Driving For A Cause

If you run into an unusual line of trucks with a police escort Sept. 18, don’t be alarmed.

It’s not a wholesale arrest of truck-bombing terrorists, but this year’s World’s Largest Truck Convoy. There’s a better chance than ever that you might witness the event. Since the event began in 2000 as a Special Olympics Florida fundraiser, it has spread to convoys in 30-plus states, fielding an expected 2,500 trucks.

This year’s convoy is expected to raise $250,000 for Special Olympics programs in the United States and Canada. Only 6 percent of that goes for insurance and other overhead costs, says convoy supporter Paul Sasso and his wife and team driver, Suzanne Sasso. The rest benefits the children and adults who participate in Special Olympics. The international organization provides sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Sasso, who had never married until March of this year, says he has been touched when “parents come and hug me, crying, and they thank you because you’ve done something to help their special athlete.”

Better known by his handle, Brooklyn, Sasso participated in the 2002 and 2003 convoys. He plans to be in the Florida convoy this month.

“To have someone say, ‘Thank you, truckers’ and ‘God bless this convoy’ – these are the things that change your life,” he says. “This is probably the single largest image-building event for our industry.”

Hats off to the many owner-operators and fleet sponsors who are putting up $100 per truck for this cause. And it’s not too late to participate – call (800) 700-8585 to get more information.
–Brad Holthaus, Publisher

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