October Trucker Buddy of the Month

Waupaca, WI: “The world is a better place because of people like Dale,” states a parent of a student in Mrs. Sanger’s 3-4 grade class. When dropping his son off at Twin Valley elementary School in Elverson, Pennsylvania, Mr. Lewis was treated to an inside look at the Volvo that Trucker Buddy Dale Nunley drives for Raven Transport.” I felt very privileged (for the) opportunity to meet Dale…I will never look at another truck the same way,” he added.

Mr. Lewis’ son and the other students in Mrs. Sanger’s class receive daily e-mails from their Trucker Buddy Dale. “The kids were so anxious to write to Mr. Nunley that they began typing letters,” Mrs. Sanger said, “We tracked his travels…on a map outside our classroom.” She added that the value of this program is due to Mr. Nunley’s commitment, but she is also pleased that the children have progressed in letter writing, computer skills, geography, using an atlas, as well as learning to use resources to answer trivia questions.

Trucker Buddy drivers are teachers from behind the wheel of an eighteen-wheeler. Mr. Nunley has impressed more than the class and their teacher, however, as the parents of the students are also pleased to have their children learn about truck safety while corresponding with their driver.

Dale Nunley and nearly 4,000 professional drivers share their time with elementary classes throughout the world. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a truck driver, willing to send a post card each week to a class in grades two through eight. Drivers can apply on line at www.truckerbuddy.org or by calling 1-800-MY BUDDY. There are currently many classes still waiting for a Trucker Buddy for this school year.

Dale will receive a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise. He will be given a copy of “For the Long Haul” by Donde Publishing. The class will receive a CrossCountry USA game from Ingenuity Works (www.ingenuityworks.com), which will help them learn more about how trucks move freight across the nation.

Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors to fund the program. Major contributors include Platinum level: MANCOMM, Transcore and ProTrucker & Over the Road magazines, Gold Level Sponsors: American Graphics Group, Delphi, Kenworth, Midnight Trucking Radio, OOIDA, Truckin’ Bozo, Mike Ryan Motorsports, TruckDriver.com and Wal-mart, along with Silver Level: ArvinMeritor, Detroit Diesel, OTR-Canada . Interested sponsors can contact Ellen at Trucker Buddy International or by calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.

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