April, 2018 - Trucking Moves America

USA Today: A man tried to jump off a Detroit overpass. Then 13 truckers saved him.

April 24, 2018/in News /by Erica Mitchell

While you were sleeping, a unique act of heroism took place overnight along I-696 in metro Detroit.

A line of 13 trucks with assistance from Michigan State Police, created a wall on the I-696 freeway near the Coolidge exit to prevent a man from jumping off the overpass.

Chris Harrison, who claims to have been part of the “trucker wall” in a Facebook post on the Twisted Truckers page, said the act of heroism took place between 1 and 3 a.m. Tuesday, starting with one truck.

Harrison, in replying to other Facebook users, said the cops waved 6 or 7 of the truckers through on the eastbound side of the freeway, then did the same thing on the westbound side.

Continue reading at USA Today

MHL News: High School Takes on Commercial Truck Driver Shortage

April 23, 2018/in News /by Erica Mitchell

With a commercial truck driver shortage looming, a high school in Patterson, Calif., decided to take a proactive approach by creating a truck driving school program dedicated to bringing new drivers into the industry.

The area surrounding Patterson High School has become a mecca for distribution centers the past several years, bringing in companies such as Amazon, CVS, Grainger, Kohls and Restoration Hardware. Superintendent Dr. Philip Alfano saw an opportunity and created a “Supply Chain and Logistics Management Program” at the high school that trains students for entry-level positions at these facilities. Two years ago I approached Dr. Alfano with the idea of starting a truck driving school and the process began to create one of the first high school truck driving programs in the nation.

Continue reading at MHL News…

Indiana 105.5 FM: 3 NWI Companies Receive Century/Half Century Business Awards

April 11, 2018/in News /by Erica Mitchell

Three northwest Indiana companies were among the 44 honored today by Governor Eric Holcomb with the Governor’s Century or Half Century Business Award. The awards recognize each company for its longevity and service to its employees, community and the state, and nearly 15-hundred Hoosier companies have been recognized during the 27-year history of the award.

“Today we honor Hoosier business leaders who have been creating jobs and running their businesses in Indiana for more than 50 or 100 years,” said Gov. Holcomb. “I’m excited to celebrate this year’s award recipients and extend a sincere thanks for the role they play in making Indiana one of the nation’s top destinations for business.”

Locally, family-owned DeMotte Mercantile & Sell It Again was a Century Award recipient. Austgen Electric Inc. in Lake County and Robert Tylisz Appliance in La Porte County each received Half Century Awards.

Continue reading at Indiana 105.5FM…