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America’s Road Team Finalists Announced by ATA
Drivers with 77.6 Million Combined Safe-Driving Miles Move on to Final Round

American Trucking Associations named 33 professional truck drivers as finalists in the selection process to become Captains on the 2017-2018 America’s Road Team.

“These professional drivers were chosen as finalists for America’s Road Team because they are proven industry ambassadors with long safety records and professionalism that projects a positive image of our industry’s 3.5 million truck drivers,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “America’s Road Team will continue to serve as a voice for the trucking industry and build on its 30-year legacy of educating the public on highway safety and the trucking industry’s important role in our economy. We are honored to have these finalists participate in this prestigious selection process and I look forward to meeting them in January.”

America’s Road Team, a group of professional truck drivers with superior safety records, was created in 1986 to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks.

“America’s Road Team’s grassroots efforts are closely aligned with our mission at Volvo Trucks,” said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “From conversations with a Captain, a member of the media or public official can walk away with an entirely different perspective of our industry. Those types of impressions are invaluable and help change the national conversation about trucking.”

The 33 professional truck drivers now move on to the final round of the selection process, being held January 8-12 in Arlington, Va. A panel of industry officials and trucking news media will judge the contestants on their knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s messages and overall safe driving record. The finalists, with a combined total of 77.6 million safe-driving miles and 893 years as professional truck drivers, are highway safety experts eager to share their message with the motoring public.

The newly chosen 2017-2018 America’s Road Team will be announced on January 12.  New Captains, after receiving their signature navy blue America’s Road Team blazer, will begin working to share the industry’s message of safety, essentiality and sustainability with the motoring public, media, business groups, public officials and their fellow truck drivers around the country.

"Being named a finalist for America’s Road Team is a major achievement for professional truck drivers and ATA congratulates each of them for this accomplishment,” said ATA COO and Executive Vice President of Industry Affairs Elisabeth Barna. “On this list you’ll find drivers with millions of safe-driving miles, state truck driving championship winners, community leaders and role models in their companies.”

To be nominated to serve as an America’s Road Team Captain, professional truck drivers must be employed or leased to an ATA member company. Each nominee should have an excellent safety record, and should demonstrate an ability to communicate his or her commitment to safety and passion for the industry. Nominees should also portray a positive image of the professional truck driver in all that they do.

The finalists include:
Steve Brand, FedEx Freight, Union, Ohio
Jon Brockway, Walmart Transportation, Westbrook, Maine
Brad Coffey, TCW, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Bobby Covert, UPS Freight, Lexington, Kentucky
Scott Davis, ABF Freight, Kearney, Missouri
Duane Donner, Walmart Transportation, Litchfield Park, Arizona
Donald Forrest, FedEx Freight, Winter Haven, Florida
John Gaddy, Carbon Express, Asbury, New Jersey
W. Scott Harrison, K-Limited Carriers, Cincinnati, Ohio
Rhonda Hartman, Old Dominion Freight Line, Des Moines, Iowa
Gary Helms, Covenant Transport, Cleveland, Tennessee
Duane “Rusty” Holmes, UPS Freight, Odenville, Alabama
Bill Krouse, YRC Freight, Shakopee, Minnesota
David Livingston, TCW, Springfield, Georgia
Charles Lobsiger, Walmart Transportation, Alachua, Florida
Ronnie Luckadoo, UPS Freight, Forest City, North Carolina
Thomas McIntosh, YRC Freight, Aurora, Colorado
Tim Melody, ABF Freight, Payette, Idaho
James Moore, Saia LTL Freight, Magnolia, Texas
Chris Outen, FedEx Freight, Vancouver, Washington
Charlton Paul Jr., UPS Freight, Chester, New York
Jeff Payne, Reddaway, Cedar City, Utah
James Quarles, Walmart Transportation, Laurens, South Carolina
Larry Rhein, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Arkansas
Stephen Richardson, Big G Express, Decatur, Alabama
Michael Sheeds, Werner Enterprises, Bandera, Texas
Steven Smalley, ABF Freight, Mesa, Arizona
Gary Smith, Garner Trucking, Gomer, Ohio
James Starr, Groendyke Transport, Wichita, Kansas
Chris Sutton, UPS Freight, Erie, Pennsylvania
Barney “Earl” Taylor, Penske Logistics, Orlando, Florida
Tim Taylor, FedEx Freight, Valdosta, Georgia
Jimmie Wisley, YRC Freight, Wichita, Kansas

Frank Calvert Earns National Truck Driver of the Year Title

Trucking Safety and Security Awards Presented to Winners in Oklahoma City
American Trucking Associations’ Safety Management Council recognized outstanding trucking leaders at the Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Oklahoma City. Frank Calvert, professional truck driver with AAA Cooper, was honored as the industry’s National Truck Driver of the Year.

“Awards like these are the trucking industry’s acknowledgement of worthwhile effort applied to the area that matters most to our industry – safety,” said American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear. “Safety defines our value system, so whether you’re a million mile accident-free driver or an executive that dedicates resources to safety investments, we want you to know that you’re making a difference on the highways.”

Calvert, who was awarded the 2016 National Driver of the Year trophy on stage in Las Vegas at ATA’s Management Conference and Exhibition earlier this month, is in the middle of his 60th year as a professional truck driver. He was also named the Alabama Driver of the Year in April.

The Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition also set the stage for the presentation of several other key trucking safety and security awards.

The Tennessee Trucking Association was honored with the State Excellence Award, given annually to a state trucking association making innovative and impactful progress on promoting safety to their members.

The ATA President’s Award was given to three companies who exhibited safety excellence in their daily operations:

Gorski Bulk Transport, Detroit, Mich., for fleets under 25 million miles
TCW Inc., Nashville, Tenn., for fleets between 25 million and 100 million miles
Old Dominion Freight Line, Thomasville, N.C., for fleets with more than 100 million miles.

Lisa Gonnerman Honored as National Safety Director of the Year

Longtime Safety Advocate Presented Trucking Industry’s Premier Safety Award

American Trucking Associations’ Safety Management Council announced Lisa Gonnerman of Ruan Transportation as the winner of the 2016 National Safety Director Award. The award was presented at the ATA Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Oklahoma City.

“By establishing strong safety cultures throughout her career in trucking, Lisa has made a significant impact on highway safety and undoubtedly saved lives,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “The trucking industry is fortunate to have committed safety leaders, like Lisa, and ATA is proud to recognize individuals who make safety their top priority.”

Under Gonnerman’s supervision, Ruan Transportation’s safety culture was reinvigorated, in part because of Gonnerman’s creation of a safety training program titled MegaSafe7. According to Ruan’s leadership team, Gonnerman’s development of the program empowered Ruan employees to take ownership of their safe driving behaviors and spread safety messages throughout the company.

Gonnerman is an active leader not only in her company, but in initiatives throughout the trucking industry, including ATA’s Safety Management Council committees and Iowa Motor Truck Association committees. She currently serves as chairman of the ATA Safety Management Council’s Regulations Committee.