The American Moving and Storage Association named Atlas Van Lines driver Charles Allen the association’s 2011 Special Commodities Super Van Operator. Allen, a specialized transport driver, has logged 3 million miles safely in his 27 years in trucking and received the Atlas Safe Operator Award for 16 consecutive years. The Super Van Operator awards recognize drivers who provide the best in safe, reliable and customer-oriented service.

HONORS

Decker Truck Line Inc., based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, selected Earl Lavine and Jerry Schad, in the flatbed and reefer divisions, respectively, as November Drivers of the Month… Epes Transport System, based in Greensboro, N.C., was named Walmart General Merchandise Gold Carrier of the Year and a top nominee for the Truckload Carriers Association’s Best Fleet to Drive For Award. Epes drivers garnered the following recognitions: Freddy Bell, TCA Driver of the Year Award finalist; Eric Betts, carrier referral contest winner of a Silverado truck; Tim Britt and Donald Washburn, referral contest winners of $5,000 each… Heartland Express Inc., based in North Liberty, Iowa, was named Walmart’s 2011 Sam’s Carrier of the Year.

EXPANSIONS

Decker Truck Line plans to add up to 50 new drivers in conjunction with the opening of its new $2 million, Bessemer, Ala.-based terminal, which will serve 16 Southeastern states for a fleet of nearly 70 primarily flatbed trucks…Monroeville, Ala.-based Hornady Transportation purchased 40 new International ProStar tractors equipped with auxiliary power units and new, 53-foot aluminum flatbed trailers… Kane Is Able Inc., a Scranton, Pa.-based logistics provider, purchased 50 new lightweight, automatic-transmission tractors… U.S. Xpress Enterprises, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., expanded refrigerated team service to 100 trucks and expects to have 250 tractors by yearend.

For the second consecutive year, Newsweek magazine named Ryder System in its Green Rankings as one of the nation’s top companies for reducing idling, optimizing routes and using alternative fuel options. The Miami-based carrier moved from sixth to fifth place in the transportation sector list and 114th place to 111th overall. The magazine ranks the environmental performance of the largest publicly traded companies in America.

HONORS

Birmingham, Ala.-based CRST Malone named Tim Downs its 2011 Owner-Operator of the Year after Downs received third quarter honors. The flatbed carrier presented an award for driving 4 million miles safely to Joseph Huffman. Also honored were David Schwandt and Eddie Krogman for logging 3 million safe miles. Michael Bridges, Glenn Brown, Lindy Daily, David Gregory and Gary Schimmel won 2-million-mile awards, and Gary Aud and William Mathews won 1 million safe mile awards. Contractors for first and second quarters, respectively, are James Hand Sr. and Chris Grizzle… Decker Truck Line selected Kirby Goos, in the flatbed division, and Roy Wilson, in the reefer-van division, as October’s Drivers of the Month… West Brothers’ Transportation Services, based in Durham, N.C., was named grand champion by the North Carolina Trucking Association’s Safety Management Council for having the lowest accident rate statewide. The fleet also won AAA’s first-time award as the overall safest carrier in North Carolina.

RELIEF

CalArk Trucking, based in Little Rock, Ark., donated 20,000 pounds of pet food and other gifts to animal shelters in central Arkansas as relief from this spring’s tornadoes.

EXPANSIONS

CRST International, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, launched an expedited reefer team service.

Lincoln, Neb.-based Crete Carrier Corp. received Owens Corning’s 2010 Global Logistics Carrier Excellence Award for the fourth consecutive year. The carrier shipped loads of insulation, shingles, stone products, fiberglass and raw materials Owens Corning produced.

HONORS

For June and July, Con-way Truckload honored the following drivers for driving 1 million miles safely: Juan Curioso, Stephen Donoway, Linda Goff, Alan Hayes, Michael Hunt, Arlie Marsh, John Newkirk, Willie Nowden, Saul Parra, Michael Richey, George Spicer and Marcus Statton. The fleet’s June and July Drivers of the Month are Daniel Baez; Gary and Nora Bulen; William Coffman; Tim Hicks; Jerry Miller; and team drivers Joseph Keyman and Jhyn-Yin Chang, Robert and Vickie River, and Thomas and Joan Walter…Decker Truck Line, based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, won the Iowa Motor Truck Association’s 2011 Fleet Safety Award in the 10-15-million-mile carrier category, and Decker company driver Dean Filmer was named the association’s 2011 Professional Driver of the Year. The carrier also recognized John Kilmer and Scott Heathman in the flatbed and reefer-van divisions, respectively, as September Drivers of the Month…Recipients of Volvo’s 2011 Trucks Safety awards are Roehl Transport Inc., based in Marshfield, Wis., in the 20-million-mile-plus fleet category and Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution, based in El Paso, Texas, in the less-than-20-million-mile category.

PAY

Mondovi, Wis.-based Marten Transport raised owner-operators’ pay 5 cents per mile for hauls 151-800 miles.

ACQUISITIONS AND EXPANSIONS

Atlas Van Lines agent Action Moving and Storage, formerly based in Colchester, Vt., moved to Largo, Fla., with 9,700 square feet of warehouse space…Frozen Food Express sold its dry vans and tractors to Celadon Trucking Services.

Walmart driver Rickey Oliver has been selected as the American Trucking Associations 2011 National Truck Driver of the Year. In his 27 years as a trucker, Oliver has driven more than 3.5 million miles safely.

HONORS

Anderson Trucking Service, based in St. Cloud, Minn., received Great West Risk Management’s 2010 Platinum Award for Safety and Operational Excellence… Atlas Van Lines, based in Evansville, Ind., was named to the Information Week 500 list, Information Week Business Technology Network’s annual roundup of the nation’s most innovative business technology users…Brock Stewart, an owner-operator leased to Des Moines, Iowa-based Barr-Nunn Transportation, was honored for logging 1 million safe miles…Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay drivers Rejean Bedard, Greg Hladky, Chris Outzen, Al Rodney, Jim Steadman and Charlie Thomas were honored for having driven 3 million miles safely…Steve Roberts has driven 1 million miles in his 22 years’ work with Mail Contractors of America, based in Little Rock, Ark…In addition to hosting a company-wide driver picnic for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Springfield, Mo.-based Prime Inc. honored Roberto Alonzo, Robert Bryant, Christopher Ewing, Angela Justice and William Stanford for driving 1 million miles safely…Miami-based Ryder System Inc. received Domino’s 2010 Supply Partner Award.

ACQUISITIONS AND EXPANSIONS

Atlas agent Metropolitan Van and Storage, based in Benicia, Calif., opened a new branch in West Sacramento and bought Mountain View-based Thomas Transfer and Storage, renaming it Metropolitan… Old Dominion Freight Line, based in Thomasville, N.C., opened a 40-door service center in Altoona, Pa., and a 24-door facility in Madison, Wis… Prime Inc.’s new terminal in Pittston, Pa., with a five-bay fueling facility, is now open.

Greenville, Tenn.-based dedicated truckload carrier Landair Transport received 2010’s Great West Risk Management Award for Safety and Operational Excellence. Criteria for the honor include loss results, prompt and fair claim settlement, timely reporting of claims, innovative loss prevention and operational excellence.

HONORS

Atlas Van Lines, based in Evansville, Ind., was ranked as the top household goods mover in Trippel Survey and Research’s 17th annual Nationwide Relocating Employee Survey… Decker Truck Line, based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, named Warren Erxleben and Eric Jensvold July Drivers of the Month and Gary Carnahan and Brian Samuelson August Drivers of the Month… Company driver Robert Peterson logged 1 million safe miles, all with Mail Contractors of America, based in Little Rock, Ark… Refrigerated food carriers Marten Transport, based in Bloomington, Minn., and Stevens Transport, based in Dallas, won Thermo King’s Energy Efficiency Leader awards… SupplyChainBrain magazine named Thomasville, N.C.-based Old Dominion Freight Line a 2011 Great Supply Chain Partner, its fourth consecutive year for the award… Springfield, Mo.-based Prime Inc. named Drivers of the Month for May and June: Michael Gandee, Antoine Harrigan, Timothy Mlack, Michael Sparks, and team drivers Gene Selby and Gene Selby and Thomas E. Miller and Jesse J. Zander (refrigerated division); Ervin Jackson, Troy McKinney, Glenn Reed Sr. and Robert Saling (flatbed division); Douglas Adams, Andre Anderson, Glenn Ford, Andre Green and Jemuan Hill (tanker division).

EXPANSIONS

Old Dominion Freight Line is expanding its Indianapolis hub at 3915 W. Morris St. to 84,000 square feet and from 223 doors to 325, with completion set for 2014. The moving company also opened a container drayage site in Baltimore… Carson City, Nev.-based Silver Eagle Relocation has new owners, Richard and Shelli Wenschlag. Formerly named Silver Eagle, the moving company is an Atlas Van Lines agent.

Eight Prime Inc. drivers were honored for safe driving milestones. Thomas E. Hogan drove 2 million miles with no preventable accidents. Drivers who have driven 1 million miles safely and have worked at the carrier based in Springfield, Mo., for at least seven years are Ervin Carter, Thomas D. Griswold, Roger D. Guy, George L. Hoffman, Bennett A. Smith, William F. Stanford and Ann Weatherbee. The truckers were given engraved plaques, watches and other awards.

HONORS

Decker Truck Line, based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, named flatbed driver Kenneth Pilkenton and reefer-van driver Michael Brown as June Drivers of the Month… Hornady Transportation, which garnered Great West Casualty Co.’s Silver Award for safety in 2010, honored Gary Dubus for driving 1 million miles safely during his nine years with the Monroeville, Ala.-based fleet.

PAY

Clayton, Ala.-based Boyd Bros. Transportation raised pay by 1 cent on every paid mile for all drivers and has increased tarp and detention pay to $20 and $18 per load, respectively… Interstate Distributor Co., based in Tacoma, Wash., is paying on a percentage basis with a guaranteed $1.05 per mile average for all dispatched miles…Eagan, Minn.-based Transport Corp. of America upped company driver pay 1 cent per mile, increased owner-operator pay 2 cents per mile to 93 cents per mile, and raised owner-operators with hazmat endorsement an additional 2 cents to 95 cents per mile.

ACQUISITIONS

Modern Moving & Storage, based in Rome, N.Y., and Valley Moving & Storage, based in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., have joined Atlas Van Lines, the largest subsidiary of Atlas World Group based in Evansville, Ind….Johns Creek, Ga.-based Saia Inc. opened a 20-door terminal at 902 Interstate Dr., Bloomington, Ill., 61704.

CalArk International driver Christopher Patton was named 2010 Arkansas Truck Driver of the Year, the Arkansas Trucking Association announced. Patton logged his fleet’s best fuel mileage in 2010. The fleet won the association’s 2010 Truckload Van & Reefer Division’s award for Corporate Fleet Safety and the gold and bronze awards for Self Insurers’ Fund Safety Performance.

HONORS

Less-than-truckload carrier Con-way Freight won the California Trucking Association’s first-place awards for short hauls over 4 million miles and linehauls over 7 million miles and its safety program received top honors among fleets grossing more than $10 million in revenue… Decker Truck Line Inc., based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, awarded May Driver of the Month honors to Dale Leman in the flatbed division and Lloyd Evans in the reefer-van division… Prime Inc.’s April Drivers of the Month are John Fickett, Shawn Rullens, Stacey Woodward and Tye Woodward (reefer division); Darold Dooling and Jerald Thomas (flatbed division); and Gregory Vandergriff and Tracy Vierhout (tanker division).

PAY

Hornady Transportation, based in Monroeville, Ala., increased company driver pay by 1 cent, making the maximum 45 cents a mile, and offered a sign-on bonus of an extra 2 cents on all dispatched miles run… Prime Inc. raised minimum pay for owner-operators in reefer and flatbed segments to $1.02 per mile…Green Bay, Wis.-based Schneider National upped pay to 95 cents per mile, a 5-cent increase, for owner-operators in the dry van segment.

Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer Walmart honored carriers for the following service awards: Diversity, Western Express Inc.; General Merchandise in gold, platinum and diamond categories, respectively, from smallest to largest, Baylor Trucking Inc., Heartland Express Inc. and Swift Transportation Co.; Grocery, John Christner Trucking; Intermodal, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.; National LTL, YRC Inc.; Regional LTL, New England Motor Freight Inc.; Sam’s Club, Swift; Small Parcel, FedEx Corp.

HONORS

Boyd Bros. Transportation, based in Clayton, Ala., honored company driver Theodore Shears for driving 2 million miles safely during his 21 years with the flatbed carrier… CalArk International, based in Little Rock, Ark., named husband and wife team Charles and Helen Mikus the fleet’s Drivers of the Year…Based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Decker Truck Line Inc. won its 14th “Spirit of Excellence” Award from Hormel Foods Corp. and announced its April Drivers of the Month: Chuck Wright in the flatbed division and Fay “Ed” Burleson in the reefer-van division… Hornaday Transportation, based in Monroeville, Ala., honored drivers Freddie Hardy and Paul Jones for driving one million safe miles… Mondovi, Wis.-based Marten Transport recognized company drivers Serafin “Skip” Costello III and Fredrick Rochon, each for driving 1 million miles safely… Ryder System Inc., based in Miami, was awarded Delphi’s 2010 Above & Beyond Award for outstanding service and announced Drivers of the Year with carrier customers: Coy Bean, Honda Transportation; John Stotts, The New Bakery Co. of Ohio; and Melvin Cairns, Florida Power & Light…Green Bay, Wis.-based Schneider National company driver Mark DeSotel was honored for driving 4 million accident-free miles… USA Dry Van Logistics, based in McAllen, Texas, named Jesus Duarte and Manuel Flores its 2010 Drivers of the Year.

Boyd Bros. Transportation, based in Clayton, Ala., honored company drivers Theodore Shears and Stevie Verges for logging 2 million miles accident-free. Shears has driven for the flatbed carrier for 21 years while Verges has been with the fleet for 16 years. Drivers with the best mileage per gallon are Wayne Loesch, non-APU, and Larry McInnis, APU. Willie Brown is Safe Driver of the Year. Michael Richardson is Driver of the Year.

HONORS

American Central Transport Inc., based in Liberty, Mo., named Edmund Bruce Gray the 2010 Safety Star Driver of the Year… Fort Dodge, Iowa-based Decker Truck Lines Inc. named Drivers of the Month — for February and March, respectively — Jim Rowe and Kenny Clark in the flatbed division and Robert Dodds and Ben Hubbard in the reefer-van division… Pacific, Wash.-based Gordon Trucking Inc. team drivers Jim and Jo Bailey were honored for driving 5 million safe miles, and the carrier’s Brian Runnels was chosen as January Driver of the Month by the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association… Republic Moving & Storage, based in Chula Vista, Calif., won the 2010 Moving and Storage Agent of the Year Service Award, the American Moving & Storage Association’s top honor.

PAY

Crete Carrier Corp. has raised starting driver pay 2 cents per practical mile at Crete Carrier and Shaffer Trucking… Hunt Transportation, based in Omaha, Neb., raised starting and existing pay 2 cents per mile and owner-operator mileage pay 4 cents… Western Express, based in Nashville, Tenn., raised its starting pay 2 cents per mile for flatbed and dry van drivers.

EXPANSIONS

Integrated Freight Corp., based in Sarasota, Fla., bought refrigerated hauler Cross Creek Trucking, based in Medford, Ore.

Larry Lewis was awarded $5,000 by Prime, Inc., based in Springfield, Mo., for driving 3 million miles with no preventable accidents. Prime drivers recognized for driving 1 million accident-free miles are Michael J. Benisz , Charles E. Jones, Karrie Mann, James Patrick, David Smith and Gary Vandokkenburg.

HONORS

Bay & Bay Transportation, based in Rosemount, Minn., awarded its highest, Top Dawg awards to Vladimir Yablonkin, bulk division; Kevin Wojtasiak, company driver division; and Bob Herber, owner-operator division…Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based CRST Expedited recognized Joseph Scherbring, who has driven 4.6 million accident-free miles in a 40-year career. Driving at least 1 million accident-free miles are Edgar Ayer Jr., David Begnell, John Ham, Forest Henning, William Korsgren, Earl Mallory, Gregory Moser, Michael Strizak, Reginald Walker and Gilbert Weekley… CRST International, also of Cedar Rapids, was presented with the Patriot Award for the carrier’s support of the Iowa National Guard and Reserve… Decker Truck Line, based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, named Ed Woodruff, of the flatbed division, and Tom Singer, of the reefer-van division, its January 2011 Drivers of the Month…Ed Tillman was named Little Rock, Ark.-based Maverick Transportation’s 2010 Driver of the Year.

EXPANSIONS

Dallas-based FFE Transportation Services opened a new 92,102-sq.-ft. service center in Ontario, Calif., for the less-than-truckload market… Greatwide Logistics Services, also based in Dallas, bought Overton Transportation, a Sysco Corp. subsidiary based in La Vergne, Tenn.