Truckers south of Madras can get a free meal Wednesday
As well as masks, sanitizer from Oregon Trucking Associations
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Parts of Oregon may be waking up after several weeks of shutdown due to COVID-19, but the dedicated truck drivers who have consistently delivered necessary consumer goods and medical supplies are still facing on-the-road challenges.
To offset some of these difficulties, Oregon Trucking Associations (OTA) will be holding their fourth meals for drivers event on Wednesday, May 20 at the southbound Juniper Butte Weigh Station (Hwy. 97 SB, 15 miles south of Madras). Starting at 10:30 AM, trucks passing through can pick up a free boxed lunch, bottled water, sanitizer and disposable safety masks.
With previous events in Woodburn, Cascade Locks and Ashland, OTA staff, event sponsors and member volunteers – all decked out in personal protective equipment – have been able to feed close to 1000 drivers in April and May. Generous contributions to the group’s Driver Appreciation Fund has allowed OTA to expand its meal outreach to now include drivers in the Redmond area this Wednesday. The safety masks and sanitizer come from OTA member All Service Moving, which also operates a distillery in the Seattle area where they make the FDA-approved product. Southern Oregon-based Combined Transport Logistics Group is providing bottled water.
“Since we started these events in April, the outpouring of support has been incredible and inspiring,” commented OTA President & CEO Jana Jarvis, “Finding a decent, convenient meal while driving a truck isn’t easy during the best of times and, with varying levels of state shutdowns across the nation due to the pandemic, it became a major undertaking.”
Throughout the course of their workdays, truck drivers can encounter many unknown situations and previously unheard-of health risks as they pick-up and deliver their loads. The lack of personal protection equipment for essential frontline workers, compounded by closed restaurants or truck stops with limited services, made what is already a tough job even tougher.
“Most of us at home can arrange for grocery deliveries or take-out from local restaurants, wash our hands whenever we want and wear a mask for our brief forays out in public, but truck drivers don’t have these same options when they’re on the road,” continues Jarvis, “Even now with states slowly reopening, it will be a while before the food and other service industries return to ‘normal’ and the threat of exposure to COVID-19 remains.”
Like many other companies and organizations, OTA has adjusted its operating procedures to accommodate COVID-19 guidelines, while still maintaining its level of service to all members. In addition to their meals for drivers outreach, OTA has shifted their training efforts to webinar sessions. They have also been holding weekly conference calls to keep members updated on the most recent COVID-19 developments and connecting them with knowledgeable resources to help them navigate access to financial assistance, new regulations and much more.
For further information on the May 20th event and other OTA activities, members of the media can contact OTA Marketing & Communications Manager Vilija Jozaitis at vilija@ortrucking.org or 708.207.1205. Visit www.ortrucking.org to learn more about OTA.
About Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc.
Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. (OTA) is a non-profit trade organization for the trucking industry in Oregon and is based out of the Portland metro area. OTA members consist of private and common carriers and affiliated partners. The goal is to help these businesses succeed by advocating, educating, and promoting a positive industry image. Subgroups within OTA focus on safety & compliance, technology & maintenance, and government affairs.
Transportation is vital to a thriving economy; almost every product used today has traveled by truck at some point in its life cycle. More information about OTA is available on our website www.ortrucking.org.
