TORONTO, (June 6, 2005) — One day. A thousand trucks. The World’s Largest Truck Convoy is returning to Alberta for the second straight year in September, and for the first time, a convoy is being staged in Southern Ontario too.

A fundraiser for the Special Olympics, The World’s Largest Truck Convoy got its start in Florida in 2000, when Cpl. Norm Schneiderhan of the Orange County, Florida Sheriff’s Department — a former over-the-road driver — got the idea to run a truck convoy to raise money for Special Olympics athletes. The first event ran through the streets of Tampa, Fla. with full backing of local law enforcement. Four years later his idea had expanded to 37 convoys in 27 states, including a convoy running from Edmonton to Calgary and back again.

Last year, 1,136 trucks participated, achieving recognition from Guinness World Records as the world’s largest convoy. This time organizers are hoping to attract 3,000 trucks, raising $400,000 for athletes. Included in that number is a convoy now being organized in Paris, Ont. All money raised during the Ontario convoy goes to support Special Olympics activities throughout the province.

Organizer Tammy Blackwell told Today’s Trucking sister publication highwaySTAR that it’s the first time such an event has been undertaken in the area, and she hopes to attract at least 100 generous drivers to the convoy. “Trucking is one of the most benevolent industries around,” she says. “And this event allows us to pull the diverse elements of the business together for a common cause. In the case of the convoy, we can get corporate sponsors as well as individual drivers and owner-operators pulling together for this one great cause.”

The first corporate sponsor Blackwell brought onboard was Drumbo Transport of Ayr, Ont. “The Poll family has always been a big supporter of community events,” she says. “But this event is special because the Poll family has three children active in the Special Olympics.”

Any and all truckers are welcome to participate in the convoy, which will be running at highway speeds along the route. There will be an awards ceremony following the trip where three trucks will be chosen by a group of Special Olympians as “Best of the Convoy.

Drivers or carriers wishing to take the coveted lead truck position will have to compete for the highest number of sponsors. Each entry is $100, but there’s no limit on the sponsorships you can bring with you. Entry and sponsorship forms are available at many southern Ontario truckstops, some carrier terminals, or by contacting organizers at 519/897-0073 (Ontario) or 780/415-0719 (Edmonton-Calgary).

The Alberta convoy, which is slated for September 24, will be a pared down affair from last year, according to Calgary Police Inspector Paul Manuel. “Last year we got very ambitious doing 500 km between Edmonton and Calgary and back, and we’re going to scale that back quite a bit for this year. We’re going to try and attract a lot more trucks on a much shorter route — probably no more than 50 km.”

If you can’t register in advance and just happen to be in town on the special day, drop by, pay the $100 registration fee and join the convoy that helps thousands of special athletes, organizers say. “Their courage and determination is an inspiration,” says Blackwell. “We’ve all got our share of challenges, but these athletes transcend their disabilities when they compete. They can teach us all a thing or two about overcoming adversity.”