Salutes

Decker Drivers
Decker Truck Line has named Michael Featherston as the August 2006 Driver/Owner-Operator of the Month for the company’s flatbed division and Chris Cordie as the Driver of the Month for the Reefer/Van division.

Featherston lives in Wilmer, Texas, with his wife, Pamela. He is based out of the Birmingham, Ala., terminal and has been with Decker since March 2002. Cordie has been with Decker since November 2005 and lives in Klemme, Iowa, with his wife, Jamie, and their three kids.


Wheaton Honorees
Wheaton World Wide Moving recently honored six individuals as Drivers of the Month for July and August 2006.

It recognized driver Michael O’Shea of Bend, Ore., for the July award. A three-time Driver of the Month, O’Shea has safely driven more than 1.2 million miles since joining the company in 1996. Scott Knight of White Knight Transport Services in Monmouth, Ore., also received the July honor. Gary Alcumbrack with Gilmore Moving & Storage in Pensacola, Fla., was the Driver of the Month in the intermittent fleet. Alcumbrack has logged more than 86,000 safe miles since 2005.

The August Driver of the Month award for the permanent fleet went to Ken Fox of Brooksville, Fla. A first-time winner, Fox has more than 350,000 safe miles since joining the fleet in July 1994. Larry Marion of Sevierville, Tenn., received the August intermittent fleet recognition, and Hugh Turner of Kansas City, Mo., was the direct lease honoree.


FFE Driver Gets Free Truck
One year after winning the use of a new Freightliner truck, Clyde Williams, a driver for FFE Transportation Services Inc., celebrated National Truck Driver Appreciation Week by taking permanent ownership of his rig.

On Aug. 29, 2005, Williams won the FFE Great Truck Giveaway as part of the 2005 National Driver Appreciation Week celebration. The company officially handed him the title to the truck after he had driven accident-free for one year.


Kreilkamp Donates Trucks to School
Allenton, Wis.-based Kreilkamp Trucking recently donated three company tractors to the commercial truck driving program at Waukesha County Technical College.


Truck Rodeo
Rick Boone, a five-year veteran with Witte Brothers Exchange, won first place in the company’s truck rodeo.

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The truck rodeo included various skills competitions including serpentine back into a blind-side dock. The event was a part of Witte Bros., driver and family appreciation celebration during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in August.


Drivers of the Month
Minnesota-based truckload carrier Transport America named six Drivers of the Month for July 2006.

Emmanuel Agbale, a professional driver instructor and previous Driver of the Month, Driver of the Year and Million Mile Safety Award recipient, was one of the professional contractors to win the award along with Peggy and Ronald Shrout, drivers with the company for 17 years. In addition, Leonard Litzau, a driver with Transport America for 21 years and recipient of the 2 Million Miles Accident Free award, received the honor.

Among the company drivers who received the award were Gordon Hutton, who has been with Transport America for seven months, and Todd Carson, a professional driver instructor who has been there for one year. Donald Wilson, a company driver for the past 11 years, was also honored.


WTI Opens Training Facility
WTI Transport recently opened a training facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where experienced over-the-road drivers can train to pull a flatbed.

The facility, which welcomed its first class on Aug. 21, consists of a large, indoor classroom capable of holding up to 25 students. Hands-on training is available outside using two trailers loaded with different types of freight. There, drivers learn to properly secure their loads by strapping and tarping.

A tractor-trailer is also set up to allow drivers to review pre-trip inspections, and a skills course tests their ability to turn and maneuver.


Pay Raises
Heartland Express has announced a pay raise for company drivers in the Jacksonville, Fla., region to $.43 per mile for top drivers. Heartland also has increased pay for drivers with hazmat endorsements by a penny per mile for all dispatch miles, hazardous or not.

The company also is increasing its OTR driver pay by 4 cents in 2006, making its top driver pay $.50 per mile.


CFI Drivers of the Month
Contract Freighters Inc. has named its monthly driver award recipients for July 2006.

Howard Williams is Company Driver of the Month. The Bronaugh, Mo., resident started driving for CFI in 1998 and has more than 2.4 million miles under his belt.

John Dotzler and Alicia Cardenas are Company Team of the Month. They began driving for CFI in 2002, and live in Las Cruces, N.M.

Marvin Peck is Contractor Driver of the Month. The Bartlesville, Okla., resident started his tenure at CFI in 1984.

David and Shirley Schrader are Contractor Team of the Month. The Everton, Mo., couple began their careers at CFI in 1997.

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