Central Freight Lines Wins Top Honors

(Dallas, Tex.)-Central Freight Lines, Inc. is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the American Trucking Associations, Inc. (ATA) President's Trophy for 2008.

The highest transportation safety award in the United States, the President's Trophy, is presented annually to only three motor carriers, in one of three categories: under 25 million miles, 25-100 million miles, and over 100 million miles driven annually. Central receives this honor in the 25-100 million miles category and was designated by judging officials to have the most complete and effective Fleet Safety Programs within the industry.

 Susan Chandler, Executive Director of Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council of ATA, indicated that Central was "... judged most outstanding on the basis of its safety record, programs and community outreach activities."  

According to company officials, this award comes as a result of the hard work of the employees throughout the 83 year history of Central Freight Lines. The entire management team and employee workforce have worked together to "maintain a culture in which Central and Safety are synonymous. It is an immense honor for a company to be viewed as the standard-bearer among all carriers."

In winning this award, Central Freight Lines has accomplished something that is unsurpassed by any other carrier in the world--they've been the recipient of this honor a total of five times in the last 25 years. In addition, they've maintained the highest safety recognitions possible without the inception of technological devices.

"Our secret is that we hire good people that care about safety," Bill Wilson, Vice President of Human Resources, Risk Management and Safety, said. "The drivers that we hire care about the job that they do and they care about the safety of others. Our culture inspires a commitment to quality. It's what our culture is all about."

Winners of the President's Trophy were formally announced at the ATA Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council's Safety & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition, Sept. 24-26, 2008, in Nashville, Tenn, during the awards banquet on Friday, Sept. 26.

Central Freight Lines qualified by receiving a first place award in the General Commodities Truck Load (LTL) Line-Haul Division, 20-50 million miles driven category; a third place award in the General Commodities Less-than-Truckload (LTL) Line-Haul Division, 10-50 million miles driven category; and a fifth place finish in the General Commodities Less-than-Truckload (LTL) Local (P&D) Division, 10-50 million miles driven category.

Wilson continues, "At Central Freight Lines, safety goes hand in hand with quality. This performance record is something to be cherished and serves as a benchmark for successful programs throughout the motor transportation industry. To be called upon to provide guidance and information to safety organizations and to other companies is a significant honor and one our employees and management cherish."

ATA President's Trophy Award

The ATA President's Trophy is awarded to three divisions of motor carriers, distinguished by carrier size and the numbers of miles driven during the contest year. To be eligible, participants must submit an exhibit that has earned first, second, or third place in its division and category during the annual Truck Safety Contests. Competition is open to all trucking companies in America.

Judging is completed in two phases. The first phase is completed by the Safety Directors and Vice Presidents of American Trucking Companies, who are members of the ATA Safety Management Council. This group selects three finalists from each division, who are placed into phase two of the judging process. Phase two involves judges selected from the Administration Agencies in Washington, DC. Agencies that regularly provide judges for this event are the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, the Federal Highway Administration, the Virginia State Police Department, and the Maryland State Police Authority.

About Central Freight Lines

Headquartered in Waco, Texas, Central Freight Lines is a less-than-truckload (LTL) for-hire common motor carrier of general freight commodities. Founded in 1925, the company is privately owned by Mr. Jerry Moyes of Phoenix, Ariz. and operates from more than 53 terminals nationwide.

Central Freight Lines is recognized throughout the United States for its on-going accomplishments in safety, compliance and quality. Along with the ATA President's trophy, Central has been repeatedly recognized by state and national safety councils, by state and national associations, by governmental agencies at all levels and by compliance and enforcement bodies. Many Central employees have been named State Drivers of the Year, National Drivers of the Year and Captains on the ATA America's Road Team. In addition, one driver received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Honor for Heroism.

Among other honors, the company was also selected by the US Department of Transportation's (DOT), Transportation Safety Institute, located in Oklahoma City, to be their poster carrier based on Central's exemplary record of safety, compliance and association activities that promote good will and highway safety in America. For more information, contact Central Freight Lines at 800-782-5036 or visit them online at www.centralfreight.com.

Individual listed in attached photo include: from left, Bill Wilson, Vice President of Risk Management for Central Freight Lines, Ron Fuller, Driver and Safety Instructor for Central Freight Lines, Gary Babbitt, Driver and Safety Instructor for Central Freight Lines, and Gary Thomas, Safety Consultant for Central Freight Lines.

###