Mascot Safety Sammy to Make First Appearance at Mid-America Trucking Show
Washington, D.C. – March 14, 2018 –Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), the industry-wide education and image movement, today discussed its accomplishments in shifting the industry’s perception and promoting it more broadly during their 2017 year in review. TMAF also previewed its attendance at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) and announced that the mascot, Safety Sammy, will make its first appearance at the show this year. The press conference marked the four-year anniversary of TMAF, which was publicly launched at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in March 2014.
During the press conference, TMAF leaders, including Kevin Burch and Steve Ponder, co-chairs of TMAF, and Elisabeth Barna and Wendy Hamilton, executive committee members of TMAF,
introduced the newest member of the TMAF executive committee, Steve Bryan, President and Founder of Vigillo. The group’s remarks detailed the movement’s continued efforts to humanize and personalize the industry while promoting its significant economic importance to America. TMAF’s 2017 Annual Report, which is titled “The Many Faces of Trucking,” will be made available at MATS.
“As MATS approaches and we celebrate our fourth anniversary, it’s amazing to think of how much progress we have made since inception,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and president of Jet Express, Inc. “Through our public relations, social and digital media, marketing efforts, and more, TMAF continues to grow and gain even more support throughout the industry and public. We’re excited to share our progress in our 2017 Annual Report, and we’re looking forward to continuing to share our message nationally on trucking’s significant and positive contributions to America.”
TMAF leaders highlighted the movement’s accomplishments since March 2017, including raising more than one million dollars; the introduction of the industry mascot, Safety Sammy; the expansion of their trailer wrap program, which now has 190 tractor-trailer wraps appearing on trucks throughout the country; the state association billboard campaigns and the creation of a new educational video, “The Delivery,” which is shown at events across the country.
Further, in 2017, TMAF:
- Generated 17.4 million billboard impressions and 26.6 million radio listeners during NTDAW 2017.
- Generated 54 earned media stories and placed 13 op-eds in national, beltway and local publications that led to 83.9 million total media impressions.
- Grew the email database to 3,517 subscribers.
- Expanded social media presence to over 13,500 followers on Facebook, over 3,600 on Twitter, and saw 100% growth on Instagram.
- Launched its blog through Medium to enlist industry authors and writers to share their personal stories.
- Reached a potential in-person audience of more than 170,000 at trade shows and other events.
An infographic that summarizes the 2017 Annual Report can be found here.
At MATS, the industry mascot, Safety Sammy will make its first official appearance at the show. The mascot will be available during the start of the show each day at the Red Eye Radio booth and stage. Safety Sammy will also traverse the show floor with its big smile and flashing lights, and stop at several booths to greet attendees and take pictures. Attendees are encouraged to upload their images with Safety Sammy to their social media accounts and use the hashtag #SafetySammy.
