Carl Ziehlke is named Trucker Buddy of the Month for May 2010
Ms. Lora Lutz and her class of fourth grade students from the Monroe Elementary School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin nominated Carl, a Wal-Mart driver, to be the Trucker Buddy of the Month. “Carl and I have been matched for over 10 years. His continuing commitment to my class each
year is very valuable. Although our school is not on his route, he makes
arrangements every year to come and meet the students in October.
This is important to the students so they can put a real person with the
letters they will be sending every month. Carl brings the cab and empty
trailer so the student's see first hand how a truck driver lives on the road.
This gives the students a visual for how much cargo a semi carries, and
the importance of the trucking industry to all of our lives says Ms. Lutz.

Carl brings gift packages for the students such as Halloween candy, logo
rulers and pencils, which mean a lot to the students. He spends his own
money for these items, which shows how much he cares about them.
Every week without fail, he mails the class a postcard from various
places in the United States. He writes about his weekly travels, and
will include questions for them that relate to what we are learning about
in class. Students can request postcards from certain states and Carl
will find a way to obtain them. Last year two students made special
requests. He was unable to meet the requests before the end of the
year, but brought the postcard and a special gift at the beginning of
this year. The two students were so excited to know that Carl worked
through the summer to meet their wishes.

Ms. Lutz said, “Through our contact with Carl, the students are developing
letter writing skills. Having a specific audience for their letters gives the
students a purpose for their writing. By the end of fourth grade the
students need to know where all 50 states are located. We map the
postcards we have received from Carl which strengthens the geography
skills of the students. Sending Mustang Bear on travels with other drivers furthers this knowledge of our country's geography. The journal and photos he returns with teaches students about places many of them will never be able to visit.”

One student said. Every week he writes us a post card from one state in the United States. When he comes to Manitowoc we give him a bear named mustang he takes him to his next stop and gives it to another trucker buddy and then it goes on and on. He has been a trucker buddy for 10 to 11 years that is about as old as I am!"

Carl has had a big impact on many of the students that have been in the program in years past. Even former students stop by to visit with Ms. Lutz and one of the first things they ask is if Carl is still the Trucker Buddy for the class. That proves theimpact Carl has had on the lives of students.