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World's Largest Truck Convoy
On Saturday, October 6, TMC once again had the honor of participating in the annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy, a benefit put on by Special Olympics of Iowa.
The starting point for the event was on the SW Connector, just off of Veterans Parkway in Des Moines, which is pretty much the backyard of our headquarters. We had 18 TMC drivers that participated in the convoy, and in true, timely fashion, they were the first to line up. Seeing the line of shiny black and chrome Peterbilts was a sight unlike any other, and the pride of TMC was on full display! Drivers from other companies all over the state soon followed. TMC’s Recruiting Department provided coffee and donuts at registration. Once everyone was checked-in and the Iowa DOT gave a briefing on Driver Safety, the first three positions in the convoy were auctioned off. TMC won the third position spot with a bid of $6500, all of which goes directly to the Special Olympics of Iowa. Specialized driver and five year industry veteran, Gene Richardson, was voted by his fellow drivers to take that third spot and lead the convoy of over 100 trucks that all came together to support the cause.
Two of our drivers, Brian DeFord and Ron LeBlanc, had the opportunity to share their trucks with Special Olympic athletes, and each raved about their experience. The athletes commented that they enjoyed jamming out to music with their drivers, blowing the air horn and waving to people that they passed.
The event was wrapped up at the Iowa State Fairgrounds with a celebration for athletes, drivers and volunteers. In all, the event raised over $50,000 for the Special Olympics of Iowa! We want to thank the following TMC drivers and their families for their hard work, dedication and participation in this year’s convoy. Many of them sacrificed time at home with their families, and others had their families flown in from across the country for the event! These drivers spent countless hours in the appearance bay on Friday night and into the wee hours of Saturday morning making sure that their trucks were in tip top shape for the event. Additionally, we want to thank our dedicated staff in our tractor and trailer shops, appearance bays and load securement facilities for lending a helping hand!