The third one reunites families with truckers, who get seriously ill while out on the road: It isn’t uncommon for drivers to suffer heart attacks, strokes, brain aneurysms, etc.
Their fourth program helps when a tragedy happens in a trucker’s household and the driver needs to get home as quickly as possible. They also assist in bringing needed items to drivers’ homes and also have an on-staff chaplain to help with assigning grief counselors if need be.
The charity operates exclusively from donations and Palm says that now more than ever, the charities need the public’s help.
The need for assistance has struck too close to home for Palm. In 1993, his family had to go to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to recover the body of his brother who was killed in a trucking accident.
Palm, himself was in a serious accident in Columbus, Ohio in 1997. In 2010 he had an appendix rupture in St. Louis, MO. In 2012, a tanker rolled in front of his truck. He pulled over and held the female driver for nearly a half-hour waiting for the first responders to arrive with a medical helicopter evac. He says that all they discussed was about the women’s family and her worries about how their lives would be affected without her.
“You know what it’s like to be in the trauma center far from home,” he said. “You’re in an unknown place with no family around, I can’t begin to describe it right now,” he added. “All of this comes from life experiences.”
“It was then that the Lord called on me to start this organization.”
“When you’re in a hospital 1,000 miles away from [them] and they can’t visit, it is very tough on the individual and the family.”
Once again, we asked the question to Palm, why aren’t the trucking companies, especially for operators under their umbrella, doing more? To that, his reply was that his ultimate mission is to make his charity obsolete. However, he added, “there is no mandate or rule to enforce a company to get a driver home for any reason regardless of accident, illness, etc. There are some phenomenal companies out there that do take care of their drivers and some of them go above and beyond. But it is the nature of the beast… there is no requirement for them to do so.”
Many trucking companies have actually referred truckers and their families to Palm’s charity in helping ease their worry and difficulties in times of disaster.
Truckersfinalmile.org’s reputation has been growing in the industry. It has, thus far, helped around 260 truck drivers and their families during times of need. In 2019, the organization assisted 72 families. Of those 72, a total of 51, unfortunately, needed help with a deceased truck driver — that averages out to nearly one per week. According to Palm, the 2020 numbers are following a similar trend, with another 12 so far families needing help with a deceased trucker.
Although the charity’s work continues unabated the coronavirus has hit his organization right in the pocket. He normally attends about a dozen truck shows each year, which is where he generally raises the majority of the donations for the charity. But because of the coronavirus, sponsor opportunities are lost due to the shows being canceled.
“With the number of truckers and their families needing assistance running the same as years past, we are in serious need of donations,” Palm said.
Despite the coronavirus having shut down much of the country, the trucking industry continues to march on along with the first responders and medical community. Truckers are a key cog in keeping our stores stocked with food and medicine.
If any of our readers would care to donate, you can do so by following this link. All of the donations are tax-deductable and, obviously, go to a worthy cause.
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