Driver Login Submit Job Application Trucking Companies List Local/Regional Job Board Truck Driving Forum Trucking Job Resources Truck Driver Schools Recruiter Login Join TruckFLIX Membership Plans Post Trucking Jobs Apps On Demand Recruiter Resources

July 2005 Trucker Buddy of the Month

Waupaca, WI.

Teaching students to write letters is a requirement of most state education departments. In Tennessee, one class is learning this skill while they are corresponding with their Trucker Buddy driver, Michael Wiest. "In Mr Wiest`s correspondence with our class," said 5th grade teacher, Michele Emrick, "he asks questions that the students look forward to answering."

Fifth grade student, Ross, enjoys the interaction with his Trucker Buddy. He said that Wiest, "uses descriptive language in his letters, which encourages us to do the same." Ross also said that the students learn geography when they are asked to use clues to locate places on a map.

The students appreciate their driver`s dedication to their learning, but they are also impressed with his kindness. "He is nice," said Zac, "and he thinks we`re special."

Michael Wiest is an owner-operator leased to FedEx Ground and lives in Fredericksburg, PA. He has been a Trucker Buddy since October 2000, and adopted the Clarksville, Tennessee class at Burt Elementary School this past year.

Michael is one of nearly 4,000 professional drivers who share their time with elementary classes throughout the world. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a truck driver and willing to send a post card each week to a class in grades two through eight. Drivers and teachers can find out more about the program by visiting www.truckerbuddy.org or calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.

Wiest will receive a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on his class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of MultiMedia (www.tmi-multimedia.com), the advertising agency of choice for the trucking industry. He will also receive an IdleAire adaptor (www.IdleAire.com) and a Koolatron cooler as well as Donde Publishing`s "For the Long Haul," reference guide for drivers and an Accident Photo pack. The class will receive a CrossCountry USA game from Ingenuity Works (www.ingenuityworks.com), which will help them learn more about how trucks move freight across the continent.

Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors such as MultiMedia Advertising to fund the program. Major contributors include Diamond level: J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Gears, Guts & Glory Magazine, Randall Trucking Media, TransCore and ProTrucker/OTR, Gold Level Sponsors: American Trucking Association, ArvinMeritor, Driving Force/rpm, Delphi, Freightliner, IdleAire, Kenworth, Penray, Midnight Trucking Radio, Steve Sommers Show, Mike Ryan Motorsports, TruckDriver.com and Wal-mart, along with Silver Level: Bridgestone/Firestone, CCJ, OTR-Canada, Riggs & Recruits, and TruckFLIX.com.

Interested sponsors can contact Ellen at Trucker Buddy International or by calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.