Professional Truck Drivers Selected as America's Road Team Finalists

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Oct 20, 2014, 03:58 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations today named 32 professional truck drivers as finalists in the selection process to become Captains on the 2015-2016 America's Road Team.

"The professional drivers selected as finalists are great industry ambassadors," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "These professionals all have impressive driving records, share a passion for safety and are engaged in their communities. We are honored to have them 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.

The 32 professional truck drivers now move on to the final round of the selection process, which will be held January 11-14 in Arlington. 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 newly chosen 2015-2016 America's Road Team will be announced on January 14. 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, news media, business and community leaders, public officials and their fellow drivers across the nation.

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:

Paul D. Brandon, Fed Ex Freight, Oxford, Conn.

Henry Bruster, UPS Freight, Woodville, Miss.

Richard Buitrago, Con-way Freight, Kissimmee, Fla.

Gary Lee Capps, UPS Freight, Grantsville, Utah

Kenneth J. Clark, YRC Freight, Desoto, Mo.

David Conkling, Werner Enterprises, Metairie, La.

Charles E. Demchock, II, Walmart Transportation, Cocoa, Fla.

Eric Flick, FedEx Freight, Dayton, Nev.

David Green, Werner Enterprises, Hot Springs, Ark.

Neil Kirk, Penske Logistics, Middletown, N.Y.

Randall Luschen, Weinrich Truck Line, Inc., Merrill, Iowa

Clarence Wilburn Lyons, YRC Freight, Halton City, Texas

Thomas McIntosh, YRC Freight, Aurora, Colo.

John McKown, UP Freight, East Berlin, Penn.

Tim W. Melody, ABF Freight System, Inc., Payette, Idaho

Chad Miller, ABF Freight System, Inc., Crown Point, Ind.

Bill Minor, Con-way Freight, West Milwaukee, Wis.

Brent Quire, Con-way Freight, New Albany, Ind.

Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Transportation, Whitmann, Ariz.

Terry Rankins, Weinrich Truck Line, Inc., Tollesboro, Ky.

Paul Savill, UPS Freight, Hamilton, Ohio

Gary Schmidt, Cliff Viessman, Inc., Fergus Falls, Minn.

Russell Simpson, Holland, Inc., South Vienna, Ohio

Danny Smith, Big G Express, Inc., Shelbyville, Tenn.

Clarence Taylor, Walmart Transportation, North Chesterfield, Va.

Stanley J. Thrasher, Danny Herman Trucking, Inc., Boaz, Ala.

Brian K. Turner, Old Dominion Freight Line, Newport, Tenn.

Tim Vogt, Con-way Freight, Loganville, Ga.

Kirk Weis, ABF Freight System, Inc., Rio Rancho, N.M.

William West, ABF Freight System, Inc., Roopville, Ga.

Derrick Whittle, Cargo Transporters, Inc., Fieldale, Va.

Scott D. Woodrome, FedEx Freight, Middletown, Ohio

The America's Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway. www.americasroadteam.com.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations