Giving Back, One Mile at a Time

 

What do a soccer tournament benefitting the Shriner's Hospital, a food drive in Vermont, a national organization fighting human trafficking and rescuing individuals from car accidents have in common?

They represent just a few ways that transportation professionals are giving back to their communities and their country.

At Getloaded, we believe in the power of helping fellow citizens through goodwill and kindness, and this month, we want to acknowledge the amazing acts of heroics and generosity that happen in our industry, every day.

From roadside rescues to charitable contributions, transportation professionals are doing their part to improve individual lives and communities. And because there are as many opportunities to do good as there are individuals to perform the acts, we want to highlight some easy ways to help make a difference:

·         Like competition? The Compass Trucker Soccer Tournament will take place in Burr Ridge, IL, this August. Open to all CDL drivers, the inaugural event benefits the Shriner's Hospital for Children, which provides specialty care to kids in 22 hospitals nationwide, with no payment obligation. In addition to supporting the important cause and athletic competition, tournament host and organizer Compass will give away a VOLVO truck at the event.

·         If a big convoy and party is more your speed, why not check out the World's Largest Truck Convoy on September 18? The event unites truckers and law enforcement to support the Special Olympics, which offers individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience dignity, acceptance and pride through athletic training and competition. The convoy is happening nationwide, so chances are there will be a local event near you. For the past four years, Getloaded employees have volunteered at the Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games, helping to ensure the athletes enjoy the best possible experience during competition. This annual commitment has reinforced our belief in Special Olympics - and the World's Largest Truck Convoy. Because in the end, we think it's hard to go wrong when thousands of drivers unite each year to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a good cause, while enjoying a day of fun and celebration.

Annual events are great opportunities to give back, but you can also incorporate good deeds into your daily activities:

·         Truckers Against Human Trafficking (TAHT) is committed to preventing modern-day slavery by engaging and informing our industry on the cause. The horrific trade has been reported in all 50 states, and is a $32 billion worldwide industry. Many of the so-called "lot lizards" (prostitutes commonly found at truckstops) are actually victims of child sex trafficking, and TAHT provides resources for drivers to identify and help these women and girls find freedom.

·         Use your rig to collect and deliver charitable donations. Consider America's Road Team Captain Jerry Charron, a driver from Danville, Vt. who received the Elks Community Achievement Award for Vermont in March. Last October, he parked a trailer outside his Elks club and collected more than 7,000 pounds of food, which he then delivered to a local food bank so people in his community would not go hungry during the holiday season.

·         Help save an auto accident victim. Run a quick online search for "trucker hero," and you'll find many examples of the men and women who have come to the rescue and saved lives at accidents. In fact, this specific act of goodwill is so widespread throughout the industry that two longstanding awards are presented : The Goodyear North American Highway Hero and the Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel. For the past 27 years, the Goodyear North American Highway Hero has recognized "professional truck drivers and the often unnoticed, life-saving rescues and roadside assistance they provide as their jobs take them across [the country]." Winners receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond. While the Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel may not offer a cash prize, Angels receive a lapel pin, patch and certificates of recognition for themselves and their employers to display. The public nominates Angels, and the awards are designed to "promote greater public recognition" for the good deeds drivers perform every day by placing articles about winners in industry trade publications.

Whether you stop to help an injured motorist or report suspicious behavior at a truckstop, there are countless ways to use your involvement in the transportation industry to make a positive difference. As Getloaded continues working to improve your professional lives by serving as the most efficient, easy-to-use load board, we encourage you to explore ways you can become a trucking professional making a difference in your communities, too.