Touch a Truck draws crowds in fourth year
City, local businesses show off their vehicles and heavy equipment at Inventrek
The big rigs were out in force on Sept. 10 as the City of Kokomo sponsored its fourth Touch a Truck event for families in the parking lot of Inventrek Technology Park. The event featured large wreckers, dump trucks, road graders, and the Kokomo Police Department Sentinel Tactical SWAT vehicle.
Among the more than 40 vehicles on display were privately-owned wrecker services, Clifford Sign service bucket trucks, many City of Kokomo heavy and specialty vehicles, along with an U.S. Army JLTV that only was to be driven with permission.
“We have to get DOT (Department of Transportation) approval to drive this on public streets,” stated a representative of the U.S. Army on hand to give tours of the vehicle.
Gerald Armfield, Kokomo Sanitation Plant Supervisor, explained that each department in the city decided what trucks to bring to the event, which gets young children familiar with large vehicles and to teach them the importance of big trucks and heavy equipment.
“I’ve seen a few adults get up in the cabs, too,” chuckled Armfield.
Representatives from Clifford Signs had a bucket lift truck that allowed kids to wrap eggs in several paper towels and then have the bucket driver drop them from about 20 feet in the air to see how the eggs held up.
“We have had several survivors,“ stated Clifford Operations Manager Andrew Bergin.
A brand-new Kokomo City Trolley was also on display, minus the decals and radio needed to put the vehicle into service.
Armfield gave credit to Dave Trine from the City of Kokomo for organizing the event. “He has done a great job every time.”