Free pizza: Truckers getting a hot meal on the go

When a simple thank you won’t do, there’s always a free box of pizza to show your appreciation.

While it may not be commonplace, it was the thinking behind Family Pizza and Bell International Trucks coming together to set up free pizza pickup locations for truckers in select cities in Western Canada on Wednesday.

Corey Bell was happy to offer a hot meal to truckers keeping goods and services running smoothly across the continent.

“We’re just trying to thank them for all the tireless work they’ve been doing,” the general manager of Bell International Trucks said. “They’ve been stocking the shelves and bringing medical supplies for people that need it. We just want to give them a free pizza and hopefully they have a free meal on us.”

Part of International’s desire to get some hot meals in the hands of truckers is the lack of hospitality available on North America’s highways.

With many businesses shuttering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, truckers are left with fewer and fewer places to stop for a meal, a shower, or even a bathroom break.

Matt Burks recently returned from trucking on ice roads near Yellowknife, N.W.T. As he picked up his free pie, he pondered about what he might see along the highway.

“The drive-thrus aren’t allowing us to walk up,” he said, pointing to one example of how life on the road has changed.

“That to me is a big hindrance for us as drivers. We can’t take our truck through the drive-thru, but how are we supposed to eat and maintain ourselves on the road? I’m going to be definitely watching for sure.”

As far as the free pizza is concerned, Burks joked that most of the pizza days or acts of appreciation happen at the shop when most truckers are hundreds of miles away, so it was good to be in town for one finally.

“It’s kind of nice that I just happened to stop by for parts today,” he said with a smile.

Those smiles and small chats with truckers to simply say ‘thank you’ is what kept Bell out in the cold to wave trucks into the parking lot.

“They’ve been working really hard trying to get all the product to those that need it when we’re in this time of COVID-19,” he said.

In Saskatoon, Edmonton and Chilliwack, free pizza will be offered until Sunday. Saskatoon’s pizza pickup is at the FFUN Motor Group located next door to Bell International Trucks to better accommodate the larger trucks.

Workers will be there starting at 11:30 a.m. until the last pizza is served.