Truck Drivers Surprise Boy with 64 Truck Convoy for His Birthday

Katherine Johnson wanted to make her lonely 7 year old son Oliver Johnson’s birthday one to remember. Oliver is obsessed with trucks, he knows the name of every truck, every truck manufacturer, and every trucking company. Katherine offered $50 to anyone who would come give him a ride in their big rig for his 8th birthday. She never imagined the outcome of her Facebook post.

Katherine hoped one truck driver would take up the offer, but instead, Barry Hart, owner of Hart Haulage Trucking, saw her offer and decided to organize a whole convoy. Hart put a call out on social media and 34 drivers signed up for Ollie’s birthday convoy. So many signed up that Hart had to organize them like a parade and call authorities to help manage traffic. Hart said that almost twice as many showed up for the bid day.

Hart said all the drivers volunteered to be part of the convoy for young Oliver despite the what it would cost them to get there truck to the meeting point. “Every one of these truckies that are doing this, and there are probably 10 trucks at least that are coming from Auckland, those guys, it will cost them $500-600 to get that truck down there, do their thing, and go away, and not one of them is asking for anything” Hart said.

Even Hart was shocked by the turn out saying he expected 15 to 20 drivers but it just kept growing as word spread. “When it comes to kids, this community, these truckers will always come out. It’s a young fella and we wanted him to know there was a community around him” he said. Ollie’s dad Simon Johnson said they were “literally blown away” by the number of trucks that turned up.

Ollie had absolutely no idea that there would be a truck convoy coming to celebrate his birthday until the trucks turned up. Johnson said “His reaction all day will just be sunshine in everybody’s eyes, he’s still on cloud nine.” Johnson said they also received comments and birthday wishes from all over the world, and they will be forever grateful and humbled by what has taken place.