the public in early June.
Marvin shared his pride: "It was an honor to attend and showcase the truck." With more than 5,000 attendees, this event was a special tribute to our heroes.
Werner Enterprises offers numerous opportunities for professional drivers through its Operation Freedom program, which especially features its Elite Veteran Driver Program. The company operates a fleet of military-themed trucks driven by military veteran employees to honor, recruit, and retain military community members.
JK Moving Services honored for philanthropic investments
JK Moving Services was named a Top Corporate Philanthropist in the greater D.C. region by the Washington Business Journal.
The company was recognized for its $632K in corporate donations in 2023, mainly supporting efforts to end hunger through the nonprofit JK Community Farm. These investments placed it among the top 30 philanthropists compared to other extra-large employers and were part of the company’s $40M overall donations last year, including the cash value of land donations.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Washington Business Journal once again for philanthropy,” JK Moving Services CEO Chuck Kuhn said. “Our commitment to corporate citizenship and sustainability is a shared endeavor ingrained in the very fabric of our organization, including our giving and volunteer efforts.”
Among JK’s most significant contributions to community welfare and environmental sustainability is the JK Community Farm, a nonprofit it founded and continues to support. Spanning 150 acres, the farm cultivates more than 50 varieties of vegetables, fruits, proteins, and herbs, and it is the largest chemical-free nonprofit farm in the nation.
To meet its goals, the farm relies on thousands of hours of volunteer labor from the community, local companies, and JK employees.
The primary mission of the farm is to donate 100% of its produce to local food banks and pantries, including Loudoun Hunger Relief, Food for Others, Arlington Food Assistance Center, and DC Central Kitchen. Since its inception, it has distributed more than one million pounds of vegetables and protein to families facing food insecurity. In addition to donating the land, JK also conserved it to protect it in perpetuity from development.
Jeff McKinney named TCA Safety Professional of the Year
The Truckload Carriers Association announced the winner of its 2024 Safety Professional of the Year at the TCA Safety & Security Conference: Jeff McKinney, VP of safety at the GTI Group.
“This award is a time-honored tradition of the TCA Safety & Security division, which exemplifies our industries’ impressive dedication to safety,” Dave Heller, SVP of safety and government affairs for TCA, said. “Because our safety professionals often go unnoticed throughout their careers, this award was established to recognize that individual who truly exemplifies a career devoted to improving safety on our nation’s highways.”
McKinney is an experienced and thoroughly involved industry player. He has 25 years of experience across several facets of freight management—from company driver to trainer to warehouse manager. McKinney achieved his certification as Certified Director of Safety through the North American Transportation Management Institute and has maintained that status since 2007.
Heller and Alice Walker, owner of Creative Concepts, presented McKinney with three special gifts designed for the award.
McKinney received a commemorative crystal plaque, a 10-karat gold ring, and a characteristic burgundy blazer to signify McKinney’s dedication to safety. The blazer easily identifies winners of the Safety Professional of the Year. During the ceremony, past years’ award winners also wore their burgundy blazers.
UPS driver visits his dad each day
Every day along his UPS route, driver Tim Westfall Jr. takes his lunch break to visit his dad and spend quality time together, according to a story by WoodTV’s Teresa Weakley.
Westfall Jr.’s father is a U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran and lost his wife to cancer six years prior.
“You ain’t got nobody to talk to, so that’s the hard part,” Westfall Sr. told WoodTV. “When my son comes over, I get to see him, and I get to ask him about the kids.”
The men sometimes share coffee and sit in the driveway together. The son enjoys visiting and listening to his father’s stories.
Westfall Jr.’s managers are fine with him using his break time to visit his dad. After 30 minutes, the younger Westfall returns to his route.
