2020 was a time for trucking to help those in need

Members of the American trucking industry — from drivers to companies and associations — were especially generous during 2020, motivated in part by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that still plagues the nation.

Trucking Moves America Forward, an industry-wide education and image movement, gathered numerous examples of trucking’s generosity in giving back to their communities this holiday season. What follows is a list of trucking companies and organizations that gave back to their communities during the 2020 holiday season.

The Melton Truck Lines truck that delivered donations for hurricane victims in LouisianaThe Melton Truck Lines truck that delivered donations for hurricane victims in Louisiana

Advantage Truck Group (ATG), based in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, hosted their annual Haulin’ 4 Hunger initiative to provide meals to those in need. With an increased need for food assistance because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ATG increased their efforts this year and provided 6,000 meals and support to 12 local food pantries.

American Trucking Associations (ATA) and its Workforce Heroes Program participated in Wreaths Across America; Workforce Heroes professional truck drivers and Army veterans, Nate McCarty and Sammy Brewster, drove the program’s truck from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery. Additionally, ATA and Share the Road, its leading highway safety program, partnered with the American Logistics Aid Network to provide food and relief supplies to hurricane victims in Lake Charles, Louisiana to help victims recover ahead of the holidays.ATA and Share the Road also worked together to educate motorists on the importance of safe driving during the holiday season.

Employees of Fort Worth-Texas’ Apex Capital hosted a Virtual Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness and raised $1,725 to help fight breast cancer. Employees of Apex Capital also bought approximately $500 worth of gifts on Amazon wish lists to be gifted to local residents through a local organization, and organized a virtual tag pulling holiday gift donation event for a local children’s home.

The Arkansas Trucking Association partnered with a statewide coalition dedicated to raising awareness about adoption from foster care, and delivered Christmas gifts to over 480 children and teens during the program’s “Candyland Christmas” event.

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Members of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association are pictured above while distributing the Kwik Trip gift cards to truck driversMembers of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association are pictured above while distributing the Kwik Trip gift cards to truck drivers

Employees of Bestpass in Albany, New York volunteered to build garden beds for a regional nonprofit; participated in a fundraiser to benefit children hospitals and raised more than $1,000; ran a virtual 5K Turkey Trot to support a regional food bank; and collected toys for Toys for Tots.

Boshart Trucking, Inc. of Tangent, Oregon assisted their local community during the wildfires that spread across the state. Efforts included the coordination of evacuations for local families and their livestock; the collection of and coordination of donations and the delivery of hay bales to assist communities devasted by the fires with erosion control.

Brenny Transportation, based in St. Joseph, Minnesota, hosted their annual Driven to Serve campaign, which included a giving tree to benefit five local organizations; food and toy donations to three local food shelves and helping children in need through their involvement with the Minnesota Trucks and Toys Campaign.

Joplin, Missouri-based CFI raised $40,000 and supported 25 local, state, federal and global charitable efforts and organizations this year to help children, the elderly, veterans and first responders.

Conversion Interactive Agency, based in Brentwood, Tennessee, held an annual food drive and collected over 900 cans from their employees for a local charity.

CRST International, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, partnered with Central Furniture Rescue to help deliver furniture donations, such as chairs, couches, and cushions, to the Cedar Rapids area after a derecho storm devasted the community leaving many residents without roofs or homes.

Employees from DriverFacts, based in Anaheim, California, gave back to their community in many ways, including volunteer work for local food banks, charities and churches, as well as other charitable efforts to give back to members of the community, including seniors.

The truck manager for Four Star Freightliner, located in their Montgomery, Alabama location, donated 20 children’s bicycles after deciding to donate one bike for every chemotherapy treatment he completed, turning a negative situation into a positive one by giving back to his community.

Garner Trucking gave back to their community in Findlay, Ohio in several ways, including through the donation of a trailer to a local food drive; the donation of coats collected by employees for local community members and a fundraiser to benefit Wreaths Across America, an event which Garner Trucking also participated in.

Bob Burke, Quality Control Manager at Great Dane’s Wayne location, is pictured above, right, with Rev. Teresa Bartlett from First Presbyterian ChurchBob Burke, Quality Control Manager at Great Dane’s Wayne location, is pictured above, right, with Rev. Teresa Bartlett from First Presbyterian Church

Employees of Great Dane, based in Savannah Georgia, gave back to the communities they serve in Nebraska and Pennsylvania this holiday season. In Wayne, Nebraska, employees held a food and clothing drive to support a local pantry and donated an additional $1,211. Great Dane employees in Danville, Pennsylvania raised donations for a Salvation Army program and purchased gifts, clothing, shoes and coats for children of families in need.

Defiance, Ohio-based Keller Logistics Group raised funds for their Keller Assists Veterans In Crisis, or Operation K.A.V.I.C. program, which helps local military personnel and veterans. Keller Logistics Group also served as a donation processing center for Soles4Souls and participated in Wreaths Across America.

Load One, based in Taylor, Michigan, partnered with several communities in their area to provide trailers for toy drives. Employees also collected toys at Load One facilities to donate to those in need within their community.

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Melton Truck Lines, Inc. gave back to their community through donations to local organizations; the purchase of a K-9 dog for their local police department; and the sponsorship of wreaths for Wreaths Across America. Additionally, one of their drivers led the effort to deliver supplies and essential items from Washington state to the New Orleans area following Hurricane Laura.

Mississippi Trucking Association continued to give back to their community through support of local initiatives, including organizations with the mission of ending human trafficking. The association recently received two awards by these organizations, including from Truckers Against Trafficking and the Center for Violence Prevention.

During the pandemic, Omnitracs, based in Dallas, Texas, donated $25,000 to four charities in lieu of a holiday party. Omnitracs also supported Wreaths Across America for an 11th consecutive year and donated more than $73,000 to organizations and nonprofits nationwide, including St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and Truckers Final Mile, as well as healthcare organizations, disadvantaged schools, food banks, and more. 

Chris Landwehr and Kendall George, the two CRST truck drivers who picked up donated furniture, are pictured aboveChris Landwehr and Kendall George, the two CRST truck drivers who picked up donated furniture, are pictured above

Pilot Company, based in Knoxville, Tennessee served as a sponsor of Wreaths Across America this year and hosted a fundraiser to benefit the event. Guests at any Pilot Company location were able to round up their purchases to donate to Wreaths Across America during the holiday season.

Professional Driver Agency, based in Tennessee, gave their two branch offices in Brentwood, Tennessee and Van Buren, Arkansas, a donation to give to local charities. Employees voted on and selected the charities of their choice.

State Highway 130 Concession Company in Texas partnered with the Caldwell County Sheriff Department’s Brown Santa in Central Texas and donated over 100 toys, games and books for local families in need. The company also donated $5,000 to a local food pantry to help meet an increased need in the region this year.

Thomas E. Keller Trucking, Inc., an affiliate of Keller Logistics Group based in Defiance, Ohio, created the “Charity Truck” to advance Autism awareness, understanding and acceptance, as the truck travels the country; a percentage of the truck’s revenue will be donated to causes, charities and initiatives related to Autism and youth development within their community. Thomas E. Keller Trucking, Inc. also partnered with a local organization to wrap a semi-trailer to raise awareness of and help end violence against women. 

Transport America out of Eagan, Minnesota donated $950 worth in gift cards to a local charity program that provides assistance for local families. Additionally, Transport America supported Wreaths Across America and delivered over 10,000 wreaths.

ATG employees are pictured above in front of Friendly House, one of the organizations that ATG supportedATG employees are pictured above in front of Friendly House, one of the organizations that ATG supported

Cleveland, Ohio-based TravelCenters of America launched its first point-of-sale fundraising campaign at their travel stores, restaurants, and fuel buildings, to benefit the St. Christopher’s Trucker Relief Fund (SCF), which helps professional drivers who may be out of work due to an illness or injury. Additionally, TravelCenters of America ran a gift card fundraiser with the American Red Cross to benefit families in the Cleveland area and veterans at regional VA Hospitals.

The Truckload Carriers Association and its member companies were instrumental in the delivery of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s The Wall That Heals mobile education unit and Wreaths Across America remembrance wreaths. Additionally, TCA and Cargo Transporters, Inc. hosted a community stop in Asheville, North Carolina for residents to gather to view the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as it traveled to Washington, D.C.

Arkansas Trucking Association members pictured above while volunteering for the Candyland Christmas eventArkansas Trucking Association members pictured above while volunteering for the Candyland Christmas event

The Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association hosted a ThankATrucker fundraiser to thank truck drivers for delivering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceeds of the fundraiser were used to purchase $10 Kwik Trip meal gift cards that were handed out to over 900 truck drivers at various locations across the state.

The Virginia Trucking Association’s member company, VHI Express of Chester, provided trailers and transportation for the collection of food donations in the Richmond, Virginia area by local Boy Scouts. The food was transported to a nonprofit organization that distributes food to neighbors in need across Central Virginia.