One of the key events at every Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Annual Convention is the honoring of various members for their achievements and their service to the trucking industry. The meeting held this week in Orlando was no exception:
Past Chairman’s Award
The Past Chairman’s Award was presented to David G. McCorkle, chairman of the board for McCorkle Truck Line, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK. The Past Chairman's award is given to recognized industry leaders who make a significant contribution to the business community, the industry and TCA. It is the highest award of recognition given by the Association.
McCorkle, a TCA member for 28 years, has held numerous positions within the organization, most notably serving as founding chairman of the Dump Transport Division when TCA was known as the Interstate Truckload Carriers Conference. He has also worked extensively within the American Trucking Associations, serving as vice president at-large from 1996-97 and state vice president from Oklahoma for the decade from 1986-1996. McCorkle also served as chairman of the board for the Associated Motor Carriers of Oklahoma from 1985-86.
“David McCorkle has been a true friend to the TCA and to the trucking industry in general. It was a pleasure to grant him our highest award of recognition,” said Jim O’Neal, TCA’s past chairman and president of O & S Trucking, Inc., Springfield, MO.
Annual National Fleet Safety Awards
The grand prize winners of the 33rd Annual National Fleet Safety Awards were Rocha Transportation of Modesto, CA, which won the award for truckload companies with a total annual mileage under 25 million miles and Roehl Transport, Inc. of Marshfield, WI, which won in the category for truckload companies with a total annual mileage over 25 million miles.
The two grand prize winners were selected from among 18 division winners in the National Fleet Safety Division Awards announced in January. Both companies had to demonstrate that they strive to meet stringent standards in their overall safety programs, on and off the highway, and were judged to be the best in their commitment to improving safety on our nation's highways. They will be recognized a second time during TCA’s 2009 Safety & Security Division Annual Meeting, May 17 – 19 in Louisville, KY.
For a complete list of safety award winners, visit TCA’s website.
Best Fleets to Drive For
TCA partnered with CarriersEdge, a provider of online driver improvement programs, to present the first annual Best Fleets to Drive For survey and contest. Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc. of Fremont, NB, was selected in the category for fleets with over 100 power units, and Wannemacher Enterprises of Lima, OH was selected in the category for fleets with under 100 power units.
Company Equipment Driver of the Year
Three TCA-member company drivers were honored as the nation's best. The awards were based on the drivers' excellent safety records, unblemished work histories, and involvement in the community and industry.
The Grand Prize Winner was James Loveland of Willis Shaw Express, Elm Springs, AR. Loveland has been a truck driver for Willis Shaw Express since 1998. In that time, he has logged more than 1.6 million accident-free, truckload miles. Over the course of his truck driving career, he has accumulated numerous awards, including being inducted into the 1½ million Mile Club, receiving a 10-year Safe Driving Award and being selected as Company Driver of the Year and Company Driver of the Month.
Robert Harmeyer of Batesville Casket Company, Batesville, IN and Ralph Boles of Bison Transport, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba were the second and third place winners, respectively. Like Loveland, both drivers will receive a number of gifts to help celebrate their achievements.
Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award
The Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc. (PTDI) presented the 11th annual Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award to two recipients: Don Hess, director, transportation and public safety, John Wood Community College, Quincy, IL, and Ed Kynaston, a retired chief of the California Highway Patrol, living in Elk Grove, CA.
The award is given to a person(s) who exemplifies the overall message of PTDI, of which Lee Crittenden was a strong supporter until his death in 1998. This is the first time in the history of the award that this honor has been given to two individuals.
