Top Truck Drivers Named to New America's Road Team

The American Trucking Associations today announced the Captains of the 2009 - 2010 America's Road Team. The premier group of million-mile, accident-free professional truck drivers will spend the next two years representing the trucking industry and delivering its highway safety message to the motoring public.

18 captains, with a collective 468 years of experience and over 30.7 million safe-driving miles, were selected from a group of 34 finalists who competed this week before a panel of judges from the trucking industry and related fields. The competition included a review of trucking industry expertise and a demonstration of their communication skills, combined with their community service and lifetime safety records.

"The America's Road Team is the best way the trucking industry can reach out to the motoring public to advance the image of the industry," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "These elite professional drivers combine impressive safety records with the desire to share their dedication and passion for safety. The trucking industry is proud to welcome these new Captains as they serve as ambassadors, sharing trucking's message of professionalism, safety and essentiality."

ATA created America's Road Team in 1986. It continues today with the generous support of Volvo Trucks North America. The Team represents America's 3.5 million professional drivers and serves as an example of the professional dedication and teamwork needed to deliver America's freight safely and on time.

"Volvo Trucks congratulates the outstanding drivers chosen to represent the U.S. trucking industry in 2009 and 2010," said Scott Kress, Volvo Trucks senior vice president - sales & marketing. "Their driving records and complete professionalism demonstrate their commitment to safety and the pride they take in driving a truck well, every day. They make possible the benefit to society that the trucking industry delivers. Volvo also salutes their employers, since America's Road Team wouldn't happen without their support."

While maintaining their jobs as full-time professional drivers, the new America's Road Team Captains will now travel the country speaking on behalf of the trucking industry to the community, news media and public officials. The Captains will address transportation and safety issues, speaking at community events and anywhere they can reach the motoring public to share safe driving tips and offer advice on how to safely share the road with tractor-trailers.

The Road Team Captains also advocate safety to those within the industry at terminals and truck stops. They speak with fellow drivers, driver training students and corporate safety officers. They also have the opportunity to present trucking and safety issues before our public officials, at the national, state and local levels.

To be nominated to serve as a Road Team Captain, the candidates must be employed as a company driver or leased owner-operator by a full-dues-paying member of ATA. Each nominee must have an excellent safety record and demonstrate an ability to communicate a commitment to safety and professionalism.

2009-2010 America's Road Team Captains


NAME COMPANY HOME CITY / STATE

Gerald Charron Con-way Freight Danville, VT
Tim Dean Werner Enterprises Griswold, IA
Rich Ewing Yellow Transportation Bellingham, WA
John Foran United Parcel Service Saint Albans, VT
James Gallagher Roadway Williamsville, NY
Paul Gattin ABF Freight System Benton, AR
Ronald Hawkins, Jr. K-Limited Carrier Ltd. Perrysburg, OH
Mark Hassemer Yellow Transportation Whitelaw, WI
Barry Holland UPS Freight Hurlock, MD
Edward Hosegood Publix Super Markets, Inc. Lakeland, FL
Keith Johnson Roadway Eatonville, WA
Gary Leu Wal-Mart Transportation Shelbina, MO
Greg Nauertz Roadway Peoria, AZ
Kurt Pedersen Con-way Freight Surprise, AZ
Ben Saiz ABF Freight System Estancia, NM
Frank Silio Covenant Transport Miami, FL
Jeffrey Thompson FedEx Freight Olathe, KS
Ron Van Bibber Roadway South Jordan, UT

Arkansas Firms Send Four Truckers To National Competition

Truckers from several Arkansas companies are headed to Arlington, Va., for a national competition to be held Jan. 11-13.

The drivers are among 36 finalists vying to become captains of the American Trucking Associations' America's Road Team.

The drivers are:

• Danny Fuller of Jonesboro, Con-way Freight.

• Paul Gattin of Benton, ABF Freight System of Fort Smith.

• Gary Leu of Shelbina, Mo., Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. transportation division.

• Ben Saiz of Estancia, N.M., ABF Freight System.

A panel of trucking industry officials and trucking news media will judge the 36 contestants on knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate trucking's messages and overall safe driving records.

The three-day competition will result in new America's Road Team Captains, who serve two-year terms addressing trucking safety and professionalism issues with legislators, news media, civic organizations and the general public, according to a news release.

"America's Road Team represents the best of the best," said Bill Graves, American Trucking Associations' president and chief executive officer. "The 36 professional drivers selected as finalists all have impressive driving records, share a passion for safety and are engaged in their communities."

Drivers nominated to compete must be employed as either a company driver for an ATA member motor carrier or as an owner-operator leased to an ATA member; have an excellent safety record; and communicate his or her commitment to safety, courtesy and professionalism.

Arkansas is home to several trucking companies, including J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. in Lowell and PAM Transportation Services Inc. in Tontitown. Wal-Mart and Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc. also operate trucking fleets.

State trucking industry workers earn an average annual salary of $29,561 and trucking generates more than $2.5 billion annually in payroll, according to a fact sheet from the Arkansas Trucking Association.

Trucks carry 87 percent of manufactured freight into and out of the state. Each day, trucks bring 303,692 tons of freight into the state and take 338,060 tons out, the state association said.