Take a moment right now to text the number 104025 to Pepsi (73774). Remind yourself to do this once a day through the end of November and your efforts could help fund a crisis line for professional truck drivers. It's called the Pepsi Refresh Project and Pepsi is giving away one million dollars each month to fund refreshing ideas that have the potential to change the world. The ideas with the most votes receive grants.

Women In Trucking submitted a $250,000 grant proposal to create a toll free crisis line. The project was approved on November 1st and is now open for individual votes, which will ultimately determine which projects are funded.

Ask all of your friends, coworkers and employees to send a text each day to support this initiative. The Women In Trucking Association's mission includes addressing obstacles that might keep both women and men from succeeding at a career in the trucking industry. One of these obstacles has been identified as driver harassment. This includes negative comments on the CB, in a truck stop or terminal, at loading docks or even in the cab of their own truck.

Each month, one thousand projects are approved for voting and Pepsi has limited the top $250,000 grants to only two “ideas”, so every vote counts. We're counting on you to help us become one of the recipients so we can launch a crisis line that drivers and their families can call when they need help.

The grant will allow us to provide the following:

• Research the scope of the need for a national driver crisis line.
• Create a toll free crisis line for drivers and their families.
• Offer educational materials to address health and wellness issue.
• Provide a "Best Practices" guide for carriers to address their drivers' needs.
• Develop policies for driver trainer-trainee relationship during over the road training.

These resources would extend to all professional drivers and their families. Small carriers (fewer than 20 trucks) comprise 96 percent of interstate trucking companies and most do not have the resources to offer this type of service to their drivers. With the help of FEI Behavioral Health, a leading provider of workforce solutions and crisis management programs, this project could be implemented in less than six months.

We are excited at the prospect of being a potential recipient of these funds through the Pepsi refresh project, as well as the potential impact this project could have on the industry we love. Remember, the grant is limited to the top two vote getters in the $250,000 category - so vote early and vote often. Voters are limited to one ballot per day between now and November 30, when voting ends. If you prefer, vote online at: www.refresheverything.com/womenintrucking. Alternately, send a text (104025) to Pepsi (73774) to have your vote counted.

Do it now while, you're still thinking about it. Your vote can make a difference.