The American Trucking Associations Jan. 12 announced Captains of the 2011-2012 America’s Road Team. The premier group of million-mile, accident-free truck drivers will spend the next two years representing the trucking industry and delivering its highway safety message.
These 18 drivers, with a collective 483 years behind the wheel and over 36.5 million accident-free miles, were selected from 34 finalists. 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 puts an impressive face behind the wheel,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “These ambassadors to the industry have remarkable safe driving records and an unmatched enthusiasm for their job and for the industry.”
ATA created America’s Road Team in 1986. It continues today with the support of Volvo Trucks North America. “Volvo Trucks congratulates the highly skilled drivers chosen to serve as trucking industry ambassadors in 2011 and 2012,” said Ron Huibers, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Volvo Trucks North America.
While maintaining their jobs as full-time professional drivers, the new America’s Road Team Captains will travel the country speaking on behalf of the trucking industry to the community, news media and public officials.
To be nominated to serve as an America’s 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.
The captains are Willie Atkinson and Danny Fuller of Con-way Freight; Gary G. Babbitt of Central Freight Lines; Joe Allen Boyd and Kenny Lowry of Wal-Mart Transportation; David Boyer, Nate McCarty and Tim McElwaney of ABF Freight System; Randall Dee Briggs and Alphonso Lewis of YRC; Samuel Douglas Lee of Old Dominion Freight Line; Dennis Martin and Roger L. Nicholson UPS Freight; J.W. Ray of Werner Enterprises; Dion Saiz and Brooks Washburn of FedEx Freight; Jeffrey Wade of Southeastern Freight Line; and Robert L. Weller of Hahn Transportation.
For more information go to www.americasroadteam.com.