Employees at Big G Express raised $1,600 for Toys for Tots. (Image Courtesy of TMAF)Trucking companies and fleets have volunteered their time and resources serving their local communities and raising donations for various charities.
Trucking Moves America Forward collected submissions of the trucking industry’s good deeds for its annual round-up.
Check out what trucking companies have been up to this holiday season:
- Shrewsbury, Massachusetts-based Advantage Truck Group’s annual Haulin’ 4 Hunger program has provided almost 16,000 meals since its launch seven years ago. This year Advantage Truck Group delivered almost 3,000 fresh meals to six food pantries across Central Massachusetts.
- American Trucking Associations (ATA) raised $50,000 to purchase additional wreaths for Wreaths Across America and led the non-profits annual convoy with its Workforce Heroes Truck to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
- Bestpass of Albany, New York donated presents and household goods to two families through the Albany County Executive’s Adopt a Family program. Employees shopped for over 100 items on the children’s wishlists, plus household supplies. Employees also collected gloves for Street Soldiers, a non-profit that provides hot meals and essentials to those in need.
- Big G. Express, Inc., of Shelbyville, Tennessee, raised $1,600 and collected toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. The fleet also served as a toy donation site and provided a trailer for the Lincoln County Toy Drive, which provided toys for approximately 500 children.
- St. Joseph, Minnesota-based Brenny Transportation collected and donated items to six local organizations. The fleet also contributed to the Minnesota Trucking Association’s Trucks and Toys Campaign and donated food and toys to three local food pantries. Employee’s built and donated a Christmas tree stand to a local church and sang Christmas carols at nursing homes.
- Joplin, Missouri-based CFI raised more than $41,000 in donations for 19 charities across eight cities for their annual Truckloads of Treasures Holiday Giving Campaign. The fleet’s employees work with local charities to provide holiday gifts, food and other items for in-need children and senior citizens.
- Anaheim, California-based DriverFacts employees served in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky at Big Creek Missions, volunteered at their local church, raised support for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, support the Gold Rush Cure Foundation with “A Pot of Gold” program, and volunteered at various institutions.
- Findlay, Ohio-based Garner Trucking donated a trailer to a food drive hosted by the University of Findlay, was a collection point for a coat and winter hat drive, and adopted a local veteran for the holidays through the Veterans Service Office.
- Defiance, Ohio-based Keller Logistics Group raised $273,159 to honor 524 hardship requests through the Keller Assists Veterans In Crisis program. The group was a donation processing center for Soles4Souls and processed over 9,000 pairs of shoes.
- Farmington, New York-based Leonard’s Express transported a truckload of food donations to California for the Young Living Salinas Valley program. The company delivered two truckloads of donated goods and donated 138 Thanksgiving dinner boxes to its local Small Business Council’s Cares Thanksgiving Drive. Employees served as volunteer gift wrappers for the Friends of Ontario ARC Foundation.
- The Minnesota Trucking Associated raised $37,173 and donated to over 20 Minnesota charities through its annual Trucks & Toys program.
- Ryder employees nationwide volunteered their time with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, The Red Cross and Rise Against Hunger. For the eighth year in a row, Ryder employees participated in a global day of giving by volunteering at local food banks, making bagged lunches, conducting toy drivers, installing smoke alarms and more.
- Central Texas-based SH 130 Concession Co. partnered with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department’s Brown Santa to collect presents for local in-need children. SH 130 donated over 80 toys, games and books for local families.
- Shelbyville, Tennessee-based Titan Transfer, Inc. ran its annual Blue Jeans Brighten Up Children’s Christmas program, which provides assistance to the fleet’s employees and community members in need during the holiday season. Employees donated to the fund throughout the year and the money is used to donate meals and toys to local charities and organizations.
- The Trucking Association of New York raised over $21,000 for various charities, including the Veterans Miracle Center in Albany, Paige’s Butterfly Run in Syracuse, Holy Childhood in Rochester, and Long Island Cares. TANY held a gift drive in conjunction with its holiday party to support Things of My Very Own, which supports children in crisis.
- Cleveland, Ohio-based TravelCenters of America hosted an annual holiday toy drive for the American Red Cross. The toy drive benefitted about 500 local children. The company also supported Toys for Tots and hosted official toy drop sites across its participating locations.
- XPO Logistics’ annual Fill The Truck program received a donation of $30,000 of goods from the Pound Bakery, an Illinois-based pet treats manufacturer. It was enough to fill one of the fleet’s 53-foot trailers. Fill The Truck raised a record 40,000 pound of pet food, accessories and cleaning supplies, as well as $2,200 in cash. All donations go to local animal shelters and Circle of Change, which provides trained companion dogs to veterans with brain disorders.
“While America is preparing for the busy holiday season, it’s important to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of the trucking industry who are not only delivering our special holiday moments but who are giving back to their communities,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of Trucking Moves America Forward and president of Jet Express, Inc. “Whether it is through charitable donations, delivering the goods that make a family’s holiday special, or helping communities prepare for severe weather challenges, trucking keeps America moving forward during the winter season.”
