The Erb family is organizing a convoy of cars and trucks today to honour the family patriarch, Vernon Erb, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.
The family says the convoy is a way for family and friends to say goodbye. It begins at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1. Those who want to participate are being asked to meet at the fleet’s Baden terminal to begin the convoy of appreciation.
“Unfortunately his cancer is extremely aggressive and he will not be able to do chemo treatments. Given the bleak prognosis and the visitor policies at the hospitals, he has chosen to return home for palliative care for his last days. Your prayers are all we can ask for at this time. He cannot take visitors other than family and also from a great social distance,” the family said in an email.
The company founder, who was the recipient of the 2008 OTA-Trailmobile Service to Industry Award, started the Erb Group of Companies in 1959 with a single dump truck. In 1965 he bought his first refrigerated truck. Today the company is one of the largest refrigerated transport companies in Canada, with 1,500 employees and owner-operators.
As noted today in Truck News, Erb has also been recognized with honors including the 1993 Governor General’s Commemorative Medal, 2003 Colonel Robert Hardie Award of lifetime Achievement from the OTA, and a 2003 induction into the Waterloo County Hall of Fame.
“For those in Erb-marked vehicles, we will spread them out among our personal vehicles,” granddaughter Katie Erb told Truck News, encouraging them to add “thank you” or “thinking of you” signs.
“When people see an Erb truck drive by, they know who we are, and it’s all because of one man, his dump truck and his kind heart – a great man who always had time for each and every employee and treated everyone with utmost respect and care,” she added.
Update: Images from the convoy:
Convoy to say goodbye to @ErbTransport founder Vernon Erb miles long. Quite a sight to honour a great man https://t.co/m7L95iiIG7 pic.twitter.com/DDs4iHuiD1
— OTA (@OnTruck) May 1, 2020
@OnTruck and chair @ONEForFreight at @ErbTransport to honour family fleet patriarch Vernon Erb pic.twitter.com/6F6tnHLOSP
— OTA (@OnTruck) May 1, 2020