National Trucking Week

I TRUCKING WWW.GARDEWINE.COM PROUDLY SERVING CUSTOMERS FOR OVER 65 YEARS. Celebrating our employees and their commitment to delivering results. AMBIENT BULK COLD CHAIN COURIER DECK DEDICATED GENERAL FREIGHT LOGISTICS MOVING & STORAGE WAREHOUSING 963 DUGALD ROAD | WINNIPEG, MB | 1.888.367.5233 | JADETRANSPORT.COM CELEBRATING 50 YEARS WITH JADE TRANSPORT Thank you to all of our staff, customers, and friends for making the last 50 years memorable. A new event will precede the start of National Truck- ing Week in Manitoba on Aug. 28, says Don Stewart, senior business develop- ment manager for the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA). "We've partnered with American Express for a new event called MTA Day at the Park," he says. "Our president, John Erik Albrecht- sen, will be throwing out the first pitch at the Winnipeg Goldeyes game versus the Gary SouthShore RailCats. With over 150 industry members in the crowd celebrat- ing, it will be a great way to start things off and raise awareness of the importance of the trucking industry." Stewart says truck drivers — no pun in- tended — are one of the major drivers of Manitoba's economy. "Their work helps contribute over $2.5 bil- lion to Manitoba's GDP," he says. "That's a pretty substantial figure." Likewise, the MTA is dedicated to reward- ing its members for their hard work. All proceeds from another Trucking Week event — the Vehicle Maintenance Council (VMC) Golf Tournament — are directed into the MTA Scholarship Fund. "The tournament will he held Sept. 4 at Bridges Golf Course. Proceeds from the tournament will be awarded to employees or dependants of Manitoba Trucking Asso- ciation member companies. The Scholar- ship Fund really helps kids get a head start with their education." A perennially-popular event — Scale Day — will then take place on Sept. 5. "We host the event with our members at Hylife Foods, Bison Transport and Inland CTS," says Stewart. "We'll set up barbecues at the scales at in Headingley and Emer- son. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we'll interact with drivers and thank them for all they do every day. The event brings to light the importance of the industry and all the sac- rifices drivers make on our behalf. Without them, everything would come to a grind- ing halt." A pair of events — the MTA Truck Pull and the World's Largest Truck Convoy — will then close out National Trucking Week in Manitoba. "The MTA Truck Pull in partnership with United Way Winnipeg has always been well-attended and quite frankly is a ton of fun for all involved," Stewart says. The Truck Pull will be held at the MTA Of- fice located at 25 Bunting St. on Sept. 6, 6-7 p.m. The general public is invited to come out to cheer on participants. There will be a play zone for the kids, and mascots from all Winnipeg's pro sports teams will also be on hand to interact with. "Firstly, the trucking industry will pull together to help make for a better Win- nipeg — we want to give back and show support for our community," Stewart says. "Secondly, all the money raised will go dir- ectly to the United Way and will help sup- port many programs and partners in every neighbourhood in our city. In the past, we've raised as much as $15,000." The final event — the World's Longest Truck Convoy in support of Special Olym- pics Manitoba— will take to the road at 11 a.m. on Sept. 14, after National Trucking Week. "It will start in Île-des-Chênes at 11 a.m., with registration starting at 7 a.m.," Stew- art says. "It's an event where MTA mem- bers, athletes, drivers and law enforcement come together to create a convoy of over 200 trucks that will create a line of vehicles over six miles long — it's quite the sight. All funds raised will go to athletes who com- pete locally and around the world." And though truck drivers will be at the centre of the weeklong celebration, it's im- portant to remember they aren't the only members of the trucking industry. "There's so much more to it than just truck drivers," he says. "There are maintenance teams, dispatchers, health and safety, sales, accounting and financial control teams, and public relations people, to mention a few. It takes an efficient team effort across the board, so it's a celebration that should rec- ognize everyone who works in our industry."

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