Arrow Truck Sales To Help Trucker Get “Back On The Road”

One truck driver will receive a truck and the opportunity of a lifetime Oct 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The trucking industry is full of amazing stories. But now and then, you hear one that speaks to your heart – an owner-operator who is not currently driving due to unfortunate circumstances beyond his or her control. Now, Arrow Truck Sales will help get one truck driver back behind the wheel.
Arrow today announces the kick-off of Back On The Road – an initiative designed to benefit a deserving owner-operator in need of a truck and a job. After a nationwide search, Arrow and its industry associates will present the winner with a 2005 VNL 670, provided by Volvo Trucks North America, a one-year work agreement with Heartland Express and other essentials needed to start a business.

“We are excited for the opportunity to help someone get their life back on track,” said Carl Heikel, president and CEO of Arrow. “Back On The Road is about more than simply giving a truck away, it is about giving someone back their livelihood.”

In addition to providing the winner with a 2005 VNL 670, Volvo will outfit the truck with Volvo Link, its proprietary two-way satellite communications system for reliable communication between terminals and drivers anywhere, any time.

"We want to ensure that whoever is chosen has the best possible chance to succeed, and the Volvo VNL 670 will play a major role in that success," said Tony Picarello, Volvo's executive director - marketing. "Volvo trucks are the first choice of professional drivers, since their performance, fuel efficiency, reliability and driver uptime help put money in the driver's pocket, while the comfort and quality makes life on the road less stressful and more rewarding."

The one-year work agreement is another important part of the campaign. “We are very excited about being the carrier for Back On The Road 2008,” commented Michael Gerdin, President of Heartland Express. “Heartland was founded and is focused on being the best we can be, and is recognized as a premier service carrier in the industry. That doesn’t just happen. Over the years owner-operators have and continue to be a big part of our success. Our people see this as a great opportunity and worthy cause. We are looking forward with anticipation to help make Back On The Road 2008 a special journey.”

The winner also will receive business consulting services and financial tools from ATBS. “We are pleased to be the business services provider for Back On The Road 2008,” said Angela Bruskotter, Director of Marketing for ATBS. “We work every day to educate professional drivers on how to handle their business and finances. To be a part of this initiative makes perfect sense for ATBS, not only to help one deserving owner-operator learn to make smart business decisions, but to help others learn by following the winner’s progress over the year. It is a great opportunity to show that with the right truck, the right carrier and the right business tools and information to manage their business, all owner-operators can be successful.”

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and National Truck Protection, Inc. (NTP) also join Back On The Road providing the winner with insurance and a warranty respectively.

Arrow will accept nominations from November 5, 2007 until January 15, 2008 at www.backontheroad2008.com. A winner will be announced in March 2008 and will receive the truck during the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS).

Arrow invites people from across the country to nominate friends, family members, associates and even themselves for this opportunity. Applications should include a compelling 250-word story explaining why this person deserves to win. Stories about family loss, loss from natural disaster or a recent return from military service could all be considered valid story submissions.

Following MATS, the winner will head out on the road. Along the way, he or she will provide a glimpse into life on the road through updates posted on the Back On The Road Web site. For more information on Arrow’s Back On The Road 2008 Contest ™, visit www.backontheroad2008.com. For more information on Arrow Truck Sales, visit www.arrowtruck.com.

About Arrow Truck Sales
Arrow Truck Sales, Inc. is North America's leading source of pre-owned heavy- and medium duty trucks. Arrow carries all makes and models, maintaining a diverse inventory of nearly 2,000 over-the-road tractors, vocational and specialty vehicles, and trailers. Arrow's commitment to integrity, quality, value, and selection has earned the business of fleets and owner-operators across North America since 1950. Arrow is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., and has 17 retail locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Arrow Truck Sales, Inc. is part of the Volvo Group of companies, a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. With 2006 sales of approximately $34 billion, Volvo's business areas include heavy trucks, buses, construction equipment, marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace, and financial services.

About Heartland Express
Russell Gerdin founded Heartland Express in 1978 with four people and 16 trucks. It became a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ market in 1986, and ended that year posting gross revenues of $21.6 million and has since grown to well over $600 million by providing the best on-time service in the truckload industry. Heartland Express is an irregular route truckload carrier based in North Liberty, Iowa serving customers with primary shipping lanes east of the Rocky Mountains and the southwest United States. They offer long-haul and regional opportunities for solos and teams. For more information, please visit www.heartlandexpress.com.

About ATBS
ATBS is the largest business services provider in the United States providing consulting and financial tools to owner-operators, fleets, finance companies and other partners in the trucking industry. Through education, business consulting, accounting, tax, maintenance management and other business products and services, ATBS provides a comprehensive showcase of offerings designed to make our clients the most successful in the industry. For more information, please visit www.ATBSshow.com.

 Media Contact:
Tricia Jaworski
Morningstar Communications
913-660-9659
 tjaworski@morningstarcomm.com