Touch-a-Truck events create touchpoints between Alabama Power and communities

For many children, a lineworker is someone they see high above the ground, working from the bucket of a utility truck.

This summer, Alabama Power has been bringing those trucks – and the people who operate them – a little closer to home.

Through a series of Touch-a-Truck events across the state, Alabama Power lineworkers have connected with children and families at summer programs, minor league baseball games, libraries and other community gatherings.

For many of the kids, seeing the trucks was only the beginning. They climbed inside, explored the equipment, asked questions and got a firsthand look at some of what it takes to keep the lights on for Alabama. The excitement was hard to miss – and some parents and grandparents seemed just as fascinated.

The events serve a purpose beyond simply putting a big truck on display. They give customers an opportunity to interact with Alabama Power employees face to face, putting a human connection behind the company and the work it does every day.

For Power Delivery, that connection can help build familiarity and trust while giving young people an up-close look at the skills, teamwork and sense of purpose that come with working in the field.

“One of my favorite parts of Touch-a-Truck events is seeing kids’ faces light up when they get the chance to climb into a bucket truck and talk with our crews,” said Nick Hatcher, field service supervisor for Alabama Power and a former lineman. “They’re full of questions, and our guys love sharing about they do. It’s a fun way to show kids that being a lineman is more than a job. It’s a hands-on career that takes skill, problem-solving and a commitment to serving the community. You never know when one of those conversations might spark an interest that lasts a lifetime.”

At the same time, the events offer a glimpse into a career that many young people may not otherwise consider.

“Students may not know that those lineworkers in our trucks are working every day to power communities,” said Jason Watters, Workforce Development manager at Alabama Power. “These events are a great way to plant that seed, giving students an opportunity to see as many paths to career success as possible, and maybe one day see them in one of our lineworker training programs.”

Rick Jackson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the River Region, welcomed having Alabama Power lineworkers bring equipment to one of his Montgomery locations. They read the “Joe the Lineman” book to the kids before letting them interact with equipment and those who operate it.

“We want to show our young people different things and ways of life, how you can work, and what Alabama Power does for our community,” Jackson said. “When kids touch it, they feel it. They see the importance of it, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Whether a child is climbing into a bucket truck at a summer program or meeting a lineworker at the ballpark, the goal is the same: create a memorable connection with the people who power Alabama – and perhaps inspire the next generation to one day join them.