For the Love of Truckers

Among those essential servants of U.S. commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic have been the men and women who transport goods along the nation’s highways — truck drivers.

While their services have been necessary to keep supply lines intact, there remains the concern that truckers themselves could carry the virus as they travel across state lines. That has required special precautions for those who manage and staff the facilities that cater to truckers’ needs for fuel, food, and other services.

Though they’ve experienced significantly less traffic on the roads, truckers have also been making fewer stops to avoid exposure to the virus. Those without sleeper cabs have reported trouble finding motels that were renting rooms.

The truck stops have been quieter, too. “The lounges are all closed — the driver’s lounges,” Kansas trucker Kirk Warner told the Topeka Capital-Journal. “The TV rooms are closed. The workout rooms are closed. It’s just a different style these days.”

Warner noted that fellow drivers aren’t as social as before, avoiding handshakes and keeping distance when visiting the stops. But these have been the lucky ones; other truckers who contract or are exposed to COVID-19 are unable to work for weeks at a stretch.

Enter Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer of Love’s Travel Stops. This spring, under her direction, Love’s contributed $100,000 to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF) to assist drivers who are sidelined due to illness or injury during the pandemic.

“This donation reflects our belief that professional truck drivers have been the backbone of the U.S., especially during this challenging time,” said Meyer, a Legate of the Oklahoma City Chapter, in announcing the gift. “This contribution enables us to help drivers with immediate needs when they are unable to work due to COVID-19 or other medical issues.”

Love’s, the nation’s largest travel-stop network with more than 500 locations in 41 states, also is looking out for its 25,000 employees during this crisis beyond its increased safety measures. In March, the company announced temporary across-the-board raises and bonuses to its hourly employees along with free meals during shifts. They also said employees who test positive for COVID-19 will receive up to 80 hours of additional sick leave and that all salaried managers would collect their first-quarter bonuses early.

“We want our team members to know how much we appreciate them,” Meyer said. “They’re doing a fantastic job of keeping our stores clean and stocked. As an essential business, our team members have been critical to helping customers like professional truck drivers get back on the road quickly so they can deliver vital goods across the country.”