Trucking Moves America Forward: Let's all tell our stories

When it comes to image, the Trucking Moves America Forward movement has three words.

"Educate, educate, educate."

TMAF Co-Chairman Kevin Burch encouraged those attending press day at MATS to go forth and tell their stories to promote the positive image of trucking and truckers.

"We need to talk about the people who have two hands on the wheel. It's long overdue," Burch told the assembled press and numerous truckers who attended the one-year anniversary of the launch of Trucking Moves America Forward.

Burch said TMAF is a movement and "not a campaign" because campaigns have a beginning and an end. He said people will be talking about TMAF for many years to come and that it has no end.

OOIDA Life Member Dick Pingel. OOIDA is a founding
member of Trucking Moves America Forward.
(Photo by David Tanner, Land Line Magazine)

The movement pulls together all facets of careers and job duties in and around trucking, from one-truck owner-operators like OOIDA Life Member Dick Pingel to fleet executives to shippers and receivers to truck stop and travel plaza personnel.

OOIDA is a founding member of Trucking Moves America Forward.

"Owner-operators are in it for the long haul, pardon the pun," Pingel said, moments after it was announced that OOIDA had made a generous donation to TMAF.

OOIDA Media Spokesperson Norita Taylor recognized at least a dozen OOIDA members who were in attendance for the event.

During its one year of operation since being unveiled at the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2014, Trucking Moves America Forward has exceeded its goal of raising $1 million in donations from all across the trucking industry. The movement has a goal of raising that every year for the next four years, and after that?

"Hopefully more than that," said Elizabeth Barna, vice president of public affairs with the American Trucking Associations.

Kevin Burch, co-chairman of Trucking Moves America Forward,
pays homage to the late Mike Pennington who always put forth
a positive image for trucking. (Photo by David Tanner)

Members of ATA's America's Road Team attended the event, including 28-year trucking veteran Don Logan who has 2.3 million safe miles.

"We've got to earn respect by being safe and reliable professionals," Logan said during his turn at the podium.

Each speaker asked the various representatives from across trucking to continue to promote the image of trucking and truckers to enable the industry to grow in a positive way.

"Image is at the leading edge of the Trucking Moves America Forward," said Keith Tuttle, president and chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association.

During the event, members of Trucking Moves America Forward also paid respects to the late Mike Pennington who, perhaps as much as anyone in trucking, always put forth a positive image and greeted everyone he met with a smile.