Mattie Efferson, of Joplin, Missouri, a professional truck driver with CFI of Joplin, Missouri, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). She is being recognized for assisting a fellow truck driver who had suffered a stroke.

On March 12, Mattie and her finisher had stopped at The Derby City South Truck Plaza for a late-night dinner. As they were walking back to their truck, they noticed a man lying immobile underneath a truck. The CFI driver’s called out to him to see if he was all right, and when they did not receive a response, Mattie quickly began running to see if he was still alive. She did find him conscious, but in desperate need of medical attention. Mattie stayed by the injured man’s side until the medics arrived to ensure that he avoided further injuries and to help keep him calm. Mattie soon after learned that the driver had suffered a stroke which caused him to fall out of his truck, and that he had been lying in that same spot for five to six hours with neck injuries he had sustained from the fall.

For her willingness to assist her fellow driver, TCA has presented Mattie with a certificate, patches, lapel pin, and truck decals. CFI also received a certificate acknowledging Mattie Efferson as a Highway Angel.

TCA’s Highway Angel program is sponsored by EpicVue. Both organizations are honored to recognize deserving professional truck drivers as Highway Angels for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job.