Press Release

Trucking Cares Foundation Welcomes Manning Family as Founders Club Members

Apr 26, 2023

Washington – Today, the American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Cares Foundation announced that former American Trucking Associations Chairman Dave Manning, and his wife Betsy, has committed to becoming the Foundations’ 13th members of the TCF Founders Club.

“As a former ATA chairman, seeing the Trucking Cares Foundation grow and develop has been extremely gratifying. Our industry has always responded in times of trouble, and now with the Foundation we have a place to focus all those efforts,” Manning said. “Along with Tommy and Dean Hodges as well as Shorty and Ro Whittington, Betsy and I invite all former Chairs and their significant others to join us as Founders Club members as a means of giving back to an industry that has given us so much.”

The Founders Club is a special class of donors comprised of individuals and corporations that have committed to a $100,000 contribution over a 10-year period. Founders Club members will receive special recognition across Trucking Cares Foundation programs for their early and generous commitments to making our mission a reality.

“Dave and Betsy are stalwarts in the ATA family and our industry – so having them as part of the TCF Founders Club is just another example of their leadership and commitment to others and to this industry,” said TCF Chairman Phil Byrd, president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express. “We are pleased and proud to welcome them to the Founders Club and thank them for their support.”

“By joining the Founders Club, the Mannings are ensuring the Foundation is prepared to address needs as they arise,” said TCF President John Lynch. “By building up the Foundation’s resources, we are equipped to respond quickly to natural disasters, as well as contribute to our other ongoing charitable efforts.”

Membership in the Founders Club will close on May 8 – the two-year anniversary of the launch of the Trucking Cares Foundation.

With the Mannings’ commitment, the 13 members of the TCF Founders Club are:


•    ACT-1, the Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry
•    Covenant Transport
•    Cummins Inc.
•    Tommy and Dean Hodges
•    J&M Tank Lines Inc.
•    LaunchIt Public Relations
•    Greg and Val Owen in memory of Josh Owen
•    UPS Inc.
•    Charles “Shorty” and Ro Whittington
•    Yellow Corporation
•    Scopelitis Law Firm
•    Bridgestone Tires
•    Dave and Betsy Manning

The Trucking Cares Foundation is the trucking industry’s charitable arm, focusing on several core areas, including humanitarian and disaster relief; eradicating human trafficking; leadership development; strengthening the industry’s relationships with law enforcement, the military and veterans’ organizations; safety and research opportunities.

For more information on the Trucking Cares Foundation, visit https://www.truckingcares.org/.