MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — Twenty-five years ago, while the country was still in shock from the worst terrorist attack on American soil, two truck drivers from Memphis loaded up double trailers with donations and drove more than 1,100 miles through the night to get help to the people who needed it most.
On September 11, 2001, Consolidated Freightways loaded up the rigs with approximately 80,000 pounds of relief supplies and Bill Pope and David Olivi pulled out of Memphis escorted by local sheriff’s deputies, pointed northeast on Interstate 81 toward New York City. Twenty-two hours and forty minutes later, they arrived.
Pope spoke to reporters following them via CB radio during the journey, capturing the raw emotion of the drive.
“As a lot of people say, get your hands dirty,” Pope said. “I’m getting my hands dirty.”
As they drew closer to New York, the weight of what they were driving toward began to settle in.
“A little anxious, and wide awake, the closer I get to New York City,” Pope said. “Probably chaos when I get there. When I get there, I’m pretty sure I’m going to break down.”
Twenty-five years later, their run stands as a reminder of what truck drivers do in moments of national crisis — not because anyone asked them to, but because it needed to be done.
Interviews courtesy of Action News 5.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
