FT Silfies Inc., a regional mid-Atlantic dry bulk carrier, recently sponsored a contest for employee’s children and grandchildren to design the company’s next theme tractor. Some of Silfies’ theme trucks can be seen on the company’s website at www.silfies.com.
“We run about 10 theme tractors at Silfies that are significant to our company,” says John Allen, vice president of operations support for Nazareth, Pa.-based Silfies. “The theme tractors vary from a World War II battle scene, to flames, to an American Eagle clutching an American flag on the hood.”
Silfies decided to sponsor a contest for children and grandchildren to help design its next tractor, which will be painted and unveiled this summer. “We have tremendous pride of ownership, and our drivers love these tractors,” Allen says. “The calls we get into our office from the public are overwhelming when they say they saw our truck in a certain state and how much they liked the equipment.”
The company launched the contest in its bi-monthly newsletter. “Children can get as creative as they want with the theme,” Allen says. “They are required to write a few short sentences as to what the theme represents, why they thought of it.”
Once the winner is selected, Silfies will offer a $500 U.S. Savings Bond, four front-row seats to a Philadelphia Phillies game, the child’s name on the truck as the designer, and a profile in the company’s next newsletter with the winning theme. “We’re excited for the kids, and Randy Sheeler, our president and CEO, has already started to get some amazing and creative designs,” Allen says.
