CHRYSTAL PATRICK

My Wife Chrystal and I have been driving Big Trucks for 15 years. Had several Jobs together OTR and Local. Over the last 2 years She has supported me and 5 foster kids. Taken care of sick family members helps out every way possible. Cooks us dinner every night and cleans the our home we she can. I have been out of work for the last four years due to my health. I have been a stay at home Dad for the last 2 years for our foster kids. I was able to lose 100 lbs and improve my health. I just got a job where She works 1st shift and I work 2nd Yay! She is an amazing and safe Driver, Great Wife, Best Mom and pillar of our entire family. She always helps anyone in need. I am so very proud to have had her in my life the last 16 years. Chrystal is a joy to be around and makes everyone life she touches better. I have never met a harder worker and she does it with a smile always. Hats off to you my Love keep hitting those gears and making the world a better place for all of us.

CHRISTOPER MONFORT

My husband, is the most hard-working driver I know. He’s dedicated and goes above and beyond in his job daily. He is always finding opportunities to support the youth and less fortunate in our community. He’s always available to educate on the path to becoming a truck driver to younger men/women looking for an opportunity to grow.

He’s the most self-less person. Always pushing through whatever obstacles he’s facing. Whether it’s a death in the family, a house fire, pandemic, you name it. He always pushes through.

I nominate you because you deserve it Mr. Monfort! And we know you’ll pay it forward!

JAMES GILREATH

I appreciate James (Jim) for many reasons. He’s been a professional truck driver for 30+ years. He began his career when it wasn’t easy being an OTR truck driver. There were no cell phones or GPS. Anytime he called home it was a collect call, they were not cheap. He spent weeks at a time on the road to provide for his family. When his first grandson was born 6 years ago, he decided to become a local driver, so he was able to spend more time at home. He had always made sure we, his family had everything we needed and more.

Jim is also very active with his lodge. They raise money for people in need, kids at Christmas, and even cleaning the highways.

When Covid hit, he stepped up to work extra hours to help in getting much needed products on the shelves at stores. He worked long hours, then would go to store after store to get items we needed at home, because he didn’t want me to go out and possibly get Covid.

I and his family appreciate Jim, this hardworking truck driver, but other truck drivers do as well. He has gotten phone calls from newer drivers needing advice on driving conditions and problems. Jim is just a great husband, dad, grandfather, brother, friend, lodge brother and citizen. He is appreciated by many. His dream is to get a camper or rv before he retires in less than 2 years. I’m going to try to figure out how to do that. I’ve been entering Camping World’s RV giveaways for almost 2 years, but no luck yet.

Thank you,
Rhonda G

AARON PAGE

“Where do I even begin. My husband is one of the most hard working individuals I have ever met. He is always willing to put in the hours, often 7 days a week to help out his boss, and ultimately help provide for his family.

Aaron has been a trucker for over 6 years, and is well known in our parts of Mass as a damn fine driver! He’s a dedicated dad/step-dad, a devote husband and a guy you can rely on for about anything!

While his long days and weeks keep him in the road and not at home, I appreciate all he does both at home and at work!”

KATIE SURMO

I, Katie Marie Surmo, nominate myself. You have to step back sometimes and appreciate yourself. The first time I rode in a semi, I was around 7 or 8. I had to do a report on cows for school, and my Grandma was dating a truck driver for Dean Foods, so I was able to ride along for the day and visit cows on the farm too! The first time I drove a semi, I was in AIT at Fort Leonardwood, MO. My MOS was 88MIC Heavy Wheeled Operator. I picked that MOS so I could drive the HMMWV’s and I’m not going to lie, I was very intimated driving a semi at first. It wasn’t that bad. After becoming medically discharged from the US Army. I turned 21 and went to Rock Valley College in Illinois to get my CDL CLASS A license. What a journey since then! I started driving for Werner Enterprises on October 1st, 2003 and went through their training program. 275 hours of drive time with a trainer, I had 3. They were all great, and I learned a lot, and was lucky to have my last 2 trainers Western Regional. That’s where you should learn, lots of mountains and plenty of space. I was able to get on a dedicated account with Target out of Oconomowoc, WI and was able to get home every night! That was hard to come by in the beginning stages for a trucker and I had it. I appreciated it very much. Then the recession hit, December 2008 I was laid off and couldn’t find a job for 8 months. I found an over the road, Midwest regional kinda, right down the street from me, and I did that for almost a year. I just got home on the weekends, so I kept an eye out for new jobs. One of the guys that worked there, left for Behr Iron & Metals, and recommended me to come not that long after. The big boss, Jim Horning, asked if anyone knew any drivers, and Kevin Appelgren raised his hand and said yes, but she’s a girl, and she can DRIVE! So then I started there! And what a fun job that was … I learned so much. We didn’t get paid that much but that’s okay I was content. We did get time and half after 40 and that made up when you got a lot of overtime. Then they cut it back to only a couple hours of overtime if you were lucky in 2013, and I was struggling with bills. My brother’s friend Rich Janco, works at Dayton Freight and has been trying to get me to go there since I had my CDL, but they were system drivers at night, and gone for the week. So it didn’t spark my interest that much. So I reached out, and was able to get a position as a Line Haul driver in August of 2013. Monday through Friday, you come in at night and become a freight relocation specialist. Basically, driving to terminal to terminal maybe a relay with another driver. I wanted days but there was no position available yet. And you make more at night, and I ended up sticking with line haul for 7 years, and just became a P&D driver for days in November of 2020. I became drained from long nights, long drives, and lack of sleep. I needed to move around more, and boy do I move around a lot now! P&D is a lot more fun, lots of interacting with people, bumping a lot of docks, moving freight back with a pallet jack for the no dock customers. I’m the only female driver out of my terminal, there’s not a lot of us even with the whole company. We need more women in LTL !!! Since I started with Dayton Freight 8 years ago, I’ve been able to pay my parents back for the roof they put on my old house, in 4 months, bought a new car, paid it off in a couple years, did a lot of work on my first house, and then sold it a few years ago. Saved up a lot, and bought a house down the street from my parents so I can be close to them. Updating and decorating my house is my hobby and truck driving has helped with that financially. And now that I’m days, I’m getting my balance back. The key to being a successful truck driver is balance in your life and everyone has different views on what makes them balanced. I appreciate myself so much, and all the people I’ve met and places I’ve been to while being on my journey and all the companies that have showed me the way. They were all different in many ways, and they made me a better driver by working there. Werner Enterprises. Silver Arrow Express. Behr Iron & Metals and currently at Dayton Freight Lines. 18 years under my belt, and hopefully 26 more til I’m 65. Over and out.

HAL HARPER

He started driving at the age of 18. He drove till he was approximately 30 and then went into law enforcement for the next 24 years. And then three nights a week after work he would haul mail from Peoria to Champaign. And then every day after work starting the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas day to deliver Christmas mail. He retired from law enforcement four years ago and went back to full-time trucking and let me, his wife retire. He made employee of the month this year for fort Transfer

MARK GIRARD

He drives to support his family. All he off time is devoted to helping wife, kids, grandchildren, mother and friends with taking care of everything.

JOSHUA JACKSON

Joshua tries and works hard day in and day out to provide for our family, and provides excellence no matter what company he works for. He’s done both local jobs and over the road, and no matter what position he holds he gives his all doing so.

WILLIAM RIVERA

His commitment to the company and his exceptional contribution and services to our family business .

INGRID BROWN

“We all know how hard and rough it gets when things go wrong with your health and you’re fully dependent upon yourself and your family for support.  The bills don’t stop and nobody seems to understand that these days.  With SCF, there’s finally a comfort, a sigh of relief, to know your electric won’t be shut off or your insurance won’t lapse or you won’t lose your home.  There’s a peace you feel knowing you don’t have to worry about anything except recovering and getting back to doing what you love to do.  SCF’s staff and Board of Directors are real people!  People who know the healthcare system and the day to day struggles of living life.  People who understand and have compassion for the trucking industry because they are such a huge part of every area in it.  It’s an honor being appointed as a member of the SCF Driver Councilto work with good, down to earth, caring people and working together to help others.  But most of all, it’s a blessing to be a part of the end result; seeing drivers and families recover and get back into and excel in an industry I love!”

– Ingrid Brown, Rollin’ B LLC

JAMES ROGERS

“St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund has played a major role in the success of Spartan Direct LLC in this monster of an industry.  SCF took a chance on me and has been a blessing to me and my family.  Our company’s mission is to pay it forward and SCF is the one organization in this industry that supports drivers and their families in their time of need, and that’s exactly what Spartan Direct is about!

I agreed to be a member of SCF’s driver council to continue giving back to this industry and to work with an organization whose goal is to help drivers.  It’s about making an impact; no matter the size of the impact but the fact that an impact was made that can change the fortunes of any one individual.  When afforded this opportunity I jumped at it in the hopes of paying it forward and hopefully helping SCF continue to impact this industry where many are forgotten or overlooked.”

– James Rogers, Spartan Direct

BRUCE RICHARDS

“The reason I believe in St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is because I am a truck driver for Heartland Express and I believe in helping other professional drivers like myself. I think of the professional drivers as part of my family. I think that helping someone that needs a hand when he or she is having a hard time due to things that are out of their control. I know first hand that things happen when you don’t expect it and that we all need a little help from time to time. I will always be grateful for the help that my wife and I received from St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund when my wife had gotten hurt and could not walk for about 5 1/2 months and I had to take time off from work to help my wife.  We were very blessed when St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund helped us pay some of our bills. So today when I can I help St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund raise money at different events, I also help promote and spread the word about St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund about all the good things that they do to help the professional drivers of today. Also, St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only organization that I  know of that helps the professional drivers when there is a financial crisis and that driver needs a little help getting back on their feet. I was asked why did I agree to be a council member for St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. It is a way for me to give back to an organization  that was there for me when I down and needed a helping hand to keep my head above water until I could return to work. Also to be part of an organization in helping the industry that I work in and also help making a difference in the drivers of tomorrow.”

– Bruce Richards, Heartland Express

MARTY ELLIS

“SCF is one of the few Truck related Charities that I totally believe in and support on a monthly basis

RICK ASH

“During my 35 years as a professional driver my passion was always (and still is) in the area of driver health. It was that passion that drove me to organize the health pavilion at the Great American Trucking Show that provided free health screenings for attendees. It is also the reason I am so proud to serve on the Board of Directors at the St. Christopher Fund. Though I am now retired, my experience along with the experience of the other drivers on the driver council will strive to search for solutions and provide support to our nations’ drivers with the many health issues they face each day.”