Briefly: Trucking foundation donates $10,000 to trucker relief fund -

The Trucking Cares Foundation recently donated $10,000 to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the families of truckers who have been sidelined due to injuries or illnesses.

“Trucking is a close-knit family, and whenever one of our brothers or sisters falls on difficult times, we band together to help them get back on their feet,” said Phil Byrd, chairman of the Trucking Cares Foundation. “Whether it’s delivering the products that Americans depend on each day or transporting humanitarian relief when disasters strike, truck drivers are always there to serve our communities.

The St. Christopher Fund honors the sacrifices truck drivers make by having their backs when their families need it most.

” “We are deeply grateful for the Trucking Cares Foundation’s continued support and generosity,” said Shannon Currier, director of philanthropy for the St. Christopher Fund. “This donation provides essential support for drivers and their families by providing financial relief and free health and wellness programs that impact driver health and retention.”

The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, founded in 2007, provides financial assistance to Class A CDL over-the-road truck drivers when an illness or injury forces them out of work. Over the past 15 years, the St. Christopher Fund has helped nearly 4,000 truckers cover nearly $5 million in necessary household expenses such as rent and mortgage payments, utility bills, vehicle loans, and insurance. The organization also offers free preventative health and wellness initiatives such as diabetes prevention, smoking cessation, vaccines, cancer screening, and chronic disease management.

$17.4 million in meth found in load of coconuts

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at Pharr International Bridge recently seized more than $17.4 million in methamphetamine in a single enforcement action.

The seizure occurred on Sept. 28 when a CBP officer referred a tractor-trailer hauling a shipment of coconuts for secondary inspection. CBP officers conducted an examination that included utilization of a non-intrusive inspection system and CBP canines. Upon further physical examination, CBP officers discovered 378 packages containing a total of nearly 1,950 pounds of alleged methamphetamine hidden within the trailer. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $17,431,726.

CBP seized the narcotics and tractor trailer. Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation.

‘Super loads’ in Ohio this weekend

Two more “super loads” will depart the dock site in Adams County in southern Ohio and head notyh to the new Intel plant being built in Licking County. The first will leave Friday morning and the second on Saturday. Both will arrive at Rickenbacker and then be delivered on Sunday, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Super Load 25 is a receiver weighing 258,000 pounds, is 16’6” tall, 15’6” wide, and 174’11” long. Super Load 26 is an absorber weighing 132,000 pounds, is 17’5” tall, 18’ wide, and 80’ long.

Load 25 will travel from Manchester to Rickenbacker on Friday. Load 26 will make the same trip Saturday.

Load 25 will depart at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, and stop at Freedom Way in Pickerington. The crew will then go back to Rickenbacker and transport Load 26 through the city of Columbus all the way to the Intel site. Upon delivery, the crew will backtrack to Freedom Way and continue the route with Load 25 to delivery.

Since these loads are smaller than the largest loads moved over the summer, the traffic impacts are expected to be minimal. The Ohio Department of Transportation said it anticipates dialing back the frequency of updates given the reduced traffic impacts caused by these loads. Communication will ramp back up if traffic impacts are expected to increase with future loads along the route.