Louisiana Truck Shows (LTS) has announced a partnership with ReadingWithKids.org to promote reading, children, & families. The goal of the joint project is to place signage on tractor-trailer rigs (‘18 wheelers’) to encourage family reading.
Barry Trahan, President of LTS, explains the organization’s support for this project, “Parents reading with their children builds better and stronger families, and that makes a difference throughout our community.”
He also points out that truck drivers are natural partners for this project. “Truck drivers all have families, and they’re all good families. And truck drivers whole-heartedly support their local communities.”
LTS has generously purchased the first 12 signs for the project (seen here), and is reaching out to its members to begin mounting the signs on the back of trucks. In addition, LTS is donating a display booth to RwK at their October show to distribute similar signage for the backs of tractor trailer rigs. Anyone with a CDL license will receive a free sign, and donations will also be accepted.
AEE President Dr. Joseph Abraham commented, “This is probably the most important donation our project has received to date, and may be the most important we ever receive. The average tractor-trailer crisscrosses the country repeatedly, and is seen by over 1½ million automobile drivers and passengers every year. If even a small percent of the people who see the signs take the message to heart and begin reading with their kids, we can improve the lives of a lot of children, and make our world a bit better. The LTS donation of the first 12 signs multiplies that. And the donation of a booth at their annual show further increases the impact, because as more truck drivers and trucking companies adopt this practice, the message will reach the whole country, and even spread beyond our borders.
“The many impacts on our kids from reading are all positive: the children do better in school, and in life; reading strengthens the bond between parent and child; and the children grow up to be smarter, more successful, and healthier.”
Louisiana Truck Shows was founded in 2023. In the 3 years since then, LTS has hosted about 400 trucking companies and drivers displaying almost 550 tractor-trailer rigs. The annual event has welcomed over 25,000 attendees and has generated revenues of over $200,000, most of which goes to the various charities that LTS supports.
This year the Louisiana Truck Show will be held October 23rd & 24th at the Rayne Civic Center & Pavilion in Rayne, Louisiana. For more information, visit LouisianaTruckShows.com, or visit the LTS accounts on Facebook or TikTok.