Trucking Moves America Forward announced Thursday its most significant donation to-date as truckstop operator Pilot Flying J pledged $1.25 million over the next five years to assist with the trucking industry image campaign.

The partnership kicked off with a press conference at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., and addressed the various initiatives between Pilot Flying J and TMAF, including substantial health-related programming.

"Pilot Flying J anticipates expanding our popular health initiatives and Road Warrior driver engagement campaign throughout the entire industry, utilizing TMAF's wide-ranging network of professional drivers, owner-operators, technicians and more," said James A. Haslam II, founder of Pilot Flying J. "Our travel centers also reach millions of people annually, and we are excited to share in telling the trucking movement's story with such a vibrant, all-encompassing program."

Road Warrior is a Pilot Flying J-driven initiative to celebrate and honor professional drivers throughout North America for their determination and dedication.

TMAF, launched at the Mid-America Trucking Show, is an industry-wide image and internal education initiative informing policy makers, motorists and the public about the benefits of the trucking industry to help build a groundswell of political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry, according to the group. In April, TMAF said it had raised more than a half-million dollars since its launch.

"We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation as Pilot Flying J plays a key role in reaching millions of Americans and this partnership illustrates how committed we are, as an industry, to telling trucking's positive stories," said Mike Card, TMAF fundraising chair and president of Combined Transport. "The trucking industry is essential to the well-being of America's economy, as we exclusively serve more than 82% of all our country's communities and employ more than seven million people."

TMAF said it aims to establish a long-term industry-wide movement to create a positive image for the industry, to ensure that policymakers and the public understand the importance of the trucking industry to the nation's economy, and to build the political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry in the future.