Five Good Things: Trucking supports Nebraska wildfire victims, veterans, and youth sports programs

Nebraska Trucking launches Heroes Wildfires Relief Fund

Whenever Nebraskans face tough times, the trucking industry is there to help. Right now, as wildfires leave unprecedented destruction across western Nebraska, the Nebraska Trucking Association (NTA) and its members are taking action, alongside the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska Cattlemen. With more than 35,000 cattle displaced and thousands of acres lost, there is a big need for feed and supplies, and for trucks to transport it all.

“Many truckers have voiced a willingness to help, but they too are facing unprecedented challenges with skyrocketing fuel prices and other cost concerns,” Kent Grisham, president and CEO of the NTA, stated. “But I am so proud of the NTA members who have stepped forward with a plan to support these trucking heroes in the aftermath of the worst wildfires in the state’s history.”

To help, NTA is offering a Nebraska Trucking Heroes Stipend through its charitable arm, the Nebraska Trucking Cares Fund, which is overseen by the NTA Women’s Council. Truck drivers, farmers, and ranchers who help transport emergency relief supplies can get support to offset the high cost of fuel. The stipend offers $0.50 per mile, up to 500 miles per trip, for truck drivers transporting relief commodities and supplies into the disaster areas. The Nebraska Trucking Cares Fund has pledged up to $5,000 to start. 

Visit the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's disaster resources page to view the current list of relief needs and register to help provide support. You can find out how to qualify and apply for the stipend here.

Kenworth donates a T680 as the 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving For Excellence Award for 11th year

Kenworth, Fastport, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative are again partnering in the search for America’s top rookie military veteran driver who successfully transitioned to the trucking industry following military service.

Under the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” recognition program, Kenworth will provide the grand prize for the 11th consecutive year. This year’s award is a T680 equipped with a 76-in. sleeper and Paccar powertrain featuring a Paccar MX-13 engine, Paccar TX-12 automated transmission, and Paccar DX-40 tandem rear axles. The truck will be on display March 26-28 at the Mid-America Trucking Show at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky.  

The Kenworth T680 features a Diamond VIT interior in slate gray with madrona accents and includes the latest in driver amenities. Both the driver and passenger seats are GT703 Ultra-leather seats that are fully heated and cooled. The 76-in. sleeper includes space for a microwave and TV, a factory-installed fridge, and a rotating work table. The T680 also includes the latest in driver assistance systems, including Kenworth's DigitalVision mirrors, Bendix Fusion adaptive cruise control (ACC) Stop and Auto Go, and lane keeping assist with torque assisted steering.

“The Mid-America Trucking Show brings together the very best of the trucking community, making it an ideal venue to highlight the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award,” Kyle Kimball, Kenworth director of marketing, stated. “For the 11th consecutive year, Kenworth is proud to support this transformative program and to once again present our flagship T680 to an outstanding veteran who represents the future of our industry.”

The top driver will be determined by a panel of judges. To qualify, drivers must meet eligibility requirements as specified in the official Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award rules, including:

• Be a legal resident of the continental U.S. and a military veteran or current/former member of the National Guard or Reserves.
• Graduated from a PTDI-certified, NAPFTDS, or CVTA member driver training school, with a valid CDL.
• Have been employed by any for-hire carrier or private fleet that has pledged to hire veterans and hired as a CDL driver after January 1, 2025.

Nominations open March 28, and the final deadline to submit applications will be June 30. Award semi-finalists will be announced on August 5. Finalists will be invited to Columbus, Ohio, to tour the National Veterans Memorial and Museum and attend a reception. This will be followed by a tour of the Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing plant, where the finalists will be announced. Public voting on the finalists will occur from November 1 through 11. The final award announcement will be made in mid-December, and the winner will drive home in the Kenworth T680.

The Truckload Carriers Association names Scott Derrick a TCA Highway Angel

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) recently named Scott Derrick, a professional driver for ABF Freight, a TCA Highway Angel for his actions following a crash on Interstate 15 in California.

In the early morning hours of November 8, 2025, Derrick was traveling northbound on I-15 near Oak Hills, California, when he came upon an accident involving a Honda passenger vehicle and a UPS truck. The Honda had collided with the UPS truck and was engulfed in flames.

“I feel like God told me ‘It’s time for you to go to work,’” Derrick said.

Derrick pulled his ABF tractor to a stop and grabbed the onboard fire extinguisher. The driver of the UPS truck was pulling people out of the back of the burning car, but there was one man still stuck inside.

“The flames were hitting him in the face,” he said. “I got out with the fire extinguisher and thought, ‘I’m old; I’ve lived my life.’”

He worked to suppress the flames, temporarily knocking down the fire and creating a window of time. That action allowed him to reach the vehicle and pull the injured man to safety.

“Everybody just gave up,” Derrick said. “I thought, I’m not letting this guy burn.”

His courage and response in a dangerous situation likely prevented further injury—or worse.

“I hugged him, and I said, 'Dude, you’re hurt, but you’re alive!’” the 30-year truck driver said.

Ford and Major League Baseball unite to celebrate America’s pastime and the people who power it

Ford Motor Company and Major League Baseball (MLB) are entering a multiyear exclusive partnership. As MLB’s official automotive partner, Ford will show up for baseball at every level—from neighborhood Little League fields to the World Series—honoring tradition, celebrating human capability, and powering the moments that matter most.

“For generations, baseball has brought families and communities together, and so has Ford,” Lisa Materazzo, Ford’s global chief marketing office, said. “This partnership is about honoring tradition while putting real capability behind the moments that matter for fans, players, and for the communities that keep the game, and the country, moving forward.”

As part of the agreement, Ford becomes the official automotive partner of the MLB, with a presence across the league’s iconic moments, including Opening Day presented by Adobe, All‑Star Week, MLB at Field of Dreams, and the postseason, culminating in the World Series presented by Capital One. Ford will also serve as the presenting sponsor of MLB’s July 4 initiative. The partnership includes rights across Minor League Baseball and Little League Baseball and Softball, including the Little League World Series.

By securing rights at the grassroots level, through Minor League Baseball and Little League International, Ford is providing grant funding to Little Leagues in the areas where Ford operates—from Kansas City (Missouri) to Buffalo to Detroit—to expand access to youth sports clinics, gear, equipment, uniforms, and other needs of the Little League communities. 

Hyundai expands its commitment to STEM education across the U.S.

Hyundai is deepening its investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education through Hyundai Hope, the company's corporate social responsibility initiative. Hyundai is expanding its partnerships with the STEP Foundation and the SAE Foundation in Alabama, California, Georgia, and Michigan. 

"At Hyundai, we believe education is one of the most powerful drivers of opportunity and long‑term success for every child," Brandon Ramirez, director of corporate social responsibility, Hyundai Motor North America, stated. "That belief is central to our Progress for Humanity vision and guides our commitment to working alongside trusted partners to expand access to high‑quality STEM education. By supporting hands‑on, engaging learning experiences for students across the country, we aim to spark curiosity, build critical skills, and help prepare the next generation for the careers and challenges of tomorrow."

Hyundai and the STEP Foundation, formerly the H2GP Foundation, hosted the second annual Georgia Hydrogen Grand Prix featuring the Hyundai RC Program. Middle and high school students gain hands-on experience with engineering principles, renewable energy concepts, and automotive technologies by designing and racing hydrogen‑powered RC cars.

Hyundai expanded its partnership through the SAE Foundation to bring the A World In Motion (AWIM) pre-K through 12th-grade STEM curriculum to Alabama, California, and Michigan. AWIM offers hands‑on, inquiry‑based learning that nurtures problem‑solving abilities, teamwork, and real‑world engineering skills. The curriculum also plays a key role in developing the future workforce, with students exhibiting an 80% increase in awareness of/interest in an engineering career after participation.