It's obvious that hurricanes have a major impact on the communities they strike. What some people don't consider is the effects hurricanes also have on the trucking industry. While these massive storms can certainly delay trucks and cause others to reroute, this is also when trucking companies step up to deliver necessary goods before the hurricane and relief donations afterwards. Keep reading to discover how hurricanes affect the trucking industry and what various companies do to help out.
Getting Donations to Victims
If there's one upside to hurricanes, it's that forecasters can usually give people plenty of notice before they strike. In the days before a hurricane strikes, FEMA will hire hundreds of trucks to haul medical supplies, bottled water, tarps, and meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) to areas just outside the predicted disaster area. From there, other truck drivers will deliver these goods to smaller staging stations so people can get the supplies they need as soon as possible after the hurricane.
Working With Other Companies
Trucking companies also work with other businesses to help get necessary supplies out as fast as possible. For example, Werner Enterprises partnered with Home Depot to dispatch 44 trucks loaded with relief aid and supplies to Florida after Hurricane Irma. Home Depot says the company has three hurricane distribution centers in the southern United States that stock merchandise just for disaster relief.
As soon as they're able, Home Depot and other businesses such as Lowe's and Kroger work with trucking companies to move supplies like flashlights, batteries, water, gloves, chainsaws, trash bags, and more to affected areas to help with cleanup and restoration. Retailing giant Walmart, which often contracts with Schneider, sent out 1,060 emergency trucks mostly carrying water to victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Shipping Gas to Florida
When Hurricane Irma forced millions of Floridians to evacuate, gas stations suddenly found themselves low on fuel. In response, the governor of Florida asked the EPA to approve an emergency fuel waiver so more fuel could quickly enter the state. Additionally, the governor rescinded the weight and driver restrictions so that trucking companies could bring in more gas and supplies as quickly as possible.
The governor asked the nearby states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to waive the same restrictions so trucks could make it through these states quickly as well. Finally, once fuel trucks did arrive in Florida, they were given a state police escort to gas stations in evacuation zones to help residents who needed to leave.
Companies Donating More Than Just Supplies
When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, trucking company CFI | CDL Truck Driving Jobs was quick to start moving supplies into the area and help people get back on their feet. It sent shipments containing everyday supplies to churches in Houston, which then distributed the supplies to the victims. However, that's not all CFI did to help. It donated nearly $25,000 toward relief funds and said it's ready to offer long-term support if necessary.
Even Small Companies Help Out
It's not just the large trucking companies that feel the impact of hurricanes and want to help. Even small trucking companies do what they can. Sergio Jimenez, owner of NS Trucking in Odessa, Texas, immediately starting collecting donations to help victims of Hurricane Harvey. When an electrical agency called and asked him to transport electrical equipment to communities in Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Houston to help restore power, he decided to "take whatever is needed and take advantage of this trip." He and one of his drivers, Adrian Chavarria, said they would deliver all the donations no matter how many trips it takes.
Although hurricanes can take a major toll on communities, it is often a time in which we see charitable trucking companies step in to help people get the supplies they need, and they do so in force.
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