Five good things that happened in trucking this week – March 19

The long, cold COVID-19 winter is starting to wane. As vaccination rates increase across the U.S., infection rates and hospitalizations are decreasing as spring officially begins this weekend. What is a bigger sign of spring than Mother's Day? Make-A-Wish is counting on truckers this spring to help raise awareness and money to support the wishes of ill children. That is one of five good things that happened in trucking this week. 

Make-A-Wish Mother’s Day Truck Convoy will hit the road in May

The Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware and Susquehanna Valley Mother’s Day Truck Convoy will continue to be a Mother’s Day Tradition on May 9.  

Make-A-Wish is counting on the local community, especially truck drivers, to make the event a success. The funds raised at the Convoy typically support over 75% of the wishes granted in the Susquehanna Valley each year. There are nearly 500 local children with critical illnesses waiting for their wishes to come true.  

This year’s 100 truck convoy will include the top 30 drivers and grand drivers, key sponsors, and drivers that commit to fundraising $500 or more.  

Make-A-Wish will be broadcasting live on their Facebook page for fans to watch at home and will include drivers departing the parking lot, a view from inside a special Convoy driver’s truck, and a location along the route. There will be several ways to participate in the Convoy listed below and Make-A-Wish encourages all community members to support this event.  

“Our Convoy planning committee and volunteers are hard at work, identifying ways to execute this year's Convoy on Mother's Day!” said Terry Finch, co-chair of the Convoy Committee at Make-A-Wish. “We hope this can be the beginning of a safe return to celebrations in our area, and we appreciate the continued support of our community and our incredibly generous Convoy Drivers. While our wish children won't be with us on Mother's Day, we will be connecting with them virtually, and we hope they will see the love and support we're sending from this year’s Mother's Day Convoy!” 

The 2021 Mother’s Day Truck Convoy will have several ways to participate from home: 

• Sign up to be a driver: The Convoy is still accepting drivers for valuable spots in the 100 truck Convoy. You can register at wishconvoy.org. If you are not a driver and want to support a driver’s fundraising efforts, please do so at wishconvoy.org.  
• Celebrate and cheer for the trucks as they go by: The Mother’s Day Truck Convoy route can be found here.  
• Livestream: Join Make-A-Wish on May 9 beginning at 1 pm. For more information, please visit wishconvoy.org and follow us on the 2021 Mother’s Day Truck Convoy Facebook Event Page. 
• Pick up Mother's Day Chicken Dinner and Merchandise: Pick up your Convoy Mother's Day Chicken Dinner and merchandise at a location to be determined. More details will be available soon at wishconvoy.org  
• Auction: Like last year, many items will be available for bidding starting on May 1 and continuing through May 10.  
• Make a Donation: Help Make-A-Wish reach their fundraising goal of $300,000 by making a donation at wishconvoy.org.  

“Not even a yearlong (and counting) pandemic can stop this renowned event,” said Dennis Heron, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware and Susquehanna Valley. “It may be different again this year, forced to again abandon the carnival aspect of Convoy, but Convoy it will be.” 

UPS drivers save man trapped underneath semi-truck 

According to KTNV, UPS drivers Julie Jefferson and Spencer Mcvay were driving on a rural stretch of highway in Tonopah, Nev., located just north of Las Vegas, when the unexpected happened. 

"It was about two in the morning, somewhere around there, and there was a truck and people in the middle of the road, so I stopped," said Jefferson, who was driving the UPS truck. 

A man named Christopher was pinned underneath a semi-truck that had jack-knifed. His leg, nearly severed. 

The two UPS drivers swiftly took action and used a bystander's belt as a tourniquet. 

"I was able to move the truck with the help of the other people who were there, keeping pressure and holding the tourniquet on his leg," Jefferson said. 

During the chaotic scene, Jefferson described how her instincts kicked in when medics didn't arrive for nearly 45 minutes. 

"For me it was instinctual, that is just what you do as a human. You see someone in need, and you help them. You never know, you could save someone's life," Jefferson said. 

Werner driver receives 2021 International Driver Excellence Award from CVSA 

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced this year’s International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA) recipient as professional driver Allen Parker with Werner Enterprises Inc. Parker has been with Werner Enterprises for more than 34 years and has safely driven more than four million accident-free miles. 

“My reaction upon hearing the fantastic news that I’d received the International Driver Excellence Award was to be humbled,” said Parker. “To be acknowledged by CVSA is truly an honor.” 

“Whether it’s his professional activities, like the Werner Road Team and the Truck Convoy for Special Olympics, or his community involvement through his church and singing the national anthem at public events, Allen represents Werner Enterprises and the trucking industry as a caring professional,” said Jaime Maus, vice president of safety and compliance for Werner Enterprises. 

Werner Enterprises was founded in 1956, and in the history of the company, only six drivers have achieved four million accident-free miles. 

“This year, especially, the Alliance is honored to award a commercial motor vehicle driver for his safe-driving record and contributions to the community and the trucking industry,” said CVSA President John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “We, in the commercial motor vehicle enforcement community, know how important commercial drivers are to the fabric of our society. But when the pandemic hit, the public quickly realized that almost everything we need is transported by truck, driven by a truck driver, at some point within the supply chain. Nominating Mr. Parker was Werner’s way of saying thank you. And selecting and naming him as this year’s IDEA recipient is CVSA’s way of saying thank you.” 

With decades of driving experience and millions of accident-free miles driven safely on the road, Parker knows exactly what to do to ensure he is operating safely. “To achieve the miles I have driven is great, but they come one mile at a time,” said Parker. “Focusing too far ahead or behind removes my focus from where I am now.” 

CVSA’s IDEA isn’t the only award Parker has received throughout his driving career. He has received multiple President’s Safe Driving Awards from the Nebraska Trucking Association, Werner’s Safe Driver Awards, and one, two, three and four million accident-free miles awards from his company. 

When asked what he enjoys most about his profession, Parker said “My job offers opportunities to meet new people every day and see new parts of the country. I enjoy being outdoors and not confined to an office with walls. The sunrise ahead of me and the sunset behind me are my only boundaries.” 

Parker will receive his award at the 2021 CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in the fall. He will be presented with a crystal trophy and a check for $2,500. 

Citgo donates $225,000 to winter storm relief in Louisiana 

In the wake of the severe winter storms that seriously impacted Texas and Louisiana, Citgo is to provide ongoing support to affected communities. The company committed $225,000 to assist several organizations, including SBP, the Independence Heights Redevelopment Council and Rebuilding Together Houston. Donated funds will be used for wellness checks, food distribution, plumbing repairs and guidance on completing FEMA applications. 

"With Citgo refineries in Corpus Christi, Texas and Lake Charles, La., and our corporate headquarters in Houston, the lion's share of our employees experienced these devastating storms first-hand," said Citgo President and CEO Carlos Jordá. "These are the communities where we live, so we immediately moved to lend a hand." 

The storms impacted safe water supplies for thousands of residents, and thousands more face broken water pipes and damaged homes – many with little to no resources to repair the damage. 

Citgo is working with community partners to help meet ongoing needs for food and water and medium to long-term assistance for home repair in Houston, Corpus Christi and Lake Charles. In addition to these corporate donations, employees are supporting colleagues in need through the company's Citgo Stands Together Fund. This Fund, supported by corporate and employee donations, provides short-term loans and financial assistance to help employees in need. 

"As Citgo donates financial resources, the TeamCitgo group of employee volunteers is also donating their time and skills, working alongside our neighbors to recover and rebuild," said Jordá. "As longstanding community members, we're proud to do our part."   

Actor-musician John Schneider to release trucking album and will benefit St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund 

Actor-musician John Schneider is releasing a country album, Truck On, on April 2, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF). One of the songs on the album, “Born at a Truck Stop,” written by Jacob Lyda, showcases “a very complex long-term story in a very short amount of time – that's the magic of a great songwriter,” said Schneider.

His new album, Truck On has a central theme of ‘trucking on,’ and the challenges of 2020 inspired the project. “During the pandemic, while my wife Alicia [Allain] and I were traveling the country, we noticed more trucks on the road and at truck stops and at fuel pumps than ever before. It became obvious that our country runs on the shoulders of our truck drivers. We wanted to pay tribute to this truly unsung hero in our world,” Schneider said.  

The SCF, which helps over-the-road/regional semi-truck drivers and their families who are out of work due to a recent illness or injury, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, raised over $1 million in relief funds in 2020, helping 322 drivers in need with $394,145 in payments on behalf of beneficiaries and over $11,200 towards drivers’ health and wellness. 

“Truck drivers put thousands if not hundreds of thousands of miles on their trucks every year,” Schneider said. “Each one of those miles represents time away from their family. It’s important to us to be involved with the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund because this is an organization that helps truckers provide for their families while they are away. It’s also a way for us to help those who have been helping us throughout these hard times.”  

Listen to Schneider's "Born at a Truck Stop" below.