From 0 to 240…in five years!
By the TMAF Executive Committee
TMAF leaders and our industry mascot, Safety Sammy, traveled to Louisville, Kentucky on March 28th for a very special reason: to celebrate five years of TMAF at the 2019 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS). What exactly does five years look like? Have a look…
Our signature trailer wrap program started from 0 and went to 240 moving billboards on the interstate. The wraps, which feature real photographs and TMAF’s message, reach an estimated 38.4 billion Americans each year.
Another way we’ve spread our message across the country is through print, online, radio and broadcast outlets. In total, we’ve placed more than 200 earned media stories, in local and national publications, totaling 162 million impressions.
Thousands of people have joined our growing social media community each year. Our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages have a combined total of nearly 22,000 followers. 3,400 people have signed up to receive regular email updates from TMAF.
We also introduced a new, friendly face for the industry for the industry to rally behind. As our mascot Safety Sammy travels to all the major trade shows, meetings, and events, Safety Sammy has reached hundreds of thousands of industry and families alike and has become a positive and well-recognized face for our industry.
Since TMAF’s founding, the movement has grown and evolved, but our goal has always remained the same: promote a positive image of trucking and strengthen the industry by showing the safe and human side of trucking. We’re proud of the results so far.
New research commissioned by TMAF in February 2019 confirms that the industry perception is shifting toward a more positive image. 67% of Americans have a favorable view of the trucking industry and 74% of drivers believe the trucking industry plays a very important role in our nation’s economy. More Americans recognize that truck drivers are hardworking professionals who work diligently to safely deliver our goods on time. Motorists describe truck drivers as the ‘backbone of our country.’ Americans also understand the industry plays a very important role in the country’s economy.
Though a small percentage of motorists have seen, heard or read information about TMAF, of those who have, 83% have a more favorable view of the industry. This confirms we’re on the right track. As we continue to grow and expand our reach, the greater our impact will be in advancing the image of the industry.
We’re proud of the milestones we’ve accomplished in five years and grateful for the support of the industry, including our 200 donors. As we enter our fifth year of operation, we’ll continue to spread our industry’s message to reach more of the motoring public and aim to shift public perception even further.
