Grain Valley, Mo., June 17, 2009 – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the nation’s largest organization representing professional truckers, has partnered with country singer Leland Martin to raise funds for OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops program. A portion of proceeds from the sale of his latest CD will go to the program, which provides care packages to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Martin, who is a longtime member of the Association, told OOIDA that he has always felt inspired by truckers as well as by those serving in the U.S. military. After learning about the care package program, he approached the association asking if he could contribute in some way. He then produced the CD with the intention to raise funds for the program.

The new CD, titled “Truckers for Troops,” includes 12 original songs written by Martin and focusing on patriotic and trucking themes. It can be purchased at various performances during the Petro Truck Stop tour or from Martin’s Web site: www.lelandmartin.com. The tour goes throughout the southwest United States beginning June 19 in Little Rock, Ark. and ending June 30 in El Paso, Texas. OOIDA just recently completed its 2008-2009 care package shipping series and will strike up a new campaign in December 2009. That campaign will ship packages in early 2010.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the largest national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has nearly 160,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo., area.

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