Even after a year of writing this blog, there’s never a shortage of "good things," instances where the trucking industry goes above and beyond to help their communities. The frequency in which transportation professionals take time out of their lives to better the lives of those around them inspires me, and I hope it inspires you too. Here are five more good things that happened in trucking this week.
Thermo King donates E-200 to local foodbank with $66K in donations
Thermo King’s dealers and corporate team have raised money during the annual dealer conference to help get more meals to those who suffer from hunger. Despite this year's event being virtual, more than $66,000 was raised for the We Move Food's grant program.
To up the ante this year, all dealers who donated to the cause were put into a drawing for an E-200 all-electric unit to donate to a food bank of their choice. Not only will the donated unit help a food bank safely transport fresh nutritional food to more people in need, but it will also help to reduce the food bank's carbon footprint.
“The impact that a food bank can have is often limited by their access to transport refrigeration. We've heard stories of food banks unable to accept loads of donated fresh food because they had no way to pick-up or deliver the food into the communities they serve," said Stephanie Moncada, communications leader. "Donating an E-200 unit will help them outfit a vehicle to not only accept and protect perishable loads but also operate more sustainably to protect the environment as well—two goals that are key to our company's strategy."
Dealer Jim Marino won the drawing and Thermo King of Dallas is now looking for a home for the new E-200 unit at a deserving food bank.
Donations to our We Move Food program fund the grant program, which provides financial support to food banks in communities across the United States and Canada. So far in 2021, 24 food banks have benefited from Thermo King’s We Move Food program through more than $70,000 in donations.
Mercedes-Benz donates two mobile vaccination units to the Brazilian Red Cross
Mercedes-Benz do Brasil has transformed two buses into mobile vaccination units. The two vehicles, an OF 1519 urban bus and an 0 500 R touring coach, were donated to the Brazilian Red Cross and are being used to support the Ministry of Health's National Immunization Plan in Brazil.
The buses will travel through several states within the country to reach populations which are difficult to access, as well as those living in a socially vulnerable situation. Two routes—one departing from São Paulo to São Luis, and the other going to Rio Branco—will start operating immediately. Around 4,000 people are expected to benefit from the mobile vaccination units each month. In addition to the buses, an eight-seater Mercedes-Benz van will also be used to transport health agents during the course of this project.
A solar power system was installed to both vehicles, ensuring an ample supply for the vaccine refrigerators.
Mickey donates soft drink trailer to local fire department
In an entirely different level of aluminum recycling, Montgomery Coca-Cola Bottling Company United donated a 1996 16-bay Mickey Truck Bodies trailer on a 1998 IH4700 tractor to the Montgomery, Alabama Fire and Rescue Department.
While the durable, all-aluminum Mickey unit was in solid shape, a fire and rescue team has little use for a soft drink delivery truck. So, the department turned to the Mickey Fleet Services Center in Ocala, Florida, to completely overhaul the trailer into a customized, fully functioning, multi-purpose vehicle designed to carry all the necessary equipment required to respond to any type of emergency.
“We completely refurbished, retrofitted and repainted the entire unit from the bottom up,” Robert Badely, Mickey’s general manager in Ocala, said.
The upfit included custom shelving, ramps for loading and unloading equipment into the bays, and fabricated slide-out panels for hanging hand tools like shovels, picks, and hoses. Every bay has its own lighting, and separate controllers operate the lights on each side of the trailer.
The rear compartment of the trailer, used for storing ladders, posts and other equipment too long to fit in the bays, is accessed through two swing-out style doors. The Mickey team designed and created a special rear bumper with three built in steps to make it easy for responders to get to the equipment.
How did the job go over with the Montgomery Fire and Rescue Department? The Mickey Fleet Services Center in Ocala is now working on two more units, the company reports.
TCA names June Highway Angel recipients
The Truckload Carriers Association has named Logan Hughes, Robert Thompson, and Trinidad Arebalo this month’s Highway Angels for their heroic deeds on the road.
Hughes, from Jacksonville, North Carolina, helped at the scene of an accident after a driver crashed into a highway median. Read his full heroic story here.
Thompson, from Tombstone, Arizona, stopped at the scene of a multiple-vehicle accident and securing the area until first responders arrived. Read his full heroic story here.
Arebalo, from Crete, Illinois, rushed to the aid of a driver involved in a multiple-vehicle accident. Read his full heroic story here.
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund launches Summer Art Auction
The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) has set the date for its summer Art Auction and is encouraging those to get creative on behalf of truckers in need.
From now until July 26, submit anything handmade including paintings, drawings, sculptures, woodwork, fabrics, jewelry, afghans, quilting, and more. Submit picture and description of your item and/or a link to your own store/page.
Items will be auctioned online, and you will ship item(s) to winner within 14 days.
Submit your work here to help truck drivers and their families.
