The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge sends riders thousands of miles across America’s backroads using GPS coordinates rather than traditional navigation. Participants travel about 500 miles each day, camp alongside their motorcycles, and must reach every required checkpoint during the 12- to 14-day event.

Darling said his decision to support SCF comes from decades spent in the trucking industry, where he has seen how quickly a medical emergency can take a driver off the road. He said the organization’s mission allows drivers to focus on recovery rather than immediate financial pressures.

A Lifetime on the Road Leads to a New Challenge

Darling’s passion for motorcycling began while serving in the U.S. Navy during the early 1970s, and he and his wife, Doreen, have ridden more than 122,000 miles throughout the United States and Canada. Although he has decades of riding experience, this year’s event marks his first Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.

Diane Hutsell, Interim Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy for the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, said Darling’s participation reflects the commitment shared by many professional drivers and will help raise additional awareness of the organization’s work supporting truck drivers during medical crises.

Supporting Drivers During Medical Hardship

The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated to providing short-term financial assistance to Class A over-the-road drivers who have been unable to work because of an illness or injury within the previous year. The organization also provides free health and wellness programs, including tobacco cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings and vaccine vouchers.

Supporters interested in contributing to Darling’s fundraising campaign can do so here.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 6, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: Truckers News, Allen Darling

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“We are honored to team up with Wreaths Across America,” said Courtney Niemann, executive director of SCF. “This partnership gives our community in the trucking industry a meaningful way to participate in a time-honored tradition of remembrance and gratitude for our veterans.”

Through this partnership, SCF is helping highlight WAA’s mission of Remembering the Fallen, Honoring Those Who Serve, and Teaching the Next Generation the Value of Freedom. Drivers, carriers, trucking industry partners, family, and friends are encouraged to visit the SCF landing page on the WAA site. From there, supporters can select “Sponsor Wreaths,” choose a location, and complete a sponsorship to place a wreath at a veteran’s gravesite.

Shared Values Between Truckers and the Military

The trucking industry has a deep connection with the military. Many professional drivers are veterans themselves, continuing to serve the nation by keeping the economy moving. Both communities embrace values such as commitment, resilience, and sacrifice, making this partnership a natural way to honor these ideals.

“By supporting Wreaths Across America, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and our partners are helping ensure that every veteran’s grave is recognized with a wreath, symbolizing the gratitude of a nation that will never forget their service,” said Norita Taylor, SCF board president and director of public relations at the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).

How Truckers Can Get Involved

“The St. Christopher Fund encourages every individual and organization across the trucking and logistics sector to participate,” SCF said. “Whether sponsoring a wreath, volunteering on-site at the ceremony, or spreading the word among colleagues and loved ones, your involvement helps amplify the message of remembrance.”

Beyond honoring veterans, SCF supports the trucking community through nationwide short-term relief programs for Class A OTR drivers affected by illness or injury in the past year. The nonprofit also provides free preventive health and wellness initiatives, including tobacco cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers, all aimed at keeping drivers on the road safely.

For those interested in donating or sponsoring the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, contact Diane Hutsell, director of philanthropy, via email at diane@truckersfund.org.

Source: The Trucker

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The survey, conducted in partnership with SCF, shows that the public still has little understanding of the challenges professional drivers face, especially when it comes to health, income loss, and time away from home.

What the Survey Found

The results point to some serious concerns that hit close to home for anyone who makes a living on the road, whether that is a long-haul trucker or someone running daily delivery routes.

• Income loss: 37 percent of Americans believe truckers lose between $10,000 and $24,999 in income if illness or injury forces them off the road for just one month.
  • Lack of paid sick time: 43 percent of people surveyed did not realize that most independent drivers do not get paid sick leave.
  • Health risks: Nearly 40 percent of drivers face major metabolic or cardiovascular health concerns, including diabetes and heart disease.
  • Family impact: 39 percent of Americans know a truck driver who spends four or more days away from home at a time, with most only getting one to six days off between trips.

Those numbers show how vulnerable drivers can be when unexpected health issues hit.

The Human Side of the Job

“With 72 percent of the U.S. supply chain dependent on trucks, driver health and financial stability directly impact logistics resilience,” said Courtney Niemann, Executive Director of SCF. “Every mile, every delivery, and every long night on the road, America’s truck drivers go above and beyond to keep our country running. At SCF, we are committed to stepping in when illness or injury forces a driver off the road so families don’t fall through the cracks.”

That mission goes beyond long-haul trucking. For many local and last-mile delivery drivers, the same problems apply: no guaranteed sick pay, tight schedules, and limited access to affordable healthcare.

Support When Drivers Need It Most

The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund helps drivers and their families when unexpected medical or financial emergencies happen. The group offers direct financial aid along with free health and wellness programs to help drivers recover and get back to work safely.

Some of their recent initiatives include preventive health screenings, smoking cessation support, and chronic disease management programs designed for the realities of life on the road, such as long hours, limited healthy food options, and constant pressure to meet delivery deadlines.

Why This Matters to Last Mile Drivers

Even if your routes are local, the story is familiar. A few missed shifts because of illness can mean the difference between catching up and falling behind on bills. And when benefits are limited or nonexistent, drivers often face hard choices between rest and work.

This new survey underscores the importance of taking care of your health and knowing what resources exist to help when things go wrong. For drivers who depend on every stop and every delivery, support programs like SCF can make all the difference.

Source: Truckers News

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Since the NRII system’s rollout on June 23, not all states and medical examiners have fully adjusted, creating confusion. According to FMCSA, “As of the date of this waiver, 38 states and the District of Columbia have implemented NRII. Twelve states have not yet implemented NRII and are continuing to rely on the paper MEC.” Some drivers are dealing with delays in updating their records.

The waiver runs through October 12, 2025, and applies to interstate CDL holders, CLP applicants, and carriers—as long as the driver or carrier keeps a paper MEC issued within the last 15 days. FMCSA stressed, “Drivers with valid medical certification and their employers should not be penalized for delays outside of their control as medical examiners and SDLAs transition to a new system.”

Drivers or carriers who don’t have a valid MEC aren’t covered. The agency urges everyone to stay aware of compliance updates as states continue transitioning to NRII to avoid penalties and ensure timely record updates.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

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The notices of proposed removal were issued to chiropractors Dr. Jenny Le and Dr. Dustin Mai due to a “failure to adequately perform U.S. DOT physical qualification examinations of interstate commercial motor vehicle operators,” according to FMCSA. Specifically, the examinations conducted by these doctors failed to meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

“FMCSA’s primary mission is to enhance safety on our nation’s roadways,” stated Jesse Elison, FMCSA’s Chief Counsel. “Removing non-compliant medical examiners from the National Registry is necessary to maintain the integrity of the medical certification process and ensure that only qualified, properly trained professionals are certifying the physical qualifications of commercial motor vehicle drivers.”

Dr. Le (National Registry No. 4762579227) and Dr. Mai (National Registry No. 7120983977), based in Houston, were scrutinized for an unusually high volume of DOT physicals they issued. This raised concerns that triggered an investigation by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, with support from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. The investigation uncovered that the two examiners failed to properly apply medical standards when determining whether drivers were fit to operate commercial vehicles.

The decision impacts 15,225 commercial drivers who underwent DOT physical exams by either Dr. Le or Dr. Mai between March 2023 and March 2025. Those affected must obtain new medical certificates from one of the more than 38,000 active certified medical examiners listed in the National Registry. FMCSA has assured that letters will be sent to impacted drivers notifying them of the requirement.

Drivers are urged to take immediate action, as failing to secure a new certificate by May 10 will result in state driver’s license agencies beginning to downgrade the affected CDL holders’ licenses.

Source: Land Line

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On Oct. 23, Velaquez shared his story, including his 60-pound weight loss, at an educational session at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition. He said that being patient with the process of shifting your lifestyle is vital.

“Change does come, but it has to be gradually. And you have to have some kind of discipline and realize you need to get that help,” he said.

This is a sentiment supported by Jackie Jones, Mesilla Valley’s chief marketing officer.

“A culture of wellness makes for a more productive, safer workforce,” she said. “We’ve seen it, but we also know it doesn’t happen overnight. Whatever you do, make sure that it is optional, friendly and fun. If you don’t, that’s the quickest way to turn off a driver.”

Velaquez said that once you realize you want to change your lifestyle and establish a productive plan to do so, you then have to evolve your attitude. Positive life changes are necessitated by a positive attitude.

Jones spoke about an app called Rolling Strong that Mesilla Valley has made available to their drivers who want to make lifestyle changes. The app connects its users to trainers and wellness education; it also lets drivers track their fitness goals on the road. Rolling Strong president Steve Kane realizes that changing your lifestyle behind the wheel is difficult.

“Sitting in a truck for that long presents an incredible uphill battle,” he said. “This is a wellness challenge.”

And since truck drivers face such a challenge in making positive lifestyle changes, support from leadership is crucial, Kane said.

“It comes down to leadership,” he said. “[Fleets] may be experts on moving freight, but not health and wellness. This may be a bold statement but doing nothing is not going to fix (this issue).”

Jones, who has seen nearly 13% of Mesilla Valley’s staff participate in a wellness program, said that being involved in the drivers’ path to change is imperative.

“You have to show that you care,” she said. “It starts with the vending machines, providing healthy options. It is a top-down approach. You have to lead (with wellness) and for others to follow.”

Velaquez has felt this support, which allowed him to keep himself accountable through fitness journals. This journal provides him a history of the physical activities he most enjoys and allows him to stay focused.

“I have a trampoline,” he said. “At first I was embarrassed when people saw me then I realized it’s not about them, it’s really about me and wanting to change.”

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