For those of you out there that
have never heard of Trucker Buddy International or have always wondered how
to get involved in the program, this article is for you. Formed in 1992, Trucker
Buddy International has helped educate and mentor over half a million schoolchildren
by introducing them to a group of caring and compassionate men and women - the
nation's truck drivers. Operating as a nonprofit organization, Trucker Buddy
matches classes of students (grades 2-8) with truck drivers via a pen-pal relationship.
All involved agree that the benefits go both ways.
There are four major benefits to participating in the program: 1) To help children
see a positive adult image. Too often children are in homes where positive influences
are lacking. The men and women who get involved become mentors as much as pen
pals; 2) To help teachers with their heavy workload. Learning about the world
can be fun when geography is related to news from the road - and applying math
skills to real-life makes it seem more useful; 3) To improve the driver's own
self-image. The enthusiasm and sheer delight the students take in communicating
with a driver can boost that driver's morale a thousand-fold; and 4) Last, and
deservedly so, is to improve the image of the trucking industry to the general
public.
Every week, participating drivers share news about their travels with their
assigned classes, and provide a format for the enhancement of the grade school
curriculum in reading, geography, mathematics, social studies and history. Any
professional driver with a current commercial drivers license (CDL) may apply
to become a Trucker Buddy. Also, any teacher that teaches at a public or private
school with at least 15 students in grades 2-8 may apply to participate in the
program.
To be a Trucker Buddy requires a commitment of time and energy. As a role model,
it also demands a high degree of integrity and professionalism. Frequent and
consistent correspondence with an assigned class is essential. Drivers should
write to their class as often as possible; students should write to the driver
at least once a month. Drivers and teachers will keep their class/driver assignment
as long as they remain in the program and do not request a change. Teachers
and drivers must, however, file a renewal form every year to remain in the program.
Those wishing to make a change may do so.
Trucker Buddy has been set up as a writing program, but if you wish to visit
your class (with prior permission) you may do so. Kids love to actually see
and sit in the trucks and it gives you an opportunity to teach them first-hand
about what makes a big rig different from cars, pickups and SUVs. There are
strict guidelines to follow, but a class visit is always exciting for both the
students and the drivers.
Thanks to a long list of generous supporters, there are no fees or dues to join
the program. Trucker Buddy drivers give their time, which is their greatest
contribution. Some of their current corporate sponsors include TransCore, DCSTrucks.com,
Delphi, TMI-MultiMedia, the FMCSA, OOIDA, ArvinMerritor, Detroit Diesel, Kenworth,
Wal-Mart, Caterpillar, Qualcomm and FedEx Ground, to name a few. These companies
and many others make this program possible through their financial and moral
support.
Participants in the program also receive a quarterly newsletter that contains
valuable information about the organization, highlights a "Driver of the
Month" that is involved in the program, renewal reminders and details,
any changes that may have recently taken place, and a list of new and existing
sponsors. There is also a section featuring fun trucking-related items for sale
like books and CDs.
In order to ensure the children's safety and the integrity of the program, voluntary
background checks are performed on all new applicants in order to exclude any
individuals who may have a history of criminal conduct that would be inappropriate
for a youth-oriented program, or who otherwise might be unsuitable candidates.
The procedures they have in place have proven to be extremely successful in
filtering out such individuals.
Many truckers we know participate in this program and love it. Some even have
more than one class. If you would like to get more information about Trucker
Buddy International or would like to apply to become involved (either as a participant
or a sponsor), please call them at 1-800-MY-BUDDY or visit www.truckerbuddy.org.
You'll be glad you did - and so will a classroom full of kids!
Copyright
© 2003 10-4 Magazine and Tenfourmagazine.com
PO Box 7377 Huntington Beach, CA, 92615 tel. (714) 378-9990 fax (714)
962-8506