As the sun began peeking through the cityscape of downtown Dallas on Aug. 26, more than 70 runners and walkers were warming up for the 5k Big Rig Run at Reverchon Park on the Katy Trail. The 5k was held in conjunction with the Great American Trucking Show with an emphasis on generating greater awareness about trucker health issues.
Owner-operator Roger Oliver, 54, a Fernandina Beach, Fla., resident leased to Landstar, finishes the Big Rig Run.It also benefited the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which now has online partnership with http://truckersnews.com to encourage drivers to be on the lookout for endangered missing children.
Among the participants were show exhibitors, fleet managers, manufacturer representatives, and several drivers. The event was sponsored by Detroit Diesel, Freightliner, John Christner Trucking, Right Weigh, Swift Transportation and TA/Petro.
The second year of the 5k — dubbed the Too Hot to Trot 5k in 2010 — also represented the growing emphasis on health-related activities at the show.
The American Red Cross held a blood drive on Friday and Saturday at the Trucking Solutions Group/Fit for the Road booth, and the Healthy Trucking Association of America offered free screenings, consultations and discount cards to attendees. Trucker Trainer Bob Perry led a Health Awareness Walk at the convention center on Saturday morning.
Other GATS news
RigDig launched used truck history reports designed to help fleet managers, dealers and owner-operators evaluate used truck purchases. By logging onto rigdig.com and entering a truck’s VIN, buyers and sellers can see vital information about a commercial vehicle.
Maya SieberThe service alerts buyers of junk or salvage vehicles; total loss insurance claims; DMV title brands; federally recordable accidents; less-severe, non-federally recordable accidents; truck specifications; maintenance; and UCC liens.
The site was developed by Randall-Reilly Business Media’s Equipment Data Associates, and reports can be purchased for $34 each or three for $60.
Rand McNally named Edward Crumer, an owner-operator for Allied Van Lines, as its 2011 Navigator of the Year and recipient of $25,000.
“American Trucker” host Robb Mariani attended the show as a guest judge in the Custom Rigs Pride & Polish show. His film crew was there, too, producing an episode of the Speed Channel series about the Great American Trucking Show and its Pride & Polish event. Pictured above, Mariani chats with Pride & Polish competitor Ray Graves.The company says Crumer was selected because of his hauls — he carries belongings to families of fallen soldiers — and his story of navigating through Rogers Pass in the Canadian Rockies, a 48-hour trip in which Crumer had to stop three times for snow avalanche-related road closings.
The company also announced that all IntelliRoute TND purchasers are eligible for the Lifetime Map Program, in which for a one-time $89 fee, customers can have access to the latest Rand McNally map updates as long as they own the device.
Celebrities
“Ice Road Trucker” Maya Sieber made an all-day guest appearance at the Paramount Freight Systems booth on Saturday to sign autographs and take photos with attendees.
“Deadliest Catch” star Edgar Hansen made an all-day appearance Thursday at the Paramount Freight Systems booth, too, to take photos and sign autographs for attendees.
