Politico: Trucking coalition gets major money boost

By Adam Snider

Pilot Flying J, the nation’s largest operator of truck stops, is donating $1.25 million to the Trucking Moves America Forward coalition over the next five years. It’s the largest donation for the new initiative that has brought together drivers, trucking companies, suppliers and many more groups to better the image of the trucking industry.

Pilot founder James A. Haslam II will announce the donation at a press conference today at the Newseum. Haslam told MT yesterday that he wants the public and policy-makers to know what being a trucker is really about.

“These men and women work very hard. They spend 250-300 days a year on the road,” said Haslam, whose company calls drivers “road warriors.” “These people are educated, they’re passionate, they’re proud,” Haslam said. “They give to their communities.” Truck drivers are “real heroes” and a “cross-section of America,” Haslam said – and the goal of his donation today is to spread that message far and wide.