TCA names ABF Freight trucker Highway Angel for aiding woman driver

A trucker from Ohio was recently recognized for his willingness to aid a driver in need.

Rick ThomasThe Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Rick Thomas, from Akron, Ohio, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to help a stranded female driver when her tire was blown. Thomas works for ABF Freight out of Ft. Smith, Arkansas

The TCA explains:

On Oct. 4, around 3 p.m. in Peninsula, Ohio, a female driver was stranded on the side of the Seasons Road when Thomas pulled over to assist her. Her SUV had a flat tire.

“She was kind of almost halfway in the intersection,” Thomas said. “I hopped out and asked her if she had a spare tire? And she said yes — that’s what I did — I changed her tire.”

Thomas said the entire event took about 20 minutes. He made sure she was safely out of the road and took care of her blown tire while assuring her that everything would be okay.

“It’s just kindness, it’s just my nature,” Thomas said. “I try to be a gentleman — I’m a truck driver and that’s what we do.””

Since the TCA Highway Angel program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,400 professional truck drivers have been recognized as TCA Highway Angels for exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage displayed while on the job. Thanks to the program’s presenting sponsor, EpicVue, and supporting sponsors, DriverFacts and Northland Insurance, TCA is able to showcase outstanding drivers like Thomas.