October Driver of the Month Serves for a Decade

Press Release
For Immediate Release
October 18, 2006

Trucker Buddy October Driver of the Month Serves for a Decade

Steve Weibley developed lesson plans and got involved in other community projects over the years through his volunteer work as a Trucker Buddy with `Mrs. Paulson`s Second Grade.

Little did Steve Weibley know, way back in 1996 when his daughter entered second grade in Cynthia Paulson`s class and he joined her as a Trucker Buddy, that he was embarking on a 10-year endeavor that would positively impact hundreds of schoolchildren`s educations over a decade. In the process, he has also educated them and their community about the trucking industry and the vital role it plays in the economy.

In recognition of this exceptional achievement, Weibley was named the October ACS MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month.

"Steve Weibley has truly made a difference in the lives of my second grade students. He is a wonderful role model, always championing learning and the importance of education!" related Paulson, who has been teaching at Sarah Milner Elementary School in Loveland, Colo. "Trucker Buddy Steve provides meaningful lessons that correlate with several subjects of our curriculum. Equally important are the life lessons he brings, motivating students to `dream big, work hard, and live safely!`"

Paulson retired at the end of the 2006 school year, and Weibley is taking the opportunity to take a year off from being a Trucker Buddy. Yet, Paulson still teaches part time and Weibley, also from Loveland, still volunteers in the community and at the school.

Over the years, Trucker Buddy Steve became more than a Trucker Buddy and more than a hero to Paulson`s second graders: He became known as their teacher. Some call him an "extra" teacher, some call him their "traveling" teacher; no matter the nickname, this illustrates how involved Weibley became in the children`s education.

"Steve teaches lessons in a variety of subject areas, including reading, writing, mathematics, geography, careers and economics," Paulson said. "I hear a lot of comments from parents about Trucker Buddy Steve`s lessons. Favorite lessons include `Trip Down the Mississippi River,` `Colorado`s Seven Border States,` `The Interstate Highway System,` and the ever popular, `Questions and Answers with Trucker Buddy Steve.`"

Weibley also visited the school about once a month, arriving in his Stevens Transport rig, for whom he is a company driver. Using his company truck and all of the measurements involved in trucking, Weibley taught math lessons. For example, he measured the length, width and height of his trailer to figure load capacity. Using his fuel tank capacity, students had to figure out how many miles he could travel on a tank of fuel.

Of course, Weibley also sent post cards from the 48 contiguous states on a regular basis, as well as maps, travel brochures and educational materials. "This wealth of materials is organized in four large boxes, with a file for each state," Paulson explained. "These materials, along with the more than 500 cards he has sent to `Mrs. Paulson`s Second Grade` during the previous years, provide a wealth of information for the students to work with."

In addition to Weibley`s visits to the school, he also participates in community events held in Loveland.

"He and his truck are always a big hit at Loveland`s annual transportation safety fair," Paulson said. "He has talked with hundreds of students and their parents about a variety of issues from pedestrian and bicycle safety, to seat belt use, to highway safety related to all types of vehicles sharing the roads. He is a well-known and respected member of our community!"

Each Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month receives a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of ACS MultiMedia Advertising (www.tmi-multimedia.com), the advertising agency of choice for the trucking industry. They also receive an IdleAire adaptor (www.IdleAire.com), a Koolatron cooler and a complete set of Airtabs for their tractor or trailer (www.airtab.com). 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.

Weibley is among some 3,500 other 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 postcard 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.

Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors such as ACS MultiMedia Advertising to fund the program. Major contributors include Diamond Level: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., plus media partners DAT Services/Transcore, Gears, Guts & Glory and Randall-Reilly Publishing Co. Gold Level sponsors are Delphi, Kenworth, Penray and Wal-Mart, along with media partners American Trucking Associations, American Graphics Group`s Driving Force and rpm, America`s Truckin` Network, CCJ Magazine, IdleAire Technologies, Mike Ryan Motorsports, The Midnight Trucking Radio Network, Ramp Publishing`s Over The Road and Pro Trucker, OTR-Canada Magazine and truckdriver.com. Silver Level sponsors are ArvinMeritor, Bridgestone/Firestone and Freightliner, along with media partners Drivers 4 Hire, Riggs & Recruits and TruckFlix.com.

Trucker Buddy International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades two through eight. Trucker Buddy matches classes of students with professional truck drivers, and every week drivers share news about their travels with their class. Once a month, students write letters to their drivers. Students` skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies and history are enhanced and learning is fun. Since 1992, Trucker Buddy has helped educate more than a million schoolchildren while introducing them to caring, compassionate men and women who help drive the economy. Trucker Buddy has participants in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. For more information about Trucker Buddy International, visit www.truckerbuddy.org or call 1-800-MY-BUDDY.