Five Good Things: Veteran's Day 2022

This year, Truckstop has partnered with Wreaths Across America to spread awareness and encourage professional drivers and carriers to join the Honor Fleet, and help the national nonprofit fulfill its mission to “Remember, Honor, Teach,” with the delivery of live, balsam veterans' wreaths.

"We are very proud to be a part of the Wreaths Across America mission in helping transportation partners assist in delivering more than two million wreaths to remember our nation's fallen heroes," said Kendra Tucker, Truckstop CEO. "Supporting the freight transportation community in partnership with such a respected institution is at the core of who we are at Truckstop. We provide important tools to help our customers all across the U.S. move their businesses forward and to be able to help move Wreaths Across America's mission to ‘Remember, Honor, Teach’ forward as well, is an honor."

Love's celebrates Truckersgiving with free chicken

"The role of professional drivers remains critical—especially during the holiday season—with the average driver clocking 60 hours of driving in one week," said William Culpepper, VP of marketing, Chester's Chicken. "We launched the first Truckersgiving with Love's last year, and it was so well received that we had to bring it back in an even bigger way. Truck drivers are some of our best and most loyal customers, so offering this free meal to drivers across the country is our way of saying thank you for their important work."

Professional drivers can claim the Truckersgiving Super Snack meal by stopping by any Chester's restaurant within a Love's during operating hours on Thursday, Nov. 17, and scanning the barcode on their Love's Connect App or by swiping their My Love Rewards Card. The Super Snack meal includes two pieces of Chester's fried chicken—a leg and a thigh—and a side of potato wedges.

Kenworth dealer raises thousands for Truckers Against Trafficking

The TAT Champion Award annually recognizes and honors individuals who have found innovative ways to support TAT’s mission to fight human trafficking.

“Truckers Against Trafficking is a tremendous organization that’s helping save countless lives through its educational programs that have trained more than 1.3 million truck drivers and others in our industry how to identify and report possible human trafficking cases,” said Blake, who also serves on the TAT board of directors in addition to his role at Inland Kenworth – Phoenix. “It’s truly an honor to receive the TAT Champion Award and I look forward to continuing to work with TAT to raise awareness of human trafficking in our industry.”

In the past five years, Blake has spearheaded the effort to build two special “Everyday Heroes” Kenworth T680s and a T680 Next Gen that were sold at auction with all proceeds going to TAT. Blake received significant support from key sponsors including Kenworth Truck Company and Inland Kenworth to offset the costs to build the trucks. The “Everyday Heroes” trucks were specially wrapped to help promote the organization’s mission on the road.

“Don has worked so hard over the years through his efforts in coordinating the ‘Everyday Heroes’ trucks and as a TAT board member,” said Esther Goetsch, TAT executive director. “Don is highly deserving of this award and we’re proud to name him this year’s TAT Champion.”

Last year, an “Everyday Heroes” Kenworth T680 was sold to Vancouver, Washington-based Freestyle Transportation. The sale of the truck in addition to extra truck sponsor donations from industry suppliers generated $328,000, making it the single largest donation TAT has received to date. Combined, the three “Everyday Heroes” truck auctions have raised more than $573,000 for TAT.

Wabash feeds America

Wabash plans to donate $150,000 this year to support mobile food pantries through a new partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

“Wabash is committed to supporting the communities where we operate, and we’re excited to scale up our efforts to help end food insecurity in partnership with Feeding America,” said Brent Yeagy, president and CEO.

According to the USDA, nearly 34 million people, including more than 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure. Wabash employees have selected fighting hunger as a cause they would like to personally support through donations, volunteer efforts, and their work at Wabash; and mobile food pantries are crucial to increasing the distribution of fresh and healthy food in vulnerable communities, Wabash said.

The trailer manufacturer’s donations will be directed to mobile food pantries that serve communities with high food insecurity rates, where Wabash facilities are located. In the first year of this partnership, funds will be allocated to five Feeding America member food banks. Wabash said it hopes to scale these efforts in the years to come, which may include supplying Wabash Acutherm refrigerated vans and truck bodies to keep food fresh while transporting and delivering it to communities in need.

“Feeding America and member food banks across the country are working hard to meet the increasing demand for food assistance,” said Lauren Biedron, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. “No one should have to worry about where they will find their next meal. In our fight against hunger, we’re grateful to Wabash for their generous donation that will help our neighbors in need across the country.”

XPO celebrates Socktober to help homeless

XPO's participation in this initiative was led by Nicole Neumann, VP of human resources, after she learned that resources were not being provided to the homeless population in her community. She turned her disappointment and frustration into action to make a difference in not only her community but the other communities where XPO operates.

Neumann said, "It was really about XPO's commitment to community involvement and the positive employee engagement that comes from working together as a team to make a difference."