If you were anywhere in the greater Midwest this past weekend then you know about April showers. Now, we'll see if it's really true about April showers bringing May flowers. There's an old joke there, but we're not going to tell it.

But what we will tell, is something else that came to us this April. It's our favorite kind of mail.

From: d
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 12:43 PM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: Re: Truckdriver.com Thank You

No, thank you!  I have been fortunate enough to find a job with a good company and so far things are going great!  I'm a living testimonial to what Truckdriver.com is all about and I am telling everyone I know about your site.

My Sincerest Thanks  ,

David S

Our very sincerest thanks to you for your thanks, you are very welcome.

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Regarding the TruckDriver.com Cell Phone Survey - You heard us and here's what you had to say:

Ninety percent of you own cell phones and eighty percent of you are satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of reception on your phone. Eighty-four percent of you are satisfied or very satisfied with the level of customer service provided with Verizon, Cingular and Nextel being the top providers.

Thirty-six percent of you send and receive text messages, and twenty-two percent send and receive photos or video. Nearly sixty percent of you use a hands free kit or earpiece.

As we've stated before, the TruckDriver.com surveys are not officially sanctioned by whomever it is that officially sanctions such things, but we do like it when it becomes a conversation starter.

From: vanrooy02
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 2:16 PM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: TruckDriver.com Contact Us: Feedback/Question

Regarding -cell phones, they are a very convenient way for people now days to communicate, BUT!!!! Is it all worth it when people are more concerned about what they are talking about than paying attention to what they are doing while driving.

 I really think they should come out with a cell phone that has a censor on it that while the vehicle is in motion, the phone will not work, you have to pull off the road to be able to talk. It's been done with the computers they have in trucks, why not phones?

 I have seen way too many accidents where someone was hurt or smashed their car up because "Oh, my gosh I didn't see you."

 Well, get off the phone and pay attention.

 So, how does everyone else feel about that?

_________

So, how do you feel about that? Let us know at jobs@truckdriver.com

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MultiMedia's
Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month

John Waldvogel

The most important thing Trucker Buddy John Waldvogel has brought to his classroom is a sincere friendship, said teacher Jeanne Hissong, who along with her elementary students nominated Waldvogel for the ACS MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month honor.

“I think our Trucker Buddy John should be the Driver of the Month because he is the best Trucker Buddy ever!” wrote student Kate. Of course, getting the classroom on TV was a hit among the students, too. “Last year, John arranged a special surprise for our students – he brought a camera crew from Toledo to film us for WTOL Channel 11 news!” Hissong said. “He gave us a copy of the video, and I taped it for all of my students. They were thrilled to see themselves on TV.”

Waldvogel, a Trucker Buddy of nine years, lives in Toledo, Ohio, and has been a company driver for Motor Carrier Services, Northwood, Ohio, since 1994.

Waldvogel has been a Trucker Buddy for Hissong’s class for the past two years. In addition to sending postcards every week from places he has been, he brings them movies to watch, logs to keep track of their activities, awards, stickers and treats. He also visits the class with his truck every fall and spring.

“John has done an excellent job communicating with our students with special needs and explaining to them in terms they can understand what it is like to be a trucker,” Hissong noted. “They especially enjoy his visits when he brings his truck. John helps the physically challenged students get in his truck and they enjoy seeing all of the equipment it has.”

In addition to corresponding with Hissong’s Special Education class at Sutton Elementary School in Arian, Mich., Waldvogel also corresponds with her sister-in-law’s class at the same school, which includes students with mild cognitive impairments.

Waldvogel has touched all of the students’ hearts, as summed up by one of the students, who said, “I want to be a Trucker Buddy when I grow up!”

Waldvogel is one of nearly 4,000 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.

Each Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month receives a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of ACS MultiMedia Advertising (www.tmi-multimedia.com), the advertising agency of choice for the trucking industry. They also receive an IdleAire adaptor (www.IdleAire.com), a Koolatron cooler, Donde Publishing’s “For the Long Haul” reference guide for drivers, an Accident Photo pack and, for owner operators, a complete set of Airtabs for their tractor or trailer (www.airtab.com). 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 continent.

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

Trucker Buddy International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor 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, and every week drivers share news about their travels with their class.

Once a month, students write letters to their drivers. Students’ skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies and history are enhanced and learning is fun. Since 1992, Trucker Buddy has helped educate more than a million schoolchildren while introducing them to caring, compassionate men and women who help drive the economy.

Trucker Buddy has participants in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. For more information about Trucker Buddy International, visit www.truckerbuddy.org or call 1-800-MY-BUDDY.

~ Bob Dylan ~