TMC Takes Part in Convoy for Special Olympics South Carolina
on Tuesday, August 27, 2024
in
Company News
TMC was proud to be part of the Special Olympics Convoy in Columbia, SC, on Saturday, August 24. Sixteen of our drivers chose to give up their weekend to represent TMC in this annual event that raises money to support the Special Olympics and people with intellectual disabilities.
This was TMC’s first year taking part in the South Carolina convoy as a guardian sponsor, though we have been part of the yearly convoy for Special Olympics Iowa for more than 15 years.
The convoy itself, made up of more than 200 trucks, was impressive enough, but also impressive is the months of preparation and hard work that go into making the event a success. Jannelle Kennedy, TMC’s risk management project manager, has been working since May to organize TMC’s participation in the convoy, with help from many other departments.
“It truly is a team effort,” Jannelle notes. “There is absolutely no way I would be able to adequately convey the pride and dedication of our drivers. They are giving up their weekend at home to come participate. They will spend countless hours cleaning and polishing their trucks. And there is a lot behind the scenes—maintenance helps us make certain the trucks are 100%, safety verifies load securement, the wash bay spends hours helping clean. Then we coordinate with the shop for time and space to clean, operations to determine if freight will get the drivers here, logs to ensure drivers’ hours of service are correct. Others from the office come out to help feed the drivers, drive golf carts at the event, and help with registration and recruiting.”
Jannelle says that many of the people involved in the event have a personal connection to Special Olympics. “Almost everyone who is involved has someone in their lives who has been touched by Special Olympics,” she says. “My niece is an athlete. We have coworkers with children or siblings who are athletes. This is a passion project for me, where two of my favorite things in the world collide—our TMC culture and giving back to the community.”
Thank you to the TMC drivers who participated in the convoy, as well as the office and shop employees who helped to make it a success! We’re proud to support the Special Olympics and make a difference in our communities, and we’re looking forward to the Special Olympics Iowa Convoy next month in Des Moines.