Pink Sleeper Drives Breast Cancer Awareness

Commercial vehicles cast a singular silhouette as they travel on roadways large and small, but none more so than a pink Freightliner sleeper draped in the signature color of breast cancer awareness.

Tim Amalfa, vice president of Massachusetts-based Lancer Transportation & Logistics, approached Penske with the idea for leasing a pink unit to honor breast cancer survivors and others battling the disease.

“You can see it far and above any vehicle on the road,” Amalfa said.

In May, the sleeper will be on display at the 2019 Connecticut Race in the Park, a breast cancer fundraiser in New Britain, Connecticut, sponsored by the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative.

“This tractor is a symbol of the fight for a cure and a daily reminder of the importance of regular screening,” said Joe Lawless, Penske’s district manager in Hartford, Connecticut.

Amalfa knows all too well the toll that fighting breast cancer can take.

His wife Jennifer successfully battled the disease more than six years ago. Amalfa wanted to find a way to honor her while also showing support for those fighting the disease.

He approached Todd Goodrich, Lancer’s president, with the idea of leasing a pink unit the next time the company expanded its Penske fleet. The opportunity came a few months ago.

The request soon reached Matt Quintana, a Penske executive account manager, who approached Freightliner and learned they had a Susan G. Komen pink color.

Still, the request took Lawless by surprise. “In my 18 years with the company, we’ve had customers dedicate trucks to company founders, but nothing like this,” Lawless said.

Soon after making the request, Lancer had a new pink unit. Later, the unit was outfitted with pink ribbons showing Lancer’s support for breast cancer awareness.

“We have had several customers and employees say when that truck is coming down the highway, you can see it far and above any other vehicle on the road,” Amalfa said.

Lancer did not stop with just one pink unit. The company has placed an order for a second pink sleeper to add to its fleet.

The company’s cancer awareness may not stop there. The company is considering adding a teal unit – the color of ovarian cancer awareness – in support of an employee who battled the disease, Amalfa said.

In the meantime, Amalfa said the company’s first pink sleeper will appear on Mother’s Day weekend at the Connecticut Breast Health 5K and touch-a-truck event in New Britain, Connecticut.

“Other companies will bring their pink vehicles there, whether it be police, fire or cement mixers,” Amalfa said. “We plan to have our tractor there.”

Lawless said he was happy that Penske could fulfill Lancer’s request.

“Whether a customer is moving across the country, delivering goods to their customer or dedicating a truck to a great cause, we put our customer’s needs first,” Lawless said. “We have a passion for delivering superior customer service. When our customers win, we win. That’s our culture.”

By Bernie Mixon