Respect and Honor: How Truckersfinalmile.org Goes the Extra Mile for Drivers In Need

The loss of a driver while on the road, or a driver’s inability to get home to their family in a time of crisis is painfully stressful and complex: Truckersfinalmile.org does everything in its power to help alleviate the financial and emotional burdens of drivers and their families.

In January of 2018, while on delivery in Utah, a veteran driver passed away far from his Phoenix, Az. home. His family was in a predicament. The cost, the distance, the details. It was a nightmare of logistics compounded by grief. But the driver’s brother knew what to do: He reached out to Robert Palm, CEO and founder of Truckersfinalmile.org. 

His brother later posted a tribute to the aid that Truckersfinalmile.org rendered to his family: “Not only did they help with the cremation, they assisted in getting my sister a flight to Utah to view him and escort his remains home.” 

He remembers that to add to the stress, the grieved family of nine siblings was concerned that their 90 year old mother would pass away because of the turmoil and grief surrounding the loss of her son.

The late driver’s brother remembers that, “during this process Robert listened and helped accommodate several schedule changes– even a last minute flight change so that my sister could return early to care for our ill mom.”

And in honor of the deceased driver’s military service Robert, “arranged for my brother’s ashes to be presented to our mom by the Patriot Guard along with an American Flag, as my brother was a retired Army serviceman. We were treated with respect, care, and always with the utmost dignity throughout.”

“We are so grateful.”

Truckersfinalmile.org has received the spot as the top professionally rated charity in the trucking industry. And the organization has truly earned those stripes: 

In the event of a driver that’s disabled by an accident they have on the job, Truckersfinalmile.org tailors the trucker’s home to accommodate their disability needs– One driver had a major collision, while on the road, and  Truckersfinalmile.org stepped in to partner with a local church, building a wheelchair ramp onto the driver’s home.

Truckersfinalmile.org also provides the children of deceased drivers with Christmas presents – even giving a college scholarship to the youngest of these recipients. 

They also help drivers facing an immediate emergency at home by coordinating and funding transportation to truckers so that they can get home to take care of their family. In one instance, they helped a driver get home safely when he found out his wife with stage four cancer was dying. 

Another time they helped a driver with air transportation when they found out a family member was in a  serious accident – they flew them home to Atlanta from Oklahoma City, where the driver was out on the job.

Recently, at the CDLLife Turning Point Summit Leah Shaver, CEO of The National Transportation Institute (NTI), recognized the outstanding work of Truckersfinalmile.org with a $2,500 donation. We were proud to partner with NTI, by matching their contribution. 

After the donation was announced, it was inspiring that the company Roadrunner spoke up immediately to contribute $1,000 to their cause, and they challenged other companies to step up to do the same. It’s encouraging to see the trucking industry rally around such a fantastic organization and by extension its drivers. 

We encourage you to get involved with Truckersfinalmile.org, if you haven’t already! Donations may be made here in support of this vital organization.