Truckload Authority - April/May 2019

TALK
A QUICK LOOK AT IMPORTANT TCA NEWS
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A QUICK LOOK AT
IMPORTANT TCA NEWS
TALK
His coworkers congratulated Reeves on his ability to react quickly under
extreme circumstances — a life or death situation — that likely saved his
student’s life as well as his own and those of other motorists. “It makes me
feel good about my job,” he said. “You just have to keep the wheels down
and be safe.”
Wood, who lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a
professional truck driver for ABF Freight System,
also of Fort Smith. He is being recognized for his
willingness to help an elderly man whose vehicle
went off the road during a blinding snowstorm.
In the morning hours of January 12, 2019,
Wood was waiting out a blizzard in Liberal, Kansas,
a town of about 20,000 just off Highway 54.
The roads were closed in the area and the temperature
was hovering around 18 degrees. Wood
had pulled his truck into a motel parking lot and
was waiting for the weather to clear so he could
DONALD WOOD
head home to Albuquerque, New Mexico, some
380 miles away. As he waited, he happened to
see headlights in the snow perhaps 100 yards
away, but they weren’t moving.
“I knew something was wrong,” Wood said. He got out of his truck
and trudged across the road, bracing himself against the heavy winds and
blowing snow. He discovered a small pickup truck with a camper trailer
stuck in a snowdrift. Wood thought he was in a parking lot but it turned out
he was on a playground, next to a children’s slide. Inside the pickup was
an elderly man and his dog. “He was so happy to see me,” Wood said. “He
said he didn’t know where he was and he was afraid he’d freeze to death
out there.” The man told Wood he was headed to Kansas City when he got
caught in the storm. “I told him I’d stay with him and get him out.” Wood
found a broken shovel at the motel and worked for over an hour to release
the pickup’s tires from the impacted snow. He then directed the elderly man
to move his vehicle to the motel’s parking lot and to go inside to warm up
and wait out the storm.
The man thanked Wood and offered to pay him for helping him but Wood
refused. “It’s hard to see someone stuck in those kinds of conditions,” he
said. “I just wanted to help him. As a truck driver, the people we meet along
the way are all potential customers for the trucking industry. It’s important for
us to show up as a positive role model and help where we can.”
For their willingness to assist his fellow drivers, TCA has presented the
Highway Angels with a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decals. Since
the program’s inception in August 1997, hundreds of drivers have been recognized
as Highway Angels for the exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage
they have displayed while on the job. EpicVue sponsors TCA’s Highway
Angel program.
Truckload Strong Fundraiser
On Monday, March 11, more than 200 of TCA’s 81st Annual Convention
attendees gathered to raise more than $75,000 at the Brooklyn Bowl on the
Las Vegas Strip.
During the Truckload Strong fundraiser, bowlers and non-bowlers alike,
had the opportunity to “strike” up conversations with other industry professionals,
“split” their night between bowling and entertainment, and were encouraged
to “spare” a moment to fuel the future of truckload.
Thanks to the generosity of Freightliner, all proceeds raised will help support
and elevate TCA’s major initiatives and programs.
Lanes, which accommodated up to eight bowlers and individual tickets,
were available to purchase prior to the event. On-site donations were accepted
for “Truckload Strong” commemorative, flashing 16-ounce cups.
Thanks to TCA Member DriverFacts, attendees were able to compete for
the Highest Team Score Award. Congratulations to members of the PrePass/
WorkHound team as they secured winner medallions.
The three-hour event featured a DJ who accepted requests via text, as
well as food carving stations, networking areas, a cigar rolling station, and
more.
Jake Einwechter bowls during the Truckload Strong fundraiser
event at Brooklyn Bowl on the Las Vegas strip.
Fleet Safety Award
Two truckload carriers were awarded the 2018 TCA Fleet Safety Awards
grand prize on Tuesday, March 12 during the Truckload Carriers Association’s
81st Annual Convention in Las Vegas.
The awards, sponsored by Great West Casualty Company, were presented
to Grand Island Express of Grand Island, Nebraska, for the small carrier division
(total annual mileage of less than 25 million) and Bison Transport of
Winnipeg, Manitoba, for the large carrier division (total annual mileage of 25
million or more).
Both companies were recognized for their outstanding safety programs
and impeccable records over the last year.
Grand Island Express is a first-time winner of the grand prize, although
the company has placed in the top three of its mileage-based division in
many previous years. Bison Transport is a 12-time grand prize winner and is
receiving this award for the ninth consecutive year.
Grand Island Express and Bison Transport, as well as all carriers that
placed in the top three of their mileage-based divisions, will be recognized
again during TCA’s 38th Safety & Security Division Annual Meeting, to be held
June 2-4, 2019, at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
“TCA is honored to recognize Grand Island Express and Bison Transport
for their incredible safety achievements,” said TCA President John Lyboldt.
“These carries exemplify a safety-first ethos by their commitment that every
member of the organization, at every level, must prioritize safety above all
else. They are not merely complying with safety regulations — they are creating
a comprehensive culture of safety.”
Great West Casualty Company Executive Vice President &
Chief Operating Officer Mandy Graham presents the Fleet Safety
Award in the small carrier division to Grand Island Express
President Tom Pirnie.
44 TRUCKLOAD AUTHORITY | www.Truckload.org TCA 2019