Last year’s event concluded just one day prior to the devastating F5 tornado that hit the town of Joplin on May 22nd. “Joplin 44 Petro employees and customers have worked hard to help rebuild Joplin through generous donations of both their time and money”, says Joel Hamilton, General Manager. “As a long-standing part of this community, we feel like this year’s Jamboree goes beyond celebrating trucking, but will also be celebrating that, one year later, Joplin is going strong. We are all very thankful for that.”

Joplin 44 Petro was able to collect and donate over $15,000 to the Greater Joplin Area Red Cross last year. This year, Joplin 44 Petro has committed to donate 10% of all Jamboree vendor booth fees and outdoor food sales to the Joplin R-VIII School District. “Our school district had seven buildings either damaged or destroyed as a result of last year’s tornado. Budgets are tight and this is one way we can help”, says Hamilton.

Joplin 44 Petro is part of the Iowa 80 Group, based in Walcott, Iowa.

One lucky driver will become the owner of a brand new Ford^® F250 Super Duty Crew Cab 4X4 pickup equipped with:   a 6.2L 2-Valve SOHC EFI NA V8; TorqShift 6-Speed Auto Transmission; 3.73 Non-Limited Slip Axle Ratio; Power Moonroof; Reverse Vehicle Aid Sensor; Rearview Camera; 4×4 Electronic Shift-On-the-Fly; Navigation System with Premium Sound System; SYNC® In-Car Connectivity System; SiriusXM Satellite Radio; Premium Leather Bucket Seats with Console; 10-Way Power Heated & Cooled Front Seats; Driver Memory Seat; Rear Bench Seat; Remote Start System; Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control; Power Sliding Rear Window with Privacy Glass and Defrost; Tailgate Step; Power Scope™ Trailer Tow Mirrors; 6” Angular Chrome Step Bars; 18” Chrome Clad Aluminum Wheels; Upfitter Switches; Universal Garage Door Opener; and Trailer Tow Package.

Drivers will also have a chance to win $100,000 in prizes instantly!  Prizes include CAT Scale jackets and hats, Series Eleven Super Trucks collector card sets, duffel bags, die-cast model trucks, mugs, lunch coolers and more!

Each time a driver weighs they will have a chance to win prizes instantly and sign up to win the Ford F250.  The Grand Prize Winner will be chosen from all entries.  The Grand Prize Winner and their guest will receive a trip for two to the 2012 Walcott Truckers Jamboree to drive home their new Ford F250.

The contest is open to Class 8 drivers and will run from January 1, 2012 – June 1, 2012.  Drivers will be able to find complete details and official rules online at www.weightowin.com in December.

When complete, over 60 trucks will be exhibited at one time, double the current display.  “We will also be adding air conditioning to the entire Exhibit Hall,” says Meier. “Being able to control the building climate will not only make it more comfortable for our visitors, but will also help preserve of trucks on display.”

Iowa 80 Trucking Museum expects the newly expanded Exhibit Hall to open in December 2012.

“We are fortunate to be partnered with generous companies like Iowa 80 Truckstop and BP that support educating our youth about the trucking industry,” says Randy Schwartzenburg, Trucker Buddy Executive Director.

The Iowa 80 TA Truckstop is located in Walcott, Iowa and is part of the Iowa 80 Group that also owns Joplin 44 Petro, Joplin, Missouri; Oak Grove 70 Petro, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly 95 Petro, Kenly, North Carolina; Truckomats in: N. Little Rock, Arkansas; Temple, Georgia; Effingham, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Walcott, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly, North Carolina; Hebron, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Laredo, Texas; CAT Scale Company, the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum and the IOWA80.COM mail-order trucking accessories catalog and e-commerce web site.

Trucker Buddy International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization started in 1992 and dedicated to helping educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades K-8. Every week drivers share news about their travels with their class. Once a month, students write letters to their drivers. Students’ skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies, and history are enhanced and learning is fun. To learn more about Trucker Buddy, call 1-800-MYBUDDY or go to www.truckerbuddy.org.

With some time to kill on Friday morning, driver Mike Wallace and veteran crew chief Paul Andrews stopped in to visit Iowa 80 Truckstop in Walcott. After spending some time walking around the World’s Largest Truck Stop, they got in touch with their people to see if they’d be interested in becoming part of the team for the weekend.

“We were literally walking through there looking at everything they had to offer to people,” said Wallace. “We called while we standing right there and they said they’d like to talk, we met with them and laid out what we could do for them.

“I can’t even begin to thank them enough for coming on board with us this weekend. We’re not only going to represent them, but everyone who works there or who has ever stopped in during their highway travels.”

A few hours later, a deal was struck and the No. 01 Iowa 80 Truck Stop Chevrolet will take to the track located down the highway from their massive complex to compete in the Nationwide Series race.

“When they called, we started to talk everything through and it just seemed like a great fit for both of us,” said Heather DeBallie, Marketing Manager for Iowa 80 Truckstop. “They were in the 11^th hour needing sponsorship, we’re part of the Iowa landscape and this race at Iowa Speedway is really a big deal.

“Since we’re the World’s Largest Truckstop, we felt we needed to be part of the biggest race going on in Iowa this weekend. In talking with Mike, we feel he’s going to do a great job to represent Iowa 80 Truck Stop and our 500 employees.”

Opened in 1964, the massive complex is still operated by the same family who opened it 46 years ago. Today, the children and grandchildren running the facility make sure that Iowa 80 Truck Stop is not just a place to stop, but a destination of people’s travels.

The truck stop now boasts the Iowa 80 Kitchen, it’s new 300-seat restaurant with a 50-ft. salad bar, one-of-a-kind Truckers Warehouse Store, 24 private showers, 60-seat Dolby Surround Sound® movie theater, Driver’s Den, two Game Rooms, Embroidery Center, Vinyl Graphics Shop, Barber, Dentist, TA Service Center, Truckomat truck wash, CAT Scale, state-of-the-art Fuel Center, Wendy’s and Dairy Queen in the Food Court and a Blimpie located in the Fuel Center and parking for 800 tractor-trailers, 250 cars and 20 buses.

The Walcott School and Walcott PTA have a goal of installing SMART Boards in all classrooms by 2014 and is currently working to raise the funds needed. “It is important that we utilize technology to enhance the learning experience for our students. We are very grateful that Iowa 80 Truckstop was able to secure this funding for us,” says Dr. Erica Goldstone, Walcott School Principal.  “It is the perfect way to kick off our SMART Board fund drive.”

The Iowa 80 TA Truckstop is located in Walcott, Iowa and is part of the Iowa 80 Group that also owns Joplin 44 Petro, Joplin, Missouri; Oak Grove 70 Petro, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly 95 Petro, Kenly, North Carolina; Truckomats in: N. Little Rock, Arkansas; Temple, Georgia; Effingham, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Walcott, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri, Oak Grove, Missouri; Kenly, North Carolina; Hebron, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Laredo, Texas; CAT Scale Company, the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum and the IOWA80.COM mail-order trucking accessories catalog and e-commerce web site.

WALCOTT, IOWA –   The World’s Largest Truckstop celebrated America’s truckers last week in a big way with The 32nd Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree.  Held July 14-15, the event hosted nearly 30,000 drivers and their families as well as local residents.  Visitors came from 23 different states and Canada.

During the two days, guests enjoyed over 175 exhibits; a Super Truck Beauty Contest with 59 contestants; a fantastic antique truck display with over 200 vehicles; delicious Iowa pork chop cookout; Trucker Olympics; Carnival Games; an energetic concert by country legend Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, sponsored part by Mobil Delvac; a fireworks display and loads of fun!

“The Walcott Truckers Jamboree is truly a celebration of trucking,” said Heather DeBaillie, Iowa 80 Truckstop’s marketing director. “It is an opportunity for us to say thank you to drivers who work hard to deliver the goods we need; as well as showcase the trucking industry to the general public.”

The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum hosted a party of its own on July 15th to celebrate the 100th birthday of  a 1911 Walker Electric Truck in the museum’s collection.  “Many people think that electric vehicles are a new phenomenon,” said Dave Meier, museum curator.  “This truck shows people that the technology has been around for over 100 years.” Hundreds joined in the celebration that included “Happy Birthday” being sung by trucking’s favorite singer/songwriter Leland Martin; as well as cake and balloons.

The Walcott Truckers Jamboree has been celebrating truckers, rain or shine, since 1979.   “We hope the Walcott Truckers Jamboree is an event that encourages drivers to celebrate the important job they do.  We certainly appreciate the professional driver and this is the perfect chance for us to say thank you,” says Delia Moon Meier, Iowa 80 Truckstop Senior Vice President.

Next year’s Walcott Truckers Jamboree will be held Thursday and Friday, July 12 & 13, 2012.

Marty Stuart will perform live on tomorrow night at 7pm, followed by a fireworks display and Super Truck light show.  The concert is being presented by Mobil Delvac.  Friday’s events include a 100th Birthday Party for the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum’s 1911 Walker Electric Truck to be held at 2:30 pm.

The Walcott Truckers Jamboree began in 1979 featuring a few exhibits, live music, food and a small display of antique trucks.  That first Jamboree only attracted a few hundred drivers, a far cry from the 30,000 it attracts today.  Even though the size of the Jamboree has changed over the years, its focus has not.  Celebrating America’s Truckers is definitely what the Jamboree is all about.  “Everything we have has been hauled on a truck.  Professional drivers work hard to deliver goods to our businesses, schools and communities.”, says Delia Moon Meier.  “We appreciate the work professional drivers do.  The Walcott Truckers Jamboree is a celebration of trucking and our way of saying ‘THANK YOU’ .

WALCOTT, IOWA –  Iowa 80 Trucking Museum has just launched an app that will give virtual visitors the opportunity to explore the museums vintage truck exhibits.  The app also provides those who are visiting the museum the opportunity to listen to audio about the various trucks on display as they browse.  The audio is narrated by Iowa 80 Trucking Museum curator, Dave Meier and provides additional details about each truck that is not necessarily found on exhibit signs.

“The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum’s mission is to celebrate trucking and to preserve and share its history,” says Heather DeBaillie, marketing director.  “This app will give visitors even more information about the exhibits they are viewing and also give those who are unable to visit the museum the opportunity to learn more about trucking history.”

The app is available in iPhone and Andriod formats and is free of charge.  Visitors at the museum can simply scan the QR code at the Welcome Desk to download the app.  Others can download from the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum web site home page at iowa80truckingmuseum.com.

A link to the application can be found on the home page at catscale.com. “Many drivers have been asking for an Android version of our app.  It is very easy to use and is updated with any CAT Scale location changes on a daily basis, including new locations, truckstop name changes, etc. We anticipate that drivers will find this to be a very useful tool,” says Heather DeBaillie, marketing manager.

CAT Scale released an app for iPhone users last December.