Tank truckers support ATA’s charitable arm

Groendyke Transport, J&M Tank Lines, and Charles “Shorty” Whittington, founder and former CEO of Grammer Logistics, are among the 37 companies and individuals who made “substantial” financial commits that strengthen the American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Cares Foundation charitable arm.

The donations will help extend the reach and longevity of the foundation and ensure its mission becomes a reality, ATA said.

The 37 members comprise the TFC Founders Club, a special class of donors who each have agreed to make a $100,000 contribution over 10 years.

“The TCF Founders Club Members are true heroes,” Phil Byrde, TCF chairman, and Bulldog Hiway Express president and CEO, said in a news release. “They epitomize the character of what makes the American Trucking Associations members so special.  Their servant attitude and spirit are on display every day on every highway and byway in America as they deliver the needs and wants to every corner of this great land.

“TCF is grateful for their generosity and caring.  They have and will continue to make a difference.”

The Trucking Cares Foundation focuses on several core areas tied to trucking, including humanitarian initiatives, disaster relief, eradicating human trafficking, workforce development, strengthening the industry’s relationships with law enforcement, military and veterans’ organizations, as well as safety and research opportunities,

“We are deeply grateful to all our Founders Club members for their dedication to the Trucking Cares Foundation and for giving back to their communities.  Trucking is a close-knit family, and these selfless acts of kindness reflect the philanthropic, caring spirit that makes our industry so special,” said John Lynch, president of the Trucking Cares Foundation.  “The indispensable role trucking plays remains as vital today as ever.  We serve virtually every corner of our country, and when disasters strike, members of our industry are among the first on the scene to deliver humanitarian relief.

“These generous contributions will allow TCF to continue amplifying the profound difference trucking makes in communities nationwide and respond quickly when the need arises.”

The complete list of TCF Founders Club members, who will be memorialized in a display at ATA’s headquarters, includes: 

1. ACT-1
2. ArcBest
3. Cari Beth Baylor, in Honor of Beth & Bob Baylor
4. Bridgestone Commercial Solutions
5. Kevin Burch, former ATA chair
6. Covenant Transport
7. Crete Carriers, in memory of Duane Acklie, former ATA chair
8. CRST
9. Cummins
10. Daseke
11. Estes Express Lines
12. Excargo Services
13. FedEx
14. Great West Casualty Company
15. Groendyke Transport
16. Randy Guillot, former ATA Chair, & Renee Guillot
17. Tommy Hodge, former ATA Chair, & Dean Hodges
18. IMC
19. J&M Tank Lines
20. Jim Burg Trucking
21. LaunchIt Public Relations
22. Dave Manning, former ATA Chair, & Betsy Manning
23. Greg & Val Owen, in memory of Josh Owen
24. Barry Pottle, former ATA Chair, & Suzanne Pottle
25. Pilot Flying J
26. John R. Pope, in memory of Tony A. Pope
27. PrePass Safety Alliance
28. Roehl Transport
29. Ruan Foundation
30. Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary 
31. Southeastern Freight Lines
32. TrueNorth
33. UPS
34. Veriha Trucking, Inc.
35. Werner Enterprises
36. Charles “Shorty” Whittington, former ATA chair, and Ro Whittington
37. Yellow

In 2023, TCF made over $130,000 in donations to a wide variety of causes, including:

• $25,000 to Virginia Task Force-1, one of the world’s leading disaster response resources.  These first responders were among the first rescuers to reach earthquake victims in Turkey.
• $25,000 to Voices for Awareness, a national organization committed to raising the alarm about the dangers of deadly fentanyl and saving lives.
• $25,000 to Truckers Against Trafficking, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking.
• $25,000 to the Center for Employment Training, an organization that provides education and hands-on training to individuals seeking employment in high-demand fields.
• $20,000 to South Dallas Driving Academy, a non-profit that provides free driver education courses to low-income teens and young adults.
• $5,000 to help purchase car seats for parents and guardians in Tennessee who are unable to afford them.
• $5,000 to support the Dell Children’s Foundation, a charity that helps to ensure that no child is ever turned away from receiving the world-class medical care provided by Dell Children’s Medical Center.