‘If it wasn’t for their help’

Life on the road can be a lonely one, but that doesn’t mean those on the road are alone.

A professional truck driver’s lifestyle necessitates many hours on the clock and time away from family.

As a result, tragedy can, and does, happen hundreds or even thousands of miles away from home.

Traffic fatalities, heart attacks, strokes, shootings, suicides and now, COVID-19.

For families who get the call, it’s a helpless feeling. Now, what?

Truckers Final Mile is a charity operating with the goal of reuniting truck drivers and their family when a life is lost. It’s a difficult task given the nature of the circumstances, but the task became even more challenging following COVID-19 restrictions.

Robert Palm, an OOIDA life member from New Mexico who founded Truckers Final Mile, discussed how dire the situation can be for families of a deceased driver during the pandemic.

“Mortuaries are so backed up that they’re sitting in refrigerated trailers,” Palm told Land Line in February. “Mom and the kids are at home asking, ‘When’s he coming home? When’s he coming home?’ We (Truckers Final Mile) can pay the cost and help with the process, but until the mortuary has a space on the schedule, they have to wait.”

The cancellation of most in-person truck shows in 2020 has severely limited the organization’s ability to generate funds and gain exposure. Yet the services Truckers Final Mile offer remain in high demand.

“We’re getting more and more calls for help,” Palm said. “We don’t want the family to use their life insurance policies to pay for this. Some of these families suddenly become single-parent homes. Our mission is to eliminate the burden of that cost for the family.”

Donations needed

In February 2021, families were being told it could be up to five weeks with restrictions in place before funeral homes could help – if they could get anyone to return their calls at all.

Transportation, permits, fees and more quickly increase the cost and families are left with bills totaling nearly $3,000 in some cases.

Manny Licon, from El Paso, Texas, began his truck driving career in the mid-2000s for R&R Transportation, Southwest Freight Lines and a number of companies based in El Paso, Texas. Prior to trucking, Manny served in the U.S. Marines as well as the Navy.

He passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 18 at the age of 59, leaving his family devastated.

“It was very tough on the family, we didn’t know what we were going to do and we couldn’t get in touch with anyone at the funeral homes,” said Johnny Licon. Manny’s son. “All we could do was keep calling and hope they would answer.”

Making matters worse, Manny Licon, passed away in Tennessee, about a 1,000 miles or so from El Paso.

“I can’t explain how grateful I am for Truckers Final Mile and Robert,” Johnny Licon said.

“They were the biggest lifeline for me. If it wasn’t for their help, we wouldn’t have been able to get my father back to Texas. We were ready to stand on the corner and ask for money.”

While it has been a trying time for the family; Manny Licon did receive a proper send off, according to his son.

“When they found his body at the truck stop, the detective told me the other truckers lined up as kind of an escort for my father,” Johnny Licon said. “My dad loved trucking, and I know this would have made him very proud.”

Tim Costa, a 62-year-old truck driver from Richmond, Ind., spent more than 40 years as a long-haul truck driver for Irmar, Penske and Palmer Logistics, among other companies.

Costa died on Jan. 19, and his passion for trucking was made clear.

“He worked 40-plus years living his dream as a long-haul truck driver,” his obituary read. “Tim took great pride in his work and would always say, ‘If you’re eating it, wearing it or using it, it was delivered by a trucker.’”

The loss left his family unsure of where to turn.

Thankfully, his wife Rhonda Costa, was informed of Truckers Final Mile through a friend.

“I was totally caught off-guard by the whole situation,” she said. “Not knowing how to handle the situation was the hardest part. I have my days where I break down, but Truckers Final Mile has been a big help.”

Rhonda Costa echoed the need for donations to Truckers Final Mile and intends to use social media as a means of reaching out.

“I feel that everyone who comes across their site should donate,” Rhonda Costa said. “Even $1 per person would really help. For my birthday I’ll be asking others through my Facebook page to donate.”

Other avenues to help

Much like Truckers Final Mile, St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is a charitable organization created to help truck drivers and their families. SCF assists over-the-road drivers when an illness or injury takes them off the road.

However, while SCF’s focus is narrow, they provide access to a variety of additional programs, including Truck Stop Ministries, Buck Black Therapy, and more.

Everywhere Care is a telemedicine platform that features master’s level counselors and is available for drivers and up to seven family members. SCF even offers a discount code for the program.

“Driving is an isolated job, and you don’t always have family to talk to, or maybe it’s a family issue,” Shannon Currier, director of philanthropy and development for SCF, said. “We know there are people in specific situations that need this kind of help. It’s not always easy to park a truck in the parking lot of a doctor’s office. This platform offers great access at their convenience. They can call any time and receive a call back within 30 minutes.”

The motto “respect and dignity for the North American truck driver” is pinned to the top of the Truckers Final Mile website. Whether they are our family or not, everyone behind the wheel deserves at least that.