THE BUDDY BUZZ
ATS has long been a supporter of the Trucker Buddy Program and we are proud to say we have over 30 drivers that actively participate in this program.

Trucker Buddy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor the nation’s schoolchildren via a pen-pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades 2-8. Trucker Buddy matches classes of students with professional truck drivers.

You’d have to beat me away with a stick" replied John Rust when his class asked him if he would be thier "TRUCKER BUDDY" for the next year. John started being a trucker buddy in October 2003. "I just filled out the online application, (www.truckerbuddy.com) they checked me out and assigned me a class. When I drove up the first time this year, they had a big banner outside and a bulletin board with all the post cards and letters I had sent, John added.

Every week or two, these drivers share news about their travels with their assigned classes, and provide a format for the enhancement of the grade school curriculum in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies, and history.

As our VP of Specialized Inc, Gary Stang put it, “ Helping our teachers expand a child’s knowledge through an understanding of transportation is money well spent”.

“Giving our youth a better understanding of trucking will only make them better drivers when the time comes for them to share the road with our trucks” added Billy Woolsey, VP of ATS Inc.

Since 1992, Trucker Buddy has helped educate over half million schoolchildren and introduced them to a group of caring, compassionate group of men and women, who are the nation’s truck drivers.

Any professional driver with a current commercial drivers license (CDL) may apply to become a Trucker Buddy. (Drivers are subject to screening.) Go to www.truckerbuddy.com and fill out the registration form, call them at 1-800-MY-BUDDY or talk to a Trucker Buddy, like John Rust for more information.

Current ATS Trucker Buddies, if you are planning a visit with your class, remember to contact Larry Weston at 320-255-7422 two weeks in advance so we can put together a gift for you to give your class.