If you’ve been following the news at all lately, then you know how dire the situation in the Middle East has become. We aren’t going to pass any judgments, all we know is things are not getting any better and it doesn’t look like they’ll be improving anytime soon.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our troops, and with the families of the soldiers who have paid the ultimate price.

 We recently ran across a story that touched us in a special way and it serves to prove the old adage that even in the darkest hours, when things are the bleakest, there is always a glimmer of goodness and light that shines through.

'Project Compassion'

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Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month

Chris Jones

The ACS MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month honor has been awarded to Chris Jones for his outstanding dedication to trucking, school children and community.

Jones joined the Trucker Buddy program in 2002, matched with a special needs class in New York. For the past two years he has been matched with Janet Blackwell's second grade class at Simsboro High School in Simsboro, La., and Jones is matched again with Blackwell's class for the current year.

Every year, Jones has made class visits to Blackwell's class, sometimes accompanied by his wife, Brenda. And, in addition to sending regular correspondence and pictures as part of the Trucker Buddy program, Jones has also provided classroom supplies.

"Chris has supported our class at every turn," wrote Blackwell in her nomination. "He always keeps in touch to make sure we have everything our class needs to be successful. I appreciate this program so much. As a teacher, I receive $42 for the entire year to provide for my students. This program has allowed me to budget my meager amount a bit more successfully."

A driver for Wal-Mart Transportation, Jones's volunteer and community work doesn't stop with Trucker Buddy.

"Chris is also a champion in other ways," said Tom Whitaker, executive director of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association, noting that Jones took first place in the five-axle tank truck class in KMCA's Professional Truck Driving Championships. "Chris's safety record is almost unbelievable. He has driven for almost 18 years and traveled over 1.9 million miles with zero accidents."

ones is a 2006 Captain of the KMCA's Road Team, and in December 2002, he was KMCA's Driver of the Month. He also has participated in KMCA's State Driving Championships since 2001, placing 3rd place

in the Tank class in 2004 and 2nd place in the Tank class in 2005. This year's 1st place in the Tank class took him on to the National Driving Championships in August. In addition, Jones is a member of the Highway Watch program and OOIDA.

Participation in these events and organizations affords Jones the opportunity to speak to numerous people about the trucking industry and the driving profession, which is a passion for him.

"Chris really loves his job," Blackwell said. "He stresses how important trucks are to the economy. He is always safety conscious. He reminds us to be aware of trucks on the road. He reminds the children to buckle up and to tell their parents to do the same. He deserves to be recognized."

"Chris is a caring and compassionate person. This shows in his work with his Trucker Buddy class and with the Kansas Road Team," said Kelly Kile, safety manager, Wal-Mart Transportation. "I have found Chris to be outstanding both as an individual, and as a professional driver. He has accumulated a record of accomplishments that puts him at the top of his profession. He always goes above and beyond what is expected of him and truly deserves the title 'Professional Truck Driver' for his performance and accomplishments."

Jones, who has been driving for Wal-Mart for the past 11 years, lives with his wife in Ottawa, Kansas.

Jones is among some 3,500 other professional drivers who share their time with elementary classes throughout the world. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a truck driver and willing to send a postcard each week to a class in grades two through eight. Drivers and teachers can find out more about the program by visiting www.truckerbuddy.org or calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.

Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors such as ACS MultiMedia Advertising and TruckDriver.com to fund the program.

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According to our 2006 Thanksgiving Poll, nearly two-thirds of you planned on spending Thanksgiving with family and friends either at your own home or at someone else’s home. The remaining third of you said you were spending it on the road. The holidays sure mess with trucking, don’t they?

Maybe that third of you who were spending Thanksgiving on the road are the same third who said in the TruckDriver.com Pet Survey that you carried a pet on your truck. Of course, there is no real correlation between the two, so we’re not even sure why we mentioned it, but we did.

Anyway, if you have ever owned a pet, (some people say you can’t really own a pet that it’s the other way around) or if you currently own a pet, we want to know how you arrived at your pet’s name. That’s why our next survey is called Pet Names Survey. It doesn’t sound quite as kinky when we explain it front.

Until next time, keep on truckin' and please drive safely.

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