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Courtesy: Hirschbach Motor Lines Inc.<br />
Ed and Tracy Zimmerman of Kenesaw,<br />
Nebraska were one of the first vehicles to<br />
arrive at the scene of an accident in Beckley,<br />
West Virginia. The two helped to save a<br />
motorist who was trapped in his vehicle.<br />
Shortly thereafter, the Truckload Carriers<br />
Association heard of the couple’s heroic deed<br />
and recognized them as Highway Angels,<br />
which is not something the couple expected.<br />
They wore the designation as a badge of honor<br />
and proudly displayed the sticker on their<br />
truck.<br />
The Highway Angel program, now in<br />
its 23rd year, recognizes professional truck<br />
drivers who have selflessly helped others<br />
while on the job. From each year’s Angels,<br />
one is selected as Highway Angel of the Year,<br />
also known as EpicAngels, by TCA and its<br />
partner EpicVue.<br />
For 2019, 38 Angels were recognized, and<br />
Ed and Tracey Zimmerman were selected as<br />
the Highway Angels of the Year. They were<br />
presented with the award at TCA’s annual<br />
convention in Kissemee, Florida, earlier this<br />
year.<br />
“Thank you both for your selfless act<br />
of courage on that May morning,” said<br />
EpicVue CEO Lance Platt after presenting the<br />
Zimmermans with a crystal award.<br />
Before heading to Florida, the couple<br />
heard the news from Hirschbach’s marketing<br />
director during a company bowling trip. The<br />
couple was “floored,” and Tracy said Ed was<br />
speechless, adding that this is something that<br />
doesn’t happen often.<br />
As amazing as the award was to the<br />
Zimmermans, they two are quick to say that<br />
they simply did what they felt was the right<br />
thing to do in that moment.<br />
“We stopped to help a human who needed<br />
help,” Ed said. “That’s all we did, and that’s<br />
why we did it.”<br />
Ed added that he hopes that this award and<br />
sharing their story with others will help the<br />
image of truck drivers across the nation.<br />
“All everybody ever hears are the bad things<br />
that happens out here,” Ed shared. “We really<br />
want to push the good stories because, in your<br />
darkest hour out here on the road, if, heaven<br />
forbid, something happens, a truck driver<br />
is going to be the first person on the scene.<br />
They’re going to be the first ones there to help<br />
you out.”<br />
The remainder of that May day turned<br />
out to be just like any other day for the<br />
Zimmermans as they carried on delivering<br />
their load to Hodgkins, Illinois. Tracy noted,<br />
though, that everything could have been<br />
different that day if the couple had made one<br />
extra stop beforehand, delaying their schedule.<br />
“You know, God puts you where he needs<br />
you most, and that day he needed us right there<br />
at that moment,” Tracy said. “I really believe<br />
that.”<br />
9 Independent Contractor 2020 Hundreds of Jobs www.TheTrucker.com/jobs
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