Buchheit Delivers Wreaths Across America
Buchheit Delivers Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America began in 1992 with a trailer load of wreaths, and the intention of putting a wreath on every headstone at Arlington National Cemetery. Now a national organization with over 900 participating locations across the country, Wreaths Across America focuses on the mission to “Remember, Honor, Teach.” Buchheit’s participation in the Truckload Carrier Association gave us insight of the operation and opportunity of this very honorable program.
On Monday, November 30, Buchheit Logistics driver, Thomas Tinnin, an Army Veteran, left Scott City, Missouri headed to Maine to pick up a load of wreaths to lay on the headstones of the fallen for southeast Missouri. Tinnin is a retired 20+ year Active Duty Army National Guard Veteran who bravely served in Iraq. After retiring from the military, he was hired by Buchheit Logistics and has been a valued team member for over 3 years.
Tinnin’s shared his journey back to Scott City via Buchheit Logistics’ Facebook Page.
Buchheit Logistics donated the trucking services used to deliver the wreaths that were laid on headstones at Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, Missouri as well as five other cemeteries around the Scott City and Benton areas.
On Thursday, December 10, the commemoratively decorated trailer finished the journey to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield to make its first delivery. Tinnin was escorted on this route by police, American Legion Riders, Patriot Guard Riders, and others from from the local area. Tinnin delivered the remaining wreaths to the American Legion in Benton which were later taken to smaller local cemeteries.
All of the wreaths were laid by volunteers on National Wreaths Across America Day – December 12, 2015. Our load was distributed then as well, following a ceremony at Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, MO.
About Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies each December at Arlington, as well as at hundreds of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, to donate or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
Truckload Carriers Association
Our membership with the TCA gave us the insight and contacts to participate in this National program. TCA’s involvement with WAA has grown exponentially over the years, beginning with just a few members hauling wreaths. Today it plays a pivotal role in coordinating logistics for the deliveries of nearly a million wreaths for “National Wreaths Across America Day” and runs a fundraising Gala for the non-profit. “Wreaths Across America Day is an enormous effort that depends heavily on trucks, trailers, professional drivers, a dispatching system, and plenty of wreath sponsorships,” said Karen Worcester, Morrill’s wife and the executive director of WAA. “We know that the cost of operating trucking equipment is expensive—especially fuel. Yet, since TCA and its members got involved, we’ve been able to place wreaths at 900 veterans’ cemeteries across the nation—up nearly 100 locations from last year. That’s more than 500,000 soldiers that will be honored this year with a remembrance wreath. It’s an amazing commitment that truly shows what values the trucking industry stands for.”
We at Buchheit, were extremely honored to play a small role in this great national effort.
Ron Gjerstad
Click this link to see a short video of Buchheit’s Wreaths Across America participation.
Industry Trends;
Full compliance to the Federal Governments ELD Electronic Logging Device mandate is on again with the recent release of the rule in the Federal Register. December 16, 2017 is the date of complete compliance, until it changes again. Of course there are exceptions to every rule; one that I find most interesting is that pre 2000 model trucks are exempt. Well it’s too late for us, we have continually invested in new equipment, our fleet averages about 2 years old. We can’t go backwards on that. At a recent conference that I attended, it was stated that 80% of the trucking companies out there had not yet started considering what they were going to do to comply with this mandate, many will resist to the end. But that’s the rub, we have taken most of this year to study, compare, acquire and install a system that will be compliant with the rules, and we have more work and training yet to do. We will be ready, and our customer service will not miss a beat. As that deadline grows shorter, it will become harder and harder for those that have not made the move to meet the deadline. If you wish to know more about our ELD solution, or our full Logistics offerings, please call our office. We would be happy to share our plans, progress and full array of Logistics capabilities.
This and that;
“Getting in Bed with the Railroad” was the title of an article by Todd Dills in the November edition of Overdrive Magazine. In his article Dills discusses the advantages of trucks taking their 10 hour break while on a train carrying them between Kansas City and St Louis. The Missouri Truck Ferry initiative, being spearheaded by Jeff Schwartz of Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Mo., is suggesting that possibility. Schwartz said his truck-ferry project was submitted as a pilot project to Missouri’s I-70 Road to Tomorrow corridor improvement effort. It does sound like an idea from academia. I wonder if the railroad can make this 250 mile trip within the driver’s 10 hour break. I wonder if the railroad would accept my demurrage bill if they were late? You can read the article at;
http://www.overdriveonline.com/getting-in-bed-with-the-railroad/
Have a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year from all of us at Buchheit Logistics Inc.
