PHILADELPHIA — American Trucking Associations announced that it will donate $100,000 to Trucking Moves America Forward, its second such annual donation.
Kevin Burch, ATA’s second vice chairman, announced the donation Oct. 18 during the Management Conference & Exhibition here. Burch said that ATA and other trucking groups want to tell the public and legislators what 7 million people in trucking do to keep the nation properly supplied.
“Two years ago we launched this in Orlando [Florida]. It’s not a campaign but a movement,” said Burch, also the president of Jet Express, a Dayton, Ohio-based carrier.
ATA Senior Vice President Elisabeth Barna said the federation’s efforts include print and radio advertising and, most recently, trailer wraps.
Trailers are used as rolling billboards. It takes about 10 man-hours, Burch said, to cover the two long sides and rear of the trailer with a plastic film showing a company logo and an industry message.
As an example of the movement’s ecumenical nature, Burch said a less-than-truckload carrier brought his wraps to his truckload carrier.
Steve Ponder, a vice president at Great West Casualty company, said the fundraising targets for the first two years was $1 million a year and that was met.
The movement is also active online and on social media, Barna said, adding that an e-store for TMAF merchandise is coming.
Burch said he wants to see “Trucking Moves America Forward” to become as popular as the famous “Got Milk” promotional campaign.
