ATA Commends Share the Road Program, America’s Road Team
SAN DIEGO — The Share the Road highway safety program that American Trucking Associations created to stress safety and responsibility to those who drive around large trucks was feted here by federation executives for its lifesaving messages.
ATA celebrated the program, along with others, during its Management Conference & Exhibition on Oct. 6.
The program’s message, offering specific lifesaving safety tips for those on the road with big rigs, goes to the public via television, radio, the Web and in print campaigns.
“Each year, millions of Americans are exposed to the message of safety, essentiality and professionalism delivered by our Share the Road truck program,” ATA President Bill Graves said.
A choice team of professional truck drivers with millions of miles of accident-free driving are the representatives of the program, which is sponsored by Mack Trucks Inc. and Michelin North America Inc.
Stephen Roy, president of North American sales and marketing for Mack Trucks, was on hand to reiterate the company’s sponsorship of the Share the Road program by providing a 2014 Mack Pinnacle sleeper model. (The first announcement to renew support was made late last month.) The 70-inch high-rise Mack Pinnacle Axle Back sleeper features a Mack MP8 505C engine with 505 horsepower and 1,760 pound-feet of torque. The Pinnacle model is equipped with the Mack mDRIVE automated manual transmission.
Stephen Jahries, vice president of national accounts for Michelin North America, also touted road safety while pledging the company’s ongoing support to provide the tires for the vehicle used in the program.
“Because so much is riding on your tires, we applaud Share the Road for safety,” Jahries said.
Graves also commended those involved in America’s Road Team and Interstate One tractor-trailer for their generous support.
America’s Road Team is made up of professional drivers for some of the industry’s leading transportation companies that get the word out on safety and the value of the trucking industry to millions of people each year.
The corps of drivers who make up the team, called Road Team Captains, collectively have millions of accident-free miles.
The team is sponsored by Volvo Trucks.
“We could not ask for better representatives of our industry than the men and women serving as Road Team Captains,” said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North American sales and marketing.
Volvo has been a sponsor of America’s Road Team for more than a decade, Nyberg said, and pledged to continue the company’s sole sponsorship of the group.
As part of its support, Volvo will donate a 2015 Volvo VNL 780 model for use by America’s Road Team.
The Volvo VNL model will be driven by the new 2015-2016 Road Team Captains selected in January. The new tractor will feature several of Volvo’s advanced safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control with integrated collision avoidance, an electronic stability program and Volvo’s I-Shift automated manual transmission.
Interstate One is ATA’s image show truck with a mobile classroom and simulator, where the public gets an up-close look at the trucking industry.
It, too, is sponsored by Volvo Trucks, with additional support by Lytx, TA/Petro and Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems.
“The companies that sponsor and support our image programs go above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to safety,” said Elisabeth Barna, who heads image and outreach advocacy at ATA.
Barna also recognized the member companies who support the programs by allowing their drivers to participate. “These trucks don’t move without them, and we are truly grateful for their support,” she said.
