A Colorado Springs man was reported missing by his mother over Labor Day weekend and it took nearly three painful weeks for his body to be found. The man, 47-year-old Marty Weller, drove a purple Freightliner whose image was posted on the Missing Truck Driver Alert Network along with a recent photo. Despite that, it wasn’t until the 18th that Weller’s body was found inside the cab of his truck which was parked at a Petro near Interstate 40.
According to an article published by the Colorado Springs Gazette, Weller was found by a trucker working for Wolfsden Enterprises based in Salisbury, North Carolina. The owner of the company, Gary Lang, alerted his drivers about the post at the Missing Truck Driver Alert Network and told them to keep an eye open.
“Something about his story struck me and I couldn’t let go of it,” Lang said.
Weller was found dead in his locked cab with the keys still in the ignition. Nothing was missing from his vehicle and authorities have stated that it appears he died of natural causes.
He was missing for so long and his body was already so decomposed that authorities had to ask his mother and fiancé for any identifying marks before they performed an autopsy.
Despite the bad news, Weller’s mother, Fran Hall, said that finally knowing what happened has brought her a sense of closure.
“Not knowing was horrific,” Hall said. “My mind kept going back to: ‘If he’s out there, if he’s laying in a ditch, would we ever know where he is?'”
Weller’s truck was surrounded by others at a relatively busy truck stop, a picture of his truck had been posted online, and it still took nearly three weeks before his family knew what happened to him. Please help to prevent prolonged heartache like this in the future by visiting the Missing Truck Driver Alert Network page on Facebook.
UPDATE: The Missing Truck Driver Alert Network also helped find two drivers who volunteered to bring Marty home to his family. It was his family’s request that he take his last ride home to Colorado in a truck.
Marty Weller’s mother wrote the following message that was posted on the MTDAN Facebook page:
“How many times have you traveled the highways and byways of our of our great country and saw a big rig coming towards you or ahead of you? what were your thoughts? I would always wonder ,where are they coming from and where are they going. I would look up at the truck and smile and wave as we passed. I never knew about a family group of people called, Missing Truck Drivers of America, until three weeks and one day ago. My son Steven saw their web site and called me because we were looking for our missing loved one and I didn’t have a clue what to do. Missing Truck Drivers knew what to do .I spoke with a woman named Beth ,she told me we will find your son and they did. Not only did they find my son but they also raised the money that it will take to have him cremated and it didn’t stop there, they are bringing my son home. The love that our family has been given, not only by our friends and family but also by our new family but also the Truck Drivers of America. The next time you pass a trucker give them a smile and a wave and if you stop at a truck stop pick a truck driver and buy him or her a cup of coffee or dinner or just walk up and say thank you. Not only are they working everyday to bring something you want or need into your home but when you need their help they go the extra mile to help you, so it’s with a very humble heart that I reach out to each and everyone of you to say thank you. please share this with everyone you know and ask them to share it with everyone they know. Please keep this going and that will continue to give thanks to Truck Drivers of America. I also want to thank Keri, Lisa, Gary and everyone else that go unnamed. You will forever be in our thoughts and in our hearts. My Marty is up there watching over all of you. Marty was lost for 18 days and now he’s coming home. I send my Love, Thank you Dennis, Fran and the family of Marty Weller.”
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Source: coloradosprings
I am a truck driver who has often thought about this happening. Your traveling all over the country and your family does not know where you stop sometimes. I almost always keep my family informed on where I stop for the night. Its a good ideal to let your loved one’s know because it can make it much easier to find you.
I used to drive a big rig but quit because i was afraid of backing into docks…my trainer never let me back…anyways there are apps that point out where you are by gps so any friends or followers can c where u r in the country
I use Life360 So my family can see where I am at. And its free to use.
what is life360? my husband is a truck driver and hauls hazardous chemicals all over the country, I would like to know where he is
2017 All Truckers should use FIND A FRIEND APP on their smarphones with their loved ones
Prayers for his family
Had this happen to a friend of mine. After the 24 hour mandatory wait the local cops had his cell phone pinged. He was found within 30 minutes. With sat tracking not an issue, if no sat keep your cell on.
Facebook is a great thing u can do a check in it lets everyone u know where u are my wife rides with me an we do that every night when we shut down for the night we also do it when we loading or unloading we haul shows an new products
As I drove thru this great country, I too, thought of the many places where bodies can be hidden and never found!! Trucking can be a very dangerous industry…there are many that think truckers always have cash…it’s especially dangerous for women drivers that are alone…ya gotta have your wits about you, be conscious of your surroundings!! Glad this man was found and is now on his way home…just sad he won’t be driving himself there!! God bless every one of you…thankyou…you drive, so that I may “live”!!
My thoughts and prayers go out to Marty Weller’s family. May God wrap his arms around you and give you comfort and peace. And a daily prayer for each truck driver out there with all the worries that comes with life; being away from home; family; May God bless you all we appreciate all you do and are blessed by them all. Working for a truck company for 22 years I have found its the little things you do that impact each driver whether its a smile; cup of coffee; coke or just a minute of your time to ask them how they are doing and how is there family. Sometimes just a ear or someone to talk to makes the world of difference. We have lost several drivers and it saddens me but I know they were doing what they loved to do. Thanks for sharing this story sorry the ending was so tragic but know Marty is watching over each of us daily 🙂
I am a Canadian truck driver who has often thought about this happening. Your traveling all over the country and your family does not know where you stop sometimes. I almost always keep my family informed on where I stop for the night. Its a good ideal to let your loved one’s know because it can make it much easier to find you. I try to call three times a day to keep in touch with my loved ones just to keep them informed. Prayers for Marty’s family.
I was working for a company and took a load to CA. I was so sick the whole way there. My next load picked up at a vineyard going back to RI. I headed to the vineyard but stopped along side the road because I was to sick to continue driving and went to bed in the sleeper. I woke up 4 days later a local hospital. My company used the GPS on the Qualcomm to locate where my truck was and notified the CHP. They broke the window on the truck to get inside and had me transported to the hospital. When I got better I found a local driving job.
Four square is an amazing app where u can check in every where u stop. It pops up on it Facebook page and tells ur friends where u are. Could be a very useful tool in being found. But always everyday have someone u call that way if u ever skip that call they know something is wrong.
Husband and I use an iPhone and utilize the app installed called “find my friends”. My kids and parents can see our location and us moving time in real time, you can see exactly where we are. One can send messages within the app as well, we are always being tracked. I think it’s a great app, we don’t use Facebook as yet. Oh yes, and of course permission is requested and accepted as needed. Try it, you may like it.
This has happened too many times. I even heard of a driver who lay dead in his truck in a Mac Donald’s parking lot for three days. The manager of the restaurant (being kind to Mac D’s) said the truck had only shown up the night before police discovered the body. A driver went off the side of I-40 near the tunnels in eastern North Carolina and wasn’t found until hunting season, three months later, by a hunter and his son.
There are times when I will be in an area for a couple days. If I see a rig that has been parked for a few days (sand, dirt under truck) I’ll call the company and find out if its a missing truck So far this year I have helped 2 companies recover missing rigs but I also am concerned about a driver that might be inside hurt or sick
I wonder how come his company did not know where he was. Was he on home time?
It’s strange how his company did not know where his truck was.
A word of advice to all truckers out there. Keep a bottle of aspirin in your travel bag at all times. It may make the difference between life and death if you happen to wake up in distress in the middle of nowhere. And lastly ,try not to sleep in the middle of nowhere. I’ve lost too many good friends this way
My husband and I, and several fantastic volunteers run Missing Truck Driver Alert Network.
I have some suggestions to prepare companies, family and friends in the case a driver goes missing.
EOBR’s fail. We have had three missing drivers that drove a truck equipped with on board tracking. There are some great apps. MTDAN advocates using Life 360 (WWW.life360.com/. It allows members if your network to ping your phone and is very accurate. If you do not gave a network, check
in on Facebook or application if your choice.
Give a recent picture if your truck to a close friend or relative. Include all logo’s, numbers and company name. Companies should also have one in the drivers file, along with a high resolution picture if the driver. License pictures if not copy well.
Notify your contact if load and delivery points.
Tell your contact your preferred stops, drivers are creatures of habit.
Notify law enforcement immediately if something seems amiss. Policy varies by agency.
Please like the page and join the group.
To report a missing driver
call 720-202-5606.
I really hate 2 loose a fellow driver in this industry and my prayers go out 2 his family. I am really glad they have a piece of mind now. Makes u wonder whts going on in the truck next 2 u
I had tears running down my eyes as I read this story and my heart hurt for Ms. Fran Hall. May God’s peace rest upon her and family. My prayer goes up for them. My oldest son just started truck driving (cross country) again after 10 year break so he can bring home a regular paycheck. He worked in construction for many years in California, Florida, Oregon and PA. Good thing is he’ll be driving with another driver (O/O). We have a system, he let’s us know his PU and drop off time/place and route. He calls me and his wife at least once a day to let us know where they are at for the night.
My brother is an over the road truck drive . When he does not call me in the am I worry . I call him if he doesn’t call me . I took down the number for missing truck drivers as I don’t have social media . Never knew there was a number to call thank you for the information ! And I pray for you all may god bless you all , and keep a hedge of protection around you all . Thank all the truck drivers out there ! You are America!!🇺🇸