Truckers fueling at the Cincinnati South TravelCenter of America in the fall noticed something missing.

The friendly smile of Vickie Smith, the fuel desk cashier, disappeared in October. Turned out, Smith was badly burned in a pressure cooker accident in her home, and had to take six weeks off work to recover.

While she was gone, truckers who regularly stopped at the Cincinnati South TA arranged to collect donations to help pay her medical bills. The effort touched her profoundly, Smith says.

"I just want everyone to know how great these truckers are," says Smith, now back on the job. "I want to thank every one of them who helped me out."

Recovered and back at the fuel desk of the Walton, Ky., TA, Smith is helping drivers fuel up and get back on the road.