Dear Editor:

My name is Pauline Nelson and I run team with my husband, Gary. We are owner/operators, leased on with Robert Transportation in Boucherville, Que. We have been there since 1984 and we have seen many changes in the trucking industry – some good, some bad and some totally useless.

I wish all the people involved in making changes would be required to spend a couple weeks in a truck to learn first-hand some of their changes.

They could see how ludicrous their changes were. The new US Hours-of-Service rules would be a major point.

My husband and I are Trucker Buddies and have seen how being involved has made a good change for our industry. We have approximately 80 kids in a rural school in upstate New York that we correspond with. They have been our buddies for the last three years. We have been fortunate with the cooperation of Robert Transportation to visit the school each May with our truck.

Last year, on our second visit, we had parents come to thank us. We have received letters from the kids saying they and their parents are waving to truck drivers now. This is an awesome program which could make a huge difference in trucking. These kids are our future. The minimum trucker involvement in this program is sending a few postcards during their travels. To feel really good about this program helps you feel like you can and are making a difference – one child at a time.

Pauline Nelson

Woodslee, Ont.