ENID, OK, April 15, 2015 – It’s not often in the trucking business that the term “star struck” is used,  but this past week Groendyke Transport, along with National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) and Peterbilt Motors Company, had the opportunity to honor a driver whose name is befitting of his national title. James Starr, a Groendyke Transport driver and current NTTC Professional Tank Truck Driver of the Year, was presented with a brand new Peterbilt 579 Sleeper straight off the production line in Peterbilt’s Denton, Texas plant.

The original idea came to David James, Groendyke Chief Operating Officer, during the company’s annual management meetings.

“James attended our Groendyke Leadership Summit and we had one of the new 579 Peterbilt trucks displayed. He remarked that he liked the truck and I thought it would be a great way to celebrate Jim’s career accomplishments and his status as the NTTC’s reigning Grand Champion.”

Starr, a 42-year trucking veteran was presented the National Tank Truck Carriers Professional Driver of the Year award at its 66^th Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV. The award, which is sponsored by Baldwin & Lyons, celebrates excellence in the safety and professionalism that is required of tank truck drivers across the nation. These men and women serve as ambassadors for an industry which is tasked with transporting liquid and sometimes hazardous bulk, in order to provide essential services to the general public. Starr is the first recipient of the award.

“What a tremendous thrill to see James and Gwen Starr receive the well-deserved praise and respect of the entire Peterbilt production crew,” said NTTC Chairman Dean E. Kaplan.  “It was a special day for all of us to be there in support of James and our thanks are due to both Groendyke and Peterbilt for including NTTC’s leadership.”

The next National Tank Truck Carriers Professional Driver of the Year award will be named at the 67^th NTTC Annual Conference in Boston, MA on April 27^th.

About Groendyke:

Groendyke Transport is one of the largest tank-truck carriers in the nation with more than 80 years of expertise to liquid bulk shipping operations.  Throughout North America, Groendyke operates with industry-recognized on-time performance and unparalleled dedication to safe and responsive service. The Company is an ISO 9001-registered carrier with the highest-quality commitment and processes in place to meet the most stringent qualifications with each and every load—more than 420,000 last year alone.

About NTTC:

The National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc. has represented the tank truck industry before Congress and various federal agencies since its founding in 1945.  NTTC’s membership is comprised of over 240 trucking companies that specialize in bulk transportation services by cargo tank throughout North America.  Additionally, the organization also has over 350 associate members that service our industry including cargo tank repair facilities, tractor manufacturers, tank trailer manufacturers, and other related tank truck equipment and services.

CONTACT:
Megan Kmiotek

National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc.

(703) 838-1960

www.tanktruck.org
mkmiotek@tanktruck.org

 

Industry trade group gain supporters, raises funds

Louisville, KY – March 25, 2015 –Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), the industry-wide image and education movement, announced today that it has made significant progress since its public launch one year ago.

During a TMAF-hosted press conference at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, TMAF was proud to report that it reached its goal of raising one million dollars since last March, due to the generous contributions of more than one hundred trucking companies, allied members and individuals.

Co-chairman of TMAF, President of Jet Express, Inc., and Second Vice Chairman of American Trucking Associations Kevin Burch kicked off the announcement with the successful financial update.

“We have achieved great strides during our first year of the movement, and we are grateful for everyone who has contributed to TMAF through both financial and in-kind support,” said Burch. “But, there is work to do, and we challenge everyone in the industry to join the movement, so that together, we can achieve a positive image of the industry and advocate for better, smarter regulations to keep this vital industry flourishing.”

Burch extended gratitude to ACT1 who was the first group to ignite the launch of the movement through its donations and support.

Leaders of TMAF, trucking executives and professional drivers presented an overview of the movement’s other major accomplishments through its consistent and dedicated marketing, education and recruiting efforts at several industry events across the nation last year. To date, TMAF is pleased to announce the following achievements:

• more than 140 donors;
• more than four million dollars of in-kind donations through advertising, sponsorships, trade shows, printing and more;
• sponsorship on the Love’s Travel Stops and Pilot Flying J NASCAR race cars;
• 3,000 subscribers;
• 25,400 YouTube views, 2,330 Facebook likes and 890 Twitter followers
• more than 25 million earned media impressions;
• and more than 1.5 million advertising impressions.

During the press conference, a visual presentation of last year’s successes was shown, including videos of professionals sharing their pride of the industry and showcasing drivers with millions of accident-free miles.

Dick Pingel, OOIDA board member, representing the trucking owner-operators, gave an impassioned plea for continuing to build the movement.

“It’s amazing to witness members from all areas of the trucking industry encourage each other and recognize how their roles are interconnected. From the professional truck drivers, to the technicians, travel-plaza attendants, dispatchers, and others, all who have joined together and are willing to make a real difference. But we must continue to grow, so that as a strong, united force, we can maintain a healthy, thriving industry,” Pingel said.

Keith Tuttle, president of Motor Carrier Service, and chairman of Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), acknowledged the movement’s efforts in improving the image of the industry, one of the TMAF’s prime goals.

“Image is at the very heart of the TMAF movement. TMAF is telling the stories from behind the wheel, the stories of trucking professionals that the general public doesn’t always know or learn,” said Tuttle. “We must continue to tell the story that today’s drivers are skilled professionals and devoted family men and women, trained to focus on safety, efficiency and reliability, while operating the safest and most sustainable trucks.”

“As a driver, we are the public image of the trucking industry. We know that safety and respect is critical to our image, and TMAF, through its resources, will help us showcase our safe driving records and a greater image overall,” said Don Logan, professional truck driver.

During the year, TMAF also greatly bolstered its marketing presence online, including the interactive website (www.truckingmovesamerica.com) built to inform and capture subscribers, gaining more than 3,000. A membership-devoted page was created to provide downloadable marketing content for those who register. To further promote the industry benefits and positive daily efforts, social media channels have grown steadily through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

For 2015, TMAF announced that its goals are to continue fundraising; activate and engage the trucking industry further by providing marketing and public relations tools; support federal and state advocacy efforts focused on highway funding, highway infrastructure and improving the operational environment; continue to develop strategies for public messages by using research measurements; continue to build pride within the trucking industry and to make trucking an attractive career.

Founding members of the TMAF include: Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry (ACT1), Allison Transmission, American Trucking Associations (ATA), Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions, Bulldog Hiway Express, Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants, Combined Transport, Inc., Cummins Inc., Daimler Trucks North America, Dana Holding Corporation, Detroit Diesel Corporation, Eaton Corporation – Roadranger, GE Capital, Goodyear, Great West Casualty Company, Hahn Transportation, Inc., Hendrickson, International, J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Jet Express, Inc., Kenworth Truck Company, Longistics, Love’s Travel Stops, Mack Trucks, Inc., McLeod Software, Meritor, Michelin, Motor Carrier Service, Inc., Old Dominion Freight Lines, Omnitracs Inc., Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) Pegasus, Peterbilt Motors Company, Pilot Flying J, Randall Reilly, Tennant Truck Lines, Tennessee Express, Inc., TransTech, Trucking Associations Executive Council, Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), TRW and Volvo Trucks.

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About Trucking Moves America Forward
Trucking Moves America Forward aims to establish a long-term industry-wide movement to create a positive image for the industry, to ensure that policymakers and the public understand the importance of the trucking industry to the nation’s economy, and to build the political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry in the future. To learn more, visit www.TruckingMovesAmerica.com. Also visit and join through social media:
www.facebook.com/TruckingFWD
www.youtube.com/TruckingFWD
www.twitter.com@TruckingFWD

[November 13, 2014] – Today the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) announced a $25,000 cash donation to Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) each year for the next five years.

In addition, the commitment includes an in-kind TCA co-branding effort with its work with Wreaths Across America and the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

TMAF and TCA’s logo will appear on boxes containing all the wreaths for Wreaths Across America, which takes place at participating veteran cemeteries across the country and Arlington National Cemetery. TCA’s “Truckload of Respect” trucks will be delivering the wreaths to each of the 900 contributing cemeteries for the national wreath laying on Dec. 13, 2014. Countless volunteers at veteran cemeteries throughout the United States will see TMAF and TCA’s logo side-by-side as they lay wreaths as symbols of remembrance at the headstones of those who served.

The wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery will mark the final event in the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery as the final resting place for those who have served in the nation’s armed forces. It is estimated that 30,000 volunteers will be laying wreaths on the hundreds of thousands of headstones at Arlington National Cemetery during the December event.

“We’d like to thank TCA for such generous financial and in-kind commitments,” said Kevin Burch, TMAF vice chair and president of Jet Express. “It is as important as ever for all industry partners to join the movement and tell our stories. Programs like Wreaths Across America and the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree project show how the trucking industry is giving back to our communities and our country.”

The co-branding efforts of TMAF and TCA will also be featured during the 2014 and 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree campaign. This year, the TMAF/TCA logo will appear on promotional materials at the tree lighting and reception in Washington, D.C. In 2015, the co-branded TMAF/TCA logo will appear on the official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree signage and appear on all materials featured at the tree’s whistle-stop tour from Alaska to the nation’s capital. The annual delivery of “The People’s Tree” to Washington, D.C. is made possible through the efforts of the U.S. Forestry Service.

“TMAF is changing the way we all look at the trucking industry and is showing how important this industry is to our country,” said Shepard Dunn, TCA chairman and president of Bestway Express. “TMAF is promoting the good work that trucking is doing for everyone in America and it is only fitting that we partner with TMAF and work to improve the image of our essential industry.”

TMAF, launched at the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2014, is an industry-wide image and internal education initiative. Its aim is to inform policymakers, motorists and the public about the benefits of the trucking industry with the goal of helping to build a groundswell of political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry.

TCA is the primary dispatching and logistical partner of Wreaths Across America and the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. TCA is a founding member of the TMAF movement.
To join the movement, go to www.truckingmovesamerica.com

Washington, DC – [October 6, 2014] – Today, at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) annual conference, the Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry (ACT1) announced a $100,000 donation to Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF).

TMAF – launched in March at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY – is an industry-wide image and internal education initiative informing policy makers, motorists and the public about the benefits of the trucking industry to help build a groundswell of political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry.

“We couldn’t be happier to continue our partnership with Trucking Moves America Forward,” said ACT1 president John Conkin. “Positioning our industry in a positive light is one instance where the entire industry can come together. It is essential for our fellow industry leaders to get on board and join the movement.”

In addition to ACT1, TMAF has been bolstered by significant financial contributions from ATA, Old Dominion Freight Lines, Great West Casualty Company, Pilot Flying J, Trucking Associations Executive Council and Jack Cooper Transport. TMAF has also received support from industry leaders such as National Tank Truck Carriers, National Auto Dealers Association, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and Truckload Carriers Association and in-kind donations from Randall-Reilly, Love’s Travel Stops, Transport Topics, MAXIM, Overdrive Magazine, Commercial Carrier Journal and Heavy Duty Trucking.

“As we increase our presence in and outside of the trucking industry, support from industry leaders like ACT1 is crucial to our continued growth,” said Mike Card, co-chairman of the TMAF Fundraising Committee and president of Combined Transport. “ACT1 has been on board with TMAF from the start of this movement and is one of the cornerstones in this movement.”

To learn more and join the movement, go to www.truckingmovesamerica.com

The Trucking Moves America Forward movement introduces the “High-5 and Show Your Pride” campaign, which will debut at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas on August 20, and encourages each attendee to donate five dollars to the TMAF movement to reach its goal of one million dollars its first year, emphasizing the pride within the industry.

The second phase of the campaign – “Show Your Pride” – urges industry workers to sign a pledge at the TMAF booth, #8042 showcasing their dedication to trucking and is open to anyone affiliated with the industry.

Launched in March, TMAF is an industry-wide image and internal education initiative informing policymakers, motorists and the public about the benefits of the trucking industry to help build the groundswell of political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry.

“We are 70% of the way to our goal of raising $1 million since our launch six months ago,” said Mike Card, fundraising chairman, Trucking Moves America Forward and president of Combined Transport. “These incredible results are a testament to the passion within trucking and we believe the ’High-5 and Show Your Pride‘ campaign will continue to energize, excite and inspire our industry at GATS and beyond. TMAF is a long-term movement and we aim to continue fundraising well past our goal.”

Attendees of GATS will be able to donate at the TMAF booth along with founding member American Trucking Associations (Booth #14059). Member companies will be easily identified via “High-5 and Show Your Pride” signage throughout the convention and those who donate will receive special recognition at the show as well as on TMAF social media and its website.

“We challenge the more than 40,000 attendees to continue celebrating and supporting the TMAF movement by participating in the ’High-5 and Show Your Pride‘ campaign at GATS,” said Steve Ponder, chairman, Trucking Moves America Forward and vice-president of Great West Casualty Company. “There would be nothing more exciting than moving closer to our goal with our friends and colleagues in Dallas.”

Significant landmarks to TMAF include reaching the half-million dollar donation mark two months after its launch thanks to major contributions from ATA, Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry, Cummins Inc., Great West Casualty Company, Jack Cooper Transportation, JJ Keller, Lipscomb & Pitts, Longistics, Love’s Travel Stops, Minnesota Trucking, NTTC, Old Dominion Freight Lines, Pilot Flying J, TAEC Region IV and Southeastern Freight Lines.

For more information visit www.truckingmovesamerica.com

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About Trucking Moves America Forward

Trucking Moves America Forward is a long-term industry-wide movement to create a positive image for the industry, to ensure that policymakers and the public understand the importance of the trucking industry to the nation’s economy, and to build the political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry in the future. To learn more, go to www.truckingmovesamerica.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/TruckingFWD), or follow @TruckingFWD on Twitter.

Founding members of the movement include: ACT1, Allison Transmission, American Trucking Associations, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions, Bulldog Hiway Express, Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants, Combined Transport Inc., Cummins Inc., Daimler Trucks North America, Dana Holding Corporation, Detroit Diesel Corporation, Eaton Corporation – Roadranger, GE Capital, Goodyear, Great West Casualty Company, Hahn Transportation Inc., Hendrickson, International, J.J. Keller & Associates Inc., Jet Express Inc., Kenworth Truck Company, Longistics, Love’s Travel Stops, Mack Trucks, Inc. Meritor, Michelin, Motor Carrier Service Inc., Old Dominion Freight Lines, Omnitracs Inc., Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Pegasus, Peterbilt Motors Company, Pilot Flying J, Randall Reilly, Tennant Truck Lines, Tennessee Express Inc., TransTech, Trucking Associations Executive Council, Truckload Carriers Association, TRW and Volvo Trucks.