For the 13th straight year, Alcoa Wheel Products is continuing its financial and product support for Ol' Blue USA.
Ol' Blue is a non-profit organization that promotes highway safety among large vehicles. It works to foster relations between law enforcement, commercial drivers and the public.
In addition to funding Ol' Blue's 2005 Safety Tour, which includes appearances at several industry trade shows, truck stops, schools and other community events, Alcoa is the exclusive wheel sponsor of two informative radio programs focused on improving safety on the highways, "Ask the Law" and "A Safety Minute."
"Ask the Law" is a live, national radio broadcast done in studio on the Midnight Trucking Radio Network four times a year with members of law enforcement. Truckers call in to the program to pose questions relating to safety and legal issues involving commercial vehicles.
"A Safety Minute" features one-minute safety tips on the Midnight Trucking Radio Network five nights per week. Safety tips originate from law enforcement officers, truck drivers, owner-operators, mechanics and the Ol' Blue team.
"Alcoa is a values-based company and safety comes first. We're pleased to support an organization that epitomizes our own core values of promoting highway safety and the proper and safe use of our commercial truck wheel products," said Merrick Murphy, Alcoa market manager, commercial vehicle wheels.
Ol' Blue founder RJ Taylor has used Alcoa wheels exclusively on his 1951 Kenworth since he purchased it, and he recently upgraded to Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels with a surface treatment that resists corrosion and enables the wheels to be easily cleaned with soap and water, Alcoa says.
The truck pulls a 53-foot "rolling billboard" trailer -- also on Alcoa wheels -- that showcases sponsor logos and serves as the stage for Ol' Blue team's truck inspections and other safety demonstrations around the country.
For more information on the Ol' Blue organization, see www.olblueusa.org/news.
