Mackie Transportation truck at the 2013 Touch-a-Truck event. Photo courtesy of the General Motors Centre.

OSHAWA, ON— What better way to learn about the role trucks play in society than by playing with one? Children in Oshawa can do just that at the second annual Touch-a-Truck event, held on August 22 outside of the General Motors Centre.

“We are very excited to once again host our Touch-a-Truck event,” said Vince Vella, general manager of the General Motors Centre. “Last year, this free community event attracted over 1,000 people to the GM Centre to get up close and personal with 32 different types of military, emergency and heavy equipment vehicles while helping raise $1,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oshawa-Whitby.”

This year, the event promises to be even bigger, with over 50 vehicles supplied by vehicle partners such as Oshawa Fire Services, Durham Regional Police, Mackie Transportation, Cervus Equipment Peterbilt, GFL Environmental, Trucking for a Cure and more.

Cervus Equipment Peterbilt told todaystrucking.com they’re bringing the 75^th anniversary edition Peterbilt 579 as well as a 567 Twin Steer dump truck.

“The smiles on the faces from five-year-olds to those in their 50s while raising funds for charity made it an easy decision to try and turn this into an annual event,” Vella said.

The trucks will be parked outside the General Motors Centre located at 99 Athol Street East, Oshawa, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and kids will get the chance to learn about and interact with the vehicles. Money raised at the event will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oshawa-Whitby, a youth mentoring charity aimed to empower the next generation.

The event also features food trucks, lego builing activities, face painting and even camel rides courtesy of the Bowmanville Zoo.