Just over a week after a local business lost much of what they have worked for over three generations, John Booth, Travis Telford and Dinosaur Oilfield of Munson received a Christmas gift from the trucking community.
On Monday, December 27, 10 big rigs, and a convoy of more trucks let their horns ring out as they drove through Drumheller as a show of support for John Booth and Travis Telford following a devastating fire last week.
Just a couple days before Christmas, their shop went up in flames. They lost much of their equipment including a front-end loader, a gravel truck, countless vehicles and parts, as well as a 2015 Peterbilt that Travis has owned for only a few months. It was outfitted and ready to take on the road when the shop caught fire. All his equipment was destroyed.
The convoy of support was planned by close friends of Travis, Brett Sinclair, Brady Kristinson Anthony Vogstad, and Chance Bertsch.
“The thought behind it when we started was to do a convoy because that’s something in the trucking industry and we wanted to get truckers out. The thought wasn’t so much towards finances, it was the supplies to get him going again,” said Kristinson. “Now he is going to be driving his old truck and it needed a bunch of work to get roadworthy again. The thought was instead of gathering cash donations, let’s gather the stuff he needs, right down to antifreeze, oil, and grease.”
The convoy concluded at the shop of Joe Sinclair, where the trucks lined up and a reception with many supporters of the family came out. It also came with a trailer load of supplies for Travis to get his old rig (The Mistress) back on the road and back to work.
Travis was in the dark about the convoy until it hit town.
“My aunt held her phone up and I knew something was going on,” he chuckles. “The fire was one thing, but this is so overwhelming. I don’t even know how to express this.”
“I set a goal to be back rolling on January 4, and I can’t sit still. So I got to keep rolling, the bills add up.”
Travis and many of the group that gathered are part of an organization called Alberta Large Cars, a group of professional drivers, who lend their support to people in need. He recently completed an event helping those in need in Lethbridge. It seemed fitting the community came out for him in his time of need
“You can’t even describe this. Family is one thing but friends are the main thing, it is like another big family. And it’s not just local, it is from all across the province and Saskatchewan.”
John Booth was overwhelmed with the support.
“It is fantastic really. I can’t believe it.”
