Be part of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy this weekend!
FREDERICTON, N.B. — Truckers, start your engines. More Canadian trucks than ever are expected to roll along with this year’s World’s Largest Truck Convoy, which kicks off in several Canadian provinces this weekend.
For the first time, the Atlantic region gets its own leg of the Truck Convoy, which raises money and awareness for Special Olympics athletes across North America.
Fredericton will be the staging ground for the inaugural Atlantic route on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 15.
Semi-trucks, truck-trailer combinations, large trucks, low-boys, dump trucks, flat beds, buses, large tow trucks, and all other large box trucks are invited to take part. No hazardous materials or trucks with alcohol or tobacco brands or logos are permitted, however.
have been great successes in recent years.
The Special Olympics describes the drivers who participate in the annual North American event as a “compassionate army of truckers.”
Participating drivers and companies can donate anywhere from $100 to $5000 dollars. The latter contribution gets your truck in the “top five or tail five” of the line. The company name or logo will be placed in the event program. Plus, there will be a lunch for corporate representative and participating drivers, as well as a personal invitation to a press conference detailing your company’s contributions.
There are several other packages depending on the donation. Contact your local organizer (see below) for more info.
The unique one-day celebration, in which law enforcement escorts a convoy of trucks up to 30 miles through their town, has been growing across Canada. What started as a single run in Calgary in 2004 has spread to Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and New Brunswick.
A celebration — a picnic, barbeque, and awards ceremony — is held at the conclusion of each event to recognize participating truckers and the support of the trucking industry.
The Truck Convoy is the brainchild of Norm Schneiderhan, a Corporal with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Florida. He created it after being inspired by the powerful impact Special Olympics had on his life through his participation in the Law Enforcement Torch Run, combined with his family’s involvement with the trucking industry.
Other Canadian convoys that roll out on Saturday are:
Manitoba (Winnipeg); Ontario (Paris Fairgrounds, Paris, Ont.); and Saskatchewan (Credit Union Center, Saskatoon). The Quebec leg will take place next week, Sept. 22, at the Exhibition grounds in Trois-Rivieres.
For exact locations, start times and sponsorship details, click on www.worldslargesttruckconvoy.com and follow the links to regional organizers
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