American Trucking Associations (ATA) is seeking nominations for elite professional drivers to serve on the 2021-22 America’s Road Team.
“For 34 years, the captains of America’s Road Team have represented the very best our industry has to offer,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “These elite drivers have proudly represented the best ideals and values of our industry, including safety, professionalism and patriotism. These men and women typify the positive impact the trucking industry has on communities across the nation. We are proud to continue this tradition and select the next group of outstanding individuals to become America’s Road Team Captains.”
Founded in 1986, America’s Road Team, a group of highly accomplished professional truck drivers with incredible safety records, promotes the trucking industry by educating the general public, media and elected officials about the industry’s safety record and importance to the economy.
Every two years, a new group of Captains is selected to join the ranks of America’s Road Team and serve as the industry’s foremost ambassadors. America’s Road Team Captains become the face of the trucking industry, attending key events alongside elected officials, appearing on national media broadcasts and championing the industry at schools and community events in every state. The professional drivers, all of whom have millions of accident-free miles, take a few days away from their companies each month to meet with the motoring public, students, transportation officials and public policymakers to educate and teach about safe driving practices by preforming demonstrations, and explaining the sustainable role that trucking plays in the nation's economy.
“I have driven through a lot of gates in my life, but never did I think I would drive through the gates of the White House,” said America’s Road Team Captain Tina Peterson, who drivers for FedEx Freight. “America’s Road Team has allowed me to be involved with truck safety advocacy on the frontlines.”
ATA members are encouraged to nominate professional truck drivers who exhibit strong interpersonal skills, have impressive safety records, and demonstrate a positive attitude toward the industry and their careers as professional truck drivers. Nominations for the 2021-22 class of America’s Road Team are due Aug 17.
“When people think of the ‘professional truck driver,’ they envision a passionate, safe, patriotic, hard-working person who is constantly making a positive impact in their community, while delivering freight safely and securely to homes and businesses across America,” said Elisabeth Barna, ATA’s executive vice president of industry affairs. “America’s Road Team Captains exhibit these qualities every day, to advance the industry’s image and policy goals. ATA could not be more excited to select the next class of deserving professionals for this high honor.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on the meaning of an “essential employee,” and given America an opportunity to see firsthand the importance of the trucking industry, ATA said. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Americans have expressed their respect and gratitude for the work that professional truck drivers do every day to keep the economy moving and our communities supplied. As the country begins to move past this crisis, the next class of Road Team Captains will be instrumental in building and continuing this momentum, and furthering educational efforts.
Over the past 34 years, Captains have traveled the country educating millions of individuals on highway safety, trucking’s essentiality and the importance of pride and professionalism in the industry, and also how rewarding and fulfilling a career in trucking can be. Eighteen professional truck drivers make up the 2019-20 America’s Road Team, and together they have more than 36 million combined accident-free miles and 480 years of professional truck driving experience.
“Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) has always championed safety as our No 1 priority, and we celebrate the professional drivers who practice safety not only on the road in their day-to-day work, but also advocate for road safety in their communities," said Magnus Koeck, vice president of marketing and brand management at VTNA. “We are proud to sponsor America’s Road Team and their Captains with a fully equipped Volvo VNL 760. It has the industry’s most cutting-edge safety technologies, along with the best driving and resting environment for these influential drivers.”
To nominate a truck driver for America’s Road Team, read the eligibility requirements and fill out the nomination form. For additional questions go to americasroadteam.com. Finalists will be revealed Nov 6, with the final selection taking place in January 2021 in Arlington VA.
“Being an America’s Road Team Captain allowed me the opportunity to be recognized at a Washington Nationals game during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week,” said ABF Freight System’s David Boyer. “It was a huge honor for me and my family, and a chance for America to learn more about those that deliver essential goods every day.”
