Happy All Saint’s Day!

"The People's Tree" - 2015 Trek To Washington, DC

Representing one of the most patriotic industries in the country, Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has proudly sponsored the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree since 2012. Transportation of the immense tree from its home forest to the grounds of the U.S. Capitol is an annual tradition that began some 50 years ago.

As part of the cross-country journey made on its way to Washington, DC each year, the tree makes stops in dozens of communities along the route. To showcase trucking’s involvement in transporting the tree, TCA works to coordinate stops at major public events.

At noon on October 27, the journey of the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, also known as "The People's Tree" began with the official cutting ceremony in the Chugach National Forest near Seward, Alaska. The 74’ Lutz Spruce is the first U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to come from Alaska, and also the first to be transported by sea. This year, "The People's Tree" will cover roughly 4,000 miles, including ocean transport from Anchorage to Seattle. Along the route, the tree will make 13 stops before reaching its destination on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The lighting of the tree will take place in early December. (Schedule and Details here)

Ralph Garcia Wins ATA Mike Russell Trucking Image Award
New Mexico-based America’s Road Team Captain Honored for Service, Advocacy

On October 18, American Trucking Associations honored Ralph Garcia of Rio Rancho, N. M. as the Mike Russell Trucking Image Award recipient. Garcia is a professional truck driver for ABF Freight System.

“Ralph has been an exceptional voice for the trucking industry for decades and we are all very thankful for the work he has done to improve the industry’s image,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “Ralph’s nationwide work as an America’s Road Team Captain has made a tremendous impact on highway safety and he has been an example of professionalism throughout his career.”

Garcia began his career as a professional truck driver more than 37 years ago and since then has accumulated more than 3.5 million accident-free miles. He was nominated by his company, ABF Freight System, for the Mike Russell Trucking Image Award and has been with the company for the last 23 years.

Garcia is a 17 time New Mexico Truck Driving Champion and in 2009 was named the state Grand Champion. He has competed at the National Truck Driving Championships 33 times and has claimed one 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finish while competing. In 2013, Garcia was awarded the Neil Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award by the National Truck Driving Championship Committee.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the industry, the New Mexico Trucking Association recently created the Ralph Garcia Award to recognize outstanding drivers, making Garcia the first recipient.

The Mike Russell Trucking Image Award celebrates companies, organizations, and individuals who creatively generate positive awareness of the trucking industry. This award, along with other industry initiatives such as Trucking Moves America Forward, aim to highlight the economic necessity and vibrancy, as well as build pride among the industry’s 7 million workers, including 3.2 million professional truck drivers.

In his role as an America’s Road Team Captain, Garcia spends time each month speaking to schools, community groups, news media, legislators and industry and government officials about highway safety and the essentiality of the trucking industry. He was also recently featured by Healthy Trucker as an advocate for spreading wellness messages to other professional truck drivers and industry employees.

“Not only has Ralph been an advocate for the industry and an example of professionalism, he’s also made a significant impact on highway safety through his service as an America’s Road Team Captain.” said Elisabeth Barna, ATA senior vice president for communications and public affairs. “He fully deserves this recognition as a champion of the industry’s image.”

Poll Shows Americans Continue to Believe Trucking is Safe

A new national poll released today found the public continues to believe truck drivers are among the safest on the road and that the industry is essential to the American economy.

The poll, the second commissioned by American Trucking Associations, was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies between August 30 and September 1, surveyed 800 registered voters on their attitudes about politics, the trucking industry and the state of infrastructure.