For Immediate Release

Exceptional Trucker Buddy named January Driver of the Month

John Rose takes part in the children’s education and serves as a positive role model.

Teacher Cindy Slovacek has participated in the Trucker Buddy program for 13 years, and she says while all of her Trucker Buddies have been beneficial to her students, John Rose stands out because of his extraordinary endeavors.

“My classes have corresponded with many drivers over the years, but John Rose is an exceptional member of your program,” Slovacek said in her nomination. “John deserves to be recognized as Trucker Buddy of the Month because of his caring nature, dedication to the students and support of education. In the years I have known John, he has always been a positive influence on the children.”

The students agree. “My class has had Trucker Buddies before, but none of them have been as much fun as LJ,” wrote Callie. LJ is Rose’s nickname.

“John Rose has been a positive influence on our class,” wrote fellow seventh grader Zach. “He has gone above and beyond to challenge us. He definitely deserves the honor of Trucker Buddy of the Month.”

Student Catrina said, “He never forgets us! LJ always makes the effort and takes the time to make us feel important.”

Rose writes to each student individually, Slovacek said. “This is special and makes each person feel important and worthwhile.”

Rose believes in developing the students’ minds and research skills. He sends trivia questions and challenges the students to discover answers.

“The class has a great time finding the answers, and ALL students are motivated to work on their research skills,” Slovacek said. “What a great idea this is!”

Rose is able to visit the class, and turns this time into lessons as well.

“These personal visits are filled with fun and life lessons – lessons about the importance of education and responsible behavior, the value of family and the rewards of kindness to others,” Slovacek said. “He is a positive influence on the students and truly cares about their well-being and future. The students have benefited from this program and from knowing John. No one deserves to be named Trucker Buddy of the Month more than John Rose.”

An owner operator leased to O&S Trucking in Springfield, Mo., Rose is the first Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month to receive a set of steer tires from Continental Tire. Also from Springfield, Rose has been a contractor for O&S since 1986.

Each Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month receives a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of ACS MultiMedia Advertising (www.tmi-multimedia.com), the advertising agency of choice for the trucking industry. They also receive an IdleAire adaptor (www.IdleAire.com), a Koolatron cooler and a complete set of Airtabs for their tractor or trailer (www.airtab.com). Owner operators receive a set of steer tires from Continental Tire. The class will receive a CrossCountry USA game from Ingenuity Works (www.ingenuityworks.com), which will help them learn more about how trucks move freight across the continent.

Rose is among some 3,500 other professional drivers who share their time with elementary classes throughout the world. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a truck driver and willing to send a postcard each week to a class in grades two through eight. Drivers and teachers can find out more about the program by visiting www.truckerbuddy.org or calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.

Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors such as ACS MultiMedia Advertising to fund the program. Major contributors include Diamond Level: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., plus media partners DAT Services/Transcore, Gears, Guts & Glory and Randall-Reilly Publishing Co. Gold Level sponsors are Delphi, Kenworth, Penray and Wal-Mart, along with media partners American Trucking Associations, American Graphics Group’s Driving Force and rpm, America’s Truckin’ Network, CCJ Magazine, IdleAire Technologies, Mike Ryan Motorsports, The Midnight Trucking Radio Network, Ramp Publishing’s Over The Road and Pro Trucker, OTR-Canada Magazine and truckdriver.com. Silver Level sponsors are ArvinMeritor, Bridgestone/Firestone and Freightliner, along with media partners Drivers 4 Hire, Riggs & Recruits and TruckFlix.com.

Trucker Buddy International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades two through eight. Trucker Buddy matches classes of students with professional truck drivers, and every week drivers share news about their travels with their class. Once a month, students write letters to their drivers. Students’ skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies and history are enhanced and learning is fun. Since 1992, Trucker Buddy has helped educate more than a million schoolchildren while introducing them to caring, compassionate men and women who help drive the economy. Trucker Buddy has participants in North America, Australia, Iceland and New Zealand. For more information about Trucker Buddy International, visit www.truckerbuddy.org or call 1-800-MY-BUDDY.