None of us know the full story yet - only what we've read in the local paper. A Tulsa trucking company, Arrow Trucking, SHUT DOWN yesterday and sent office employees home with a cardboard box holding their belongings.
The real tragedy is that they left approximately 1,500 truck drivers out on the road with no way to return home. They cut off the driver's credit cards which would allow them to re-fuel, so they can not make it to their destination to drop off their load or make it home for the holidays. Few had the $600+ needed to personally fuel their trucks.
I "heard" about this travesty yesterday early morning and read about it in the newspaper today.
When I got home this afternoon, I posted on FB, inquiring what was done to get the drivers home, and someone sent me a link - sure enough, a FaceBook page had been set up to help the stranded drivers. I immediately went to TweetDeck and found messages coming in from across the country. People were offering their homes, meals and cash - posting their travel schedules (for their personal holiday trips) and offered to assist getting drivers closer to their destination.
The response has been overwhelming and it has been heartwarming to read the responses and genuine offers of assistance.
It looks like the majority of truck drivers have received assistance -- and another trucking company, Swift Trucking, has given their drivers permission to assist the distressed drivers home - HUGE blessing.
The power of community is awesome and particularly appreciated in this horrible circumstance - men and women suddenly unemployed and stranded away from home two days before Christmas. And thank God for the power of Facebook and Twitter to organize their safe return.
I am truly speechless over this out-pouring of kindness.
Lori Cain is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen Realtors serving the greater Tulsa Oklahoma area, including midtown Tulsa, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Sand Springs and Jenks. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.
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Lori is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen Realtors serving the greater Tulsa area and specializing in downtown Tulsa and midtown Tulsa real estate.
Lori, I had not heard of this but this is a perfect example of what only Facebook and Twiter could do. Thanks for posting and Merry Christmas!
Hi Lori ~ What a thing to happen - and right at the holidays. Very cool how people used these sites to reach out.
Liz
I heard about this here on the west coast, i would be interested in hearing more about what exactly happened.
Thank you for your responses. I think we will find out much more in the coming weeks about this company's improper management. To close a company two days before Christmas is bad enough - but to LEAVE drivers across the country with no means to return home is inexusable.
I am SO GLAD that we have tools like FaceBook and Twitter at our disposal to COMMUNICATE!
I called my little brother tonight to tell him about what was going on - he was an over-the-road trucker for many years. Those guys (and gals) stick together, for sure. But what surprised me was the number of people who offered their HOMES or offered to take a driver WITH their family to their holiday destination.
That's what Christmas and community is all about.
Will post more as I learn more.
Merry Christmas to all - especially the truck drivers and their families!
Right when you think that all of the humanity in people has disappeared, you read about something like this, and the response to it, and you realize that all is not lost, that there is still love and decency in the world at large. Keep us posted, Lori.
That is horrendous. What was management thinking! Glad that people came together to help those poor people. They should hold onto the trucks and sell them.
First I heard of this. Crazy story. You would think the company would want the trucks back. What would keep the drivers from just leaving the trucks and getting another way home? Sure aren't getting paid to bring it back
Tony
Wow what horrible, horrible timing. Arrow owns the flatbed trucks, wouldn't you think they would need those assets back in Tulsa?
Merry Christmas... Would the majority of them be trying to get back to Oklahoma? I don't really understand that industry.
I hope they all find jobs with other trucklines quickly.
Lori - Really bad news for those poor truckers but it IS heartwarming to see how folks jump in with help!
William - I've been following the Facebook page AND the posts on Twitters - the offers have been very heartwarming.
Jane - I'm sure that thought crossed their minds.
Tony - It IS crazy. I read that some truckers drove until they ran out of fuel, then started walking. So, we have stranded trucks AND stranded drivers?
Maureen - horrible timing, indeed. The corporate office is in (was in) Tulsa. I'm not sure what percentage of drivers are from here. Other trucking companies are already posting job openings.
Irene - love your photo! Yes, it has been a sad, tragic but heartwarming experience.
In LESS than 20 hours, the FaceBook page has over 3,000 fans - all offering housing, rides, cash, food - whatever. There are literally several posts each minute.
The Tulsa World did not give much of an update today other than to say that the company was in dire financial straits and several companies were suing Arrow for unpaid bills. There was a statement from the CEO and the company's attorney.
Lori,
This is a truly great Christmas story, the Internet has many pros and cons but the expansion of a sense of "community" is obviously one of the pros.
Lori,
Thanks for posting this information about Arrow Trucking. I hadn't had a chance to follow up with how the drivers were getting home. Gonna be a tough Christmas for many of them.
Just beginning to read about this situation -- and am amazed at the speed of which the Facebook and Twitter spots have come to the rescue and apparently are doing a good job at helping many. All the best to all of them.
So sad - I can't believe they were left stranded! Awful.
Hello all!
It has been very amazing to watch how FaceBook and Twitter have been used to communicate and connect those in need in such a short amount of time. Several other trucking companies (with Swift Trucking being the first) are now encouraging their drivers to locate Arrow drivers and get them home.
It's really great to see these social networking platforms used this way!!
Lori, I heard this on TV yesterday on the National News. As someone who had to shut down their 16 year retail business in 1989, if you are the owner you know what is coming. I don't want to jump the gun, but something is rotten in the State of Denmark.
Lori - While the event would be disastrous for those affected--the drivers, shippers, those expecting goods--it's nice to hear of the positive results that the story generated.
Joe - your intuition is always on the mark.
John - yes, positive results, indeed!
I smell an attorney or two at the bottom of this barrel of bad management apples.
John - you have a great sense of smell.
But, the POINT of my post is how "social media" was utilized in solving the problem - communities taking it on themselves to do the right thing . . .
Lori,
What an unfortunate situation. Social media is awesome, though! It really is a new tool that can help in so many situations. Thanks for sharing this cool story!
Carra - it's refreshing to see social media used in this manner, isn't it?