The third annual "World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics" gets under way Saturday, Sept. 13, once again raising money for the children athletes.

What started two years ago with 97 rigs, will draw a 400-500 truck convoy this year, expected to be about 16 miles long, stretching along Highway 408 in Orlando, Fla.
Norm Schneiderhan, the event’s organizer, has teamed up with the Special Olympics International Committee to expand the event to other states on the same day. The Florida convoy’s growth, as well as strong interest by trucking companies and drivers around the country, led to Schneiderhan’s partnership with the committee.
"This will be the first year that trucks in other states will be participating at the same time," Schneiderhan said. "Special Olympics never before had a single event in several locations on the same day."
Schneiderhan, now a corporal in law enforcement, drove a truck for about three years in his father’s trucking company. He launched the "Convoy for Special Olympics" as a way to call attention to the organizations and the truckers. "When the drivers get involved, there’s a real emotional link to these kids," Schneiderhan said. "The convoy is also a way to achieve better bonding between law enforcement and truckers. In the first year, we raised $17,000 in trucker donations. Last year we raised $51,500, and this year we expect to hit a new record high."
Country music star Kenny Robbins will join the convoy this year, according to organizers. Over the years, Kenny Robbins has accumulated more than 2 million accident-free miles, mostly as a cross-country driver. During the final year of his driving career, he composed several gospel truck songs and, in 1995, recorded them on his first contract with Clear Creek Records entitled "Dreamer." Within two weeks of release to all-night truck radio, his song "No Scales in Heaven" became the most requested song on truck radio and remained so for more than a year. A second song from the "Dreamer" album entitled "What If Jesus Came to LA in a Big White Peterbilt" also became a hit.
With the success of Robbins’ music and his love of trucking and truck drivers, a full time ministry was formed to reach truckers with the gospel through music. It was named "The Dreamer Tour" and met instant success.
Among the other stars featured will be national singing star Jack Kapanka, who wrote the theme song for this event, "America Moves By Truck." Kapanka performed "A Champion," a song he wrote also at the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The Guardians, Glorianne Hefner, Jessica Minhas (Ms. Florida 2003), Kris Pierce and Gold and Platinum singer Steph Carse will also be among the celebrities appearing at the event. Kris Pierce has been writing new trucking songs and playing truck shows across the country. His latest concert at the Waupun Truckers Jamboree was a huge success. Steph Carse donated the song "Reach Out For Freedom" for the Special Olympics on a "gold" album entitled "Holiday Heroes" which also featured singing stars Donna Summer, Alan Jackson, Kevin Bacon and Brooks & Dunn.
For more information, visit www.worldslargesttruckconvoy.com or call Schneiderhan at (407) 719-3147.