Grain Valley, Mo., Dec. 22, 2008 – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) announced the results for the “Truckers for Troops Telethon.” The goal to send more than 2,000 care packages has been met with $54,567.00 raised. The Association conducted the campaign, in its second year, from Dec. 8-12 to raise funds to send care packages to troops in combat areas overseas.

“The results speak volumes about our members and how they feel about supporting the troops,” says Norita Taylor, media spokesperson for OOIDA. “However, we now need to focus on finding more of those in need of care packages.” Last year, the Association relied upon word of mouth to gather names and addresses of units in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

During the week of the telethon, 10 percent of discounted renewal and new membership fees went toward packages and were matched by the Association. Memberships will continue to be discounted from $45 to $25 through the end of January 2009, but the matching of funds for the telethon has been completed.

Additional donations are of course still welcome until the end of December. Shipping will take place in mid-January by OOIDA volunteers who will arrange and coordinate sending the packages.

“Land Line Now,” the Association’s official radio show on XM Satellite Radio 171, promoted the telethon during its regularly scheduled broadcasts. Recipients of last year’s packages were able to talk on the show and share the reactions seen on the other end.  Other radio shows popular with truckers also helped promote the campaign by having OOIDA individuals as guests. The hosts of those shows included Dale Sommers known as “Truckin Bozo,” Rollye James, Dave Nemo, Steve Sommers and Evan Lockridge.

The Association often gets asked what types of things are sent in the care packages. Some of the items sent last year were self-heating coffees, socks and personal care items. However, among the most popular were the hand made greeting cards.

“We know that many eyes were lit up by seeing such an outpouring of support in the form of cards and letters,” comments Taylor. “We’d like for anyone, especially school age children of any grade level, to participate again this year.”

NOTE: Towns or school names should be included, but please do not include last names or other personal information. Send them to OOIDA headquarters, attention Norita Taylor or attention to Truckers for Troops.  P.O. Box 1000, Grain Valley, MO 64029-0712.

For more information, visit www.landlinenow.com or www.ooida.com or www.landlinemag.com.

“Land Line Now” is America’s first daily one-hour news program produced exclusively for the professional truck driver. The show is created every day at OOIDA headquarters. OOIDA is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 160,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo., area.