Trucker Buddy

Organization names executive director, new officers

Trucker Buddy International, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor school children by uniting professional drivers and classrooms, announced that Doug Driscoll has been selected by the TBI Board of Directors to serve as executive director.
     Driscoll brings 35 years of trucking experience to the organization, much of it spent in management positions within the industry. He will run the program from its new office located in Gig Harbor, WA, focusing on fostering relationships within the trucking industry and running the day-to-day operations.
     “Doug brings a lifetime of involvement with the trucking industry to our program,” says Mark Taylor, president of Trucker Buddy and a driver for Wal-Mart Stores. “With his addition, I see a bright future for Trucker Buddy.”
     In addition, Trucker Buddy International announced two new officers. Peter Charboneau, Over the Road Magazine (Canada), was named vice president, while Elisabeth Barna, American Trucking Associations, was named secretary. TBI President Mark Taylor of Wal-Mart and Treasurer Randy Schwartzenburg of Truckers News will retain their positions on the TBI board.
     “Trucker Buddy International is one of the premier organizations within the trucking industry,” Driscoll says. “I feel it is an extremely valuable tool to reach out to the community and make a meaningful experience for both students and drivers. I’m excited to come on board.”
     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.
     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 over a million schoolchildren and introduced them to caring, compassionate men and women–professional truck drivers.
     To learn more, go to truckerbuddy.org or call 1-800-MY-BUDDY. Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines are proud sponsors of the Trucker Buddy program.