The Sunshine Report Keeping Our Country Moving Karen and Jay pay tribute to all the great truck drivers who do so very much to keep our country on the move. Please click here to enjoy a fun clip from the iconic tune ‘Truckin’ by the Grateful Dead’ - [link removed] In many ways, truckers are the ‘backbone of America.’ Keeping our stores stocked, food on our shelves and critical supplies delivered – day in and day out. A truth that all of us have realized at some level or another over the years – but became indelibly seared into the forefront of our national consciousness during the critical days of the recent pandemic. As such, we owe a great deal to the 3.5 million Americans who embrace a ‘life on the road’ and dedicate themselves to the demands of this unique job and lifestyle. In fact, trucks and truck drivers are part of our daily lives in so many ways. For instance, earlier this week, I was driving on the highway when a school bus full of kids and a truck happened to pull up beside me. Naturally, the kids all gathered to one side and encouraged the truck driver to give them a honk of his horn. The truck driver did not disappoint, as his truck gave a great big ‘honk, honk’ to the kids’ excitement, so much so I could actually hear them cheering from inside my car! The moment brought a big smile to my face on what was otherwise a forgettable drive. As I reflected on the moment, I was struck by how often truck drivers go unrecognized for the duties they perform yet how vital they are to the economy and everyday life, and of course, to kids on a school bus. It may be little known, but the trucking industry is responsible for moving more than 70 percent of all freight in the United States. This adds up to over 10 billion tons of freight annually! It includes everything from consumer goods and raw materials to fuel and agricultural products. It’s likely that the majority of what you buy during your weekly grocery run, at your favorite store or coffee shop for example has at one point gotten to you thanks to a truck driver. Not only that, in total, the trucking industry also employs over 7 million people. This includes drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, and administrative staff, making it one of the largest sectors of employment in the country. As we all know, the pandemic caused incredible disruptions to our daily lives. It put stresses on almost every single part of our economy, from the healthcare industry to supply chains. However, it must be recognized that the ability to still have access to essential goods was almost single handedly thanks to the trucking industry, despite all the disruptions. The trucking industry worked to maintain supply chains and keep goods moving across the country by finding alternate routes in many cases and different modes of transportation, as well as implementing safety protocols to protect drivers and others involved in delivery processes. Most importantly though, truckers were essential to supporting healthcare workers, making sure medical supplies and equipment safely arrived in the locations hardest hit by the pandemic. Despite the difficult and rapidly changing circumstances, truckers still delivered. In fact, more than eighty percent of communities across the United States are dependent on trucks for their medicine, food, raw materials, and other essentials. Without the constant behind the scenes work from truck drivers, that means the vast majority of us would not be able to go about our daily lives. So, whether you’re driving on the highway or on main street, when you see a truck driver, give these behind-the-scenes heroes a little salute of gratitude! They are out there – day in, day out, in good weather and in bad. Here’s a big salute to all our great truck drivers who keep America moving! Read The Report Big Rig Drivers…Keepin’ America Rollin’! Read More The American Truck Stop – Unique and Evolving Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Vikram Mansharamani This week we are delighted to profile a great friend and leader in New Hampshire and beyond - Vikram Mansharamani. Many people in the Granite State first came to know Vikram – or ‘Vik’ – as he is often called, during our most recent political season when he ran a spirited and very impressive campaign as a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Offering himself as a ‘Businessman, Not A Politician.’ As the tagline suggests, and not surprisingly, Vikram’s range of accomplishments and influence go well beyond his recent efforts as a political candidate in the 2022 election cycle and are rooted in a highly successful career that spans multiple disciplines. Vikram is a renowned economist, author, and global trend-watcher whose contributions to society are characterized by his knowledge-sharing, support for entrepreneurs, and guidance on job creation and growth. His lectures at such leading universities as Harvard and Yale, as well as other institutions, have inspired countless students to pursue careers in finance and economics and have a positive impact on the world. In addition, his two books, "Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence," and "Boombustology: Spotting Financial Bubbles Before They Burst," are highly acclaimed and provide essential insights into complex financial issues. No two ways about it - they are both ‘must reads!’ His observations and advice on financial bubbles are particularly interesting – explaining both how to identify bubbles and how to prevent them from bursting. Vikram also has extensive experience as a consultant to a wide range of organizations, including endowments, foundations, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices. Beyond lecturing, writing and his extensive experience as a consultant, Vikram has also served on numerous boards, including among others, Werner Enterprises and the Africa Opportunity Fund. His writings have been featured in such leading publications as Bloomberg, Fortune, and Forbes. And, in keeping with the theme of this week’s Sunshine Report – ‘Trucking Across America,’ it’s important to note that Vikram actually has truck driving experience and credentials of his own. While Vikram is a graduate of Yale and MIT, importantly, he is also a graduate of Roadmaster Driving School. He earned his commercial license while sitting on the board of a trucking company. I love the spirit and insight as he later once explained "How can you understand the pressures on a trucking company if you don't spend time with truckers?" Vik is definitely an independent thinker – not afraid to ‘challenge conventional wisdom.’ He is also a very good listener – which is such a rare and admirable trait these days. He emphasizes the need to restore common sense in an era dominated by experts and artificial intelligence. He urges individuals to think critically and on their own, warning against the dangers of blindly following the advice of so-called ‘experts’ without considering the potential consequences. Most important, in addition to these many accomplishments, Vikram is simply a good person. Vik is the kind of person we are so fortunate to have here in our state. A devoted husband and father, Vikram, along with his wife, Kristen and their two children, Tori and Kai, live in the beautiful community of Lincoln. We are grateful to the Mansharamani’s for their positive impact in so very many ways. Thank you, Vikram, Kristen, and family! Quote of the Week "Truckers are the unsung heroes of the American economy. They work long hours and travel thousands of miles to make sure our stores are stocked and our factories are supplied. Without them, our way of life would grind to a halt." - Dan Lipinski, former U.S. Representative from Illinois.     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]