With extra space available on the side of trailers and tractor units, and the ability to carry goods and travel extensively, manufacturers and operators can play a key role in helping charities.
For many years, that’s exactly what transport firms have done well – particularly with organisations of importance to their employees and local communities.
For example, dealer group Ciceley Commercials has put into service a demonstrator Mercedes-Benz Actros L 2653 ProCabin with bespoke livery, which includes a QR code linked directly to a dedicated JustGiving page for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
This partnership involving Daimler Truck UK, has initially been agreed for six months, with the potential to extend the initiative to future demonstrator vehicles.
The tag-axle tractor unit is fully equipped with optional extras, including customised side skirts, a catwalk, and both twin- and single-line hydraulics.
In addition, AST Signs & Graphics produced the charity livery free of charge.
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity supports babies, children and young people receiving care at Scotland’s largest children’s hospital – the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
It also helps fund medical equipment, research, play programmes and family support services, ensuring young patients receive the best care throughout their treatment.
For Calum Aitken, Aftersales Manager at Ciceley Commercials, the charity holds a deeply personal significance.
He said: “My family has experienced the incredible work of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity first-hand, so we truly understand the difference it makes to children and their families during some of their most difficult times.
“At just 18 months old, my nephew was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Thanks to the outstanding care provided by the hospital and NHS, alongside the invaluable support from the charity, I’m proud to say we recently celebrated five years clear.
“By putting the vehicle out on the road and into customer operations, we’re able to raise awareness across the industry while making it easy for people to contribute and support a truly worthwhile cause.”
Meanwhile, South Kesteven District Council launched its first branded truck in 2023, with a pink coloured freighter to raise awareness of breast cancer.
The following year another vehicle took to the roads with prostate cancer messaging.
Last year a further five joined the fleet, carrying charity messaging for the Royal British Legion, Samaritans, Bowel Cancer UK, Kidney Research UK, and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
Joining them this month are trucks supporting three more major charities: Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service (LDASS) and Help For Heroes.
They operate out of the council’s newly opened waste and recycling depot on Turnpike Road in Grantham.
Cllr Rhys Baker, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: “The council has worked closely with each organisation to ensure the vehicles carry clear, meaningful messages, with representatives from the charities welcoming the opportunity to raise awareness and signpost support across South Kesteven.
He added: “We set out three years ago on a mission to use our freighter fleet to carry highly visible health and wellbeing messages to residents
“We are delighted to launch these three new lorries to continue that mission – we now have ten freighters with wide-ranging messaging to appeal to different people.
“We get real interest and interaction from the public when they are out and about and that bodes well for our new lorries and how many people they will be helping.”
Elsewhere, Scania UK has been supporting the operations of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), through fundraising activities across its business.
Currently, the manufacturer is helping to share vital water safety information by wrapping one of its trailers in the RNLI’s ‘Float to Live’ campaign advert and taking it to seaside resorts around the country.
It acts as a mobile, high impact billboard to ensure as many people as possible are aware of what to do if they find themselves in difficulty in the water.
RNLI volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service at 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland, and operate seasonal lifeguard services on 240 beaches around the country.
Also, both the RNLI’s Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat and the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) use engines from Scania Power Solutions.
Chris Newitt, Managing Director for Scania UK, said: “We recognise the importance of the RNLI’s work keeping people safe at sea, which is why it’s a privilege to partner with such an organisation.
“Our shared values and ability to bring people together is what makes this such a great partnership.”
DHL Express UK recently announced a partnership with Air Ambulances UK (AAUK), the national charity to support the work of the country’s 21 air ambulance charities.
Through this, the firm is raising funds to support the work of the air ambulance charities, and giving staff the opportunity to volunteer and support their local one.
Donations are distributed evenly across regions, helping ensure crews can continue to deliver advanced pre-hospital care to people experiencing life-threatening injury or illness.
John Cornish, CEO at DHL Express UK, said: “The lifesaving work of Air Ambulances UK is something that genuinely resonates with our colleagues, many of whom spend their working hours driving across the UK.
“Serious accidents on the road demand rapid, specialist care, and air ambulance crews are often the vital link between the scene and hospital treatment.
“We’re proud to support AAUK’s work, helping ensure these teams can continue delivering advanced care when every second matters”.
With the visibility of vehicles giving operators the chance to promote charities, the ability of the transport and logistics sector to be a positive influence in society and improve the lives of communities should not be underestimated.
