Canadian ‘Viking’ trucker named Trucker Buddy of the month

WAUPACA, Wisc: — For filling a very special need of 120 eighth-graders in Wisconsin, Gary “The Viking” Ninivirta from Thunder Bay, Ont. was named
the MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month of May.

“As my eighth-grade students were preparing to kick off a new school year, which included our initial contacts with a Trucker Buddy, we received some very sad news. The Trucker Buddy who was corresponding with us had died,” teacher Gregg Jochimsen said in a statement psoted on the Trucker Buddy website. “What a tough situation for the students and me. Many were looking forward to the contact and hearing from someone traveling through the United States and they were heartbroken with the news.”

Along came Ninivirta, a self-described rookie to the program, facing some big shoes to fill.

But he sure did, says Jochimsen. “Not only has Gary visited our classroom on three different occasions, he keeps in contact with us on a weekly basis by phone and postcard. Gary has sent us great postcards that connect with the history we are learning from places all over the United States and Canada,” Jochimsen said. “Although he is from Canada, it seems as though he lives among us here in Chippewa Falls.”

Teacher Gregg Jochimsen and his 120 8th
graders at Chippewa Falls Middle School

Ninivirta, a Trucker Buddy since 2004, lives in Thunder Bay, has been a driver of 25-plus years. He currently drives for Winnipeg Moving, a subsidiary of Allied Van Lines, in Winnipeg. He joined Trucker Buddy as a way to continue working with children, because he had to give up being a Cub Leader to drive long-haul.

The Viking, as he is better known to “his kids,” swears the pleasure is all his.

“They’re a blast, and they’ve taught me a lot,” he said. “And I love working with Mr. J. Teachers are definitely my heroes, and I give full credit to my own children’s teachers, I want to be a teacher when I grow up!”

This sense of humor is part of his popularity with the students, Jochimsen noted. “The students have all enjoyed his sense of humor and how he truly seems to care about them. He was kind enough to send us a class mascot and even purchased 120 Christmas gifts for all of the students. Gary even gave each of these students a CB handle that was unique to them.”

“He could qualify for Trucker of the Year in our book! Jochimsen added. “He has gone far above the call of duty to connect with my students and has made this a great experience for all of us.”

Ninivirta was like a kid himself upon learning of the goodies he will receive as Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month, which is sponsored by advertising firm TMI MultiMedia.

“I didn’t think I would be rewarded for being a Trucker Buddy,” he said, “but I sure am going to have fun spending all that money on the kids!”

Ninivirta 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.