Over the decades, companies in the road transport sector have taken part in activities designed to benefit local or national charities for causes important to employees and their families.
With the availability of advertising space on the side of tractor units and trailers, coupled with the ability to carry essential goods and reach large numbers of people, operators and manufacturers can play an important role in helping such good causes.
For example, Goole-based Gordons Transport named Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) as its charity of the year for 2025, pledging to raise vital funds and awareness to help keep the organisation’s lifesaving helicopters flying.
Throughout 2025, Gordons Transport has been raising vital funds and promoting the charity’s lifesaving work and earlier this year unveiled a specially wrapped truck featuring YAA branding.
The vehicle has been seen across the UK on the company’s daily operations, travelling an estimated 120,000km, and has spread the charity’s message at a series of events, including the Lincoln and Wolsingham Truck Fest shows.
Gordons Transport has also organised a series of internal fundraising activities, including bake sales, a charity football match, a cycling event, a textiles drive, a golf day, and an office sweet sale.
The partnership marks the company’s first formal charitable commitment in its 40-year history, and it is also producing a limited-edition die-cast model of the YAA-wrapped vehicle, with proceeds supporting the charity.
Noel Harrison, operations manager at Gordons Transport, said: “We are extremely proud to be supporting such a vital local service.
“The response from our staff, customers, suppliers, and friends has been amazing, and many have volunteered their time to support our fundraising events.
“We are excited to see how much we can raise to help keep the helicopters flying and saving lives across Yorkshire.”
Meanwhile, pallet network Pall-Ex has incorporated the livery of Veterans into Logistics on its newest Volvo tractor unit that will travel up and down the UK.
Veterans into Logistics is a Greater Manchester-based charity, founded to provide training and support to ex-forces personnel with the aim of creating routes into the logistics sector.
Pall-Ex has been a long-standing supporter of the armed forces community, receiving the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) gold award from the Ministry of Defence in recognition of its ongoing work to support veterans, reservists and their families.
As a Gold patron, Pall-Ex has committed to funding a minimum of three veterans to get their HGV licenses, in a bid to provide them with new opportunities in employment.
Kevin Buchanan, Group Chief Executive Officer at Pall-Ex Group, said the company’s ultimate ambition is to be the employer of choice for those leaving the military.
“The work that Veterans into Logistics is doing to encourage ex-military personnel into the industry is commendable, and Pall-Ex Group are proud to support the charity as a Gold Patron and with the addition of the new livery”, he added.
“The partnership is another step in the right direction to becoming the employer of choice for those leaving the military, and we are looking forward to welcoming more veterans to the business as a result of our work with Veterans into Logistics.”
Also, Bradford-based Expect Distribution has adopted One In A Million as its new corporate charity partner.
Co-founded by former professional footballer Wayne Jacobs, the charity works to break cycles of deprivation by boosting confidence, skills and opportunities for children and young people in the city’s most challenged communities.
Expect Distribution’s 330-strong workforce in Bradford, along with its customers and partners, are taking part in fundraising activities, including a One Million Steps Challenge, five-a-side football events, volunteering days and awareness campaigns.
The charity said the support of Expect Distribution helps it reach more children and young people living in disadvantaged communities of Bradford, providing safe spaces, opportunities and pathways for them.
Expect Distribution operates three Bradford sites and a Colchester-based business, employing more than 450 people and running a fleet of 200 vehicles.
Bob Duffy, Expect Distribution’s Commercial Director, said: “Working with One In A Million means more than a logo on our website – it’s about actively engaging our team, customers and community to make a real difference in young people’s lives.
“When we met the One In A Million team, we felt their passion and saw first-hand the incredible impact they have.”
Swindon-based MAN Truck & Bus UK chose national mental health charity Mind as its fundraising partner for 2025 and 2026.
The manufacturer is supporting Mind through fundraising events, to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health problems can access the support they need.
Money raised will allow Mind staff tobe there for those who need the charity most through vital services such as its Infoline, legal line, support line and online peer support community Side by Side.
According to Mind, this is particularly important as more than 2 million people – including 1.5 million adults and over half a million children and young people – are currently on the waiting list for mental health care in England.
MAN already has an employee assistance programme that offers a range of employee support and counselling services, as well as a network of mental health first aiders.
The manufacturer believes that through its partnership with Mind it will be able to further enhance the support for its employees and assist the charity in its work with the public.
Catherine Brown, People and Culture Director, MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, said: “The decision to support Mind was personal for many employees and we were thoroughly impressed by the heart-warming passion and admiration surrounding this life-supporting charity.
“We’re proud to support Mind in ensuring those with mental health problems get the support they need and we’re confident that together we can make a difference.”
The power of the road transport industry to be a force for good in the community and improve the lives of people should never be underestimated.
With the sheer visibility of trucks and trailers on the roads giving operators the chance to promote their chosen charities, it is encouraging to see so many providing support to those who most need it.
