Industry Representatives Honored With Trucking Awards
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J&M Tank Lines, the Nebraska Trucking Association and professional driver Rhonda Hartman of Old Dominion Freight Lines have been named as recipients of the 2020 American Trucking Associations’ Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards.
At an Oct. 26 session of ATA’s Management Conference & Exhibition, Elisabeth Barna, chief operating officer and executive vice president of industry affairs for ATA, announced the winners of the Russell award. The honor recognizes people or groups that demonstrate excellence in illustrating the industry’s essentiality, professionalism and commitment to safety on and off the highways.
“All of you watching today should be proud of what you have done to showcase our industry, and proud of how you adapted to a national crisis,” Barna said.
First awarded in 2007, the Mike Russell Trucking Image award has been sponsored by HireRight since 2014. Russell was a former ATA vice president of public affairs.
“This year has certainly been a challenging year, but a year where we have seen the trucking industry gain incredible momentum in the way we are perceived,” Barna said.
J&M Tank Lines was recognized by ATA for its work promoting the industry on social media and in the community, working to improve drivers’ morale while providing important health and safety information during the pandemic. “This company has a robust social media presence and is always pumping up their workforce, and gets their drivers involved in everything they do,” Barna said.
Elisabeth Barna, chief operating officer and executive VP of industry affairs for ATA, announced the winners of the Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards. (Transport Topics)
J&M ranks No. 22 on the Transport Topics Top Tank Truck/Bulk Carriers list.
The Nebraska Trucking Association, a leader in ATA’s federation, delivered meals to drivers delivering essential goods this year, while promoting the image of the industry in local media and partnering with the state’s chamber of commerce to recognize drivers as essential workers, ATA said.
“Every day, they were supporting and promoting the trucking industry in a new way,” Barna said.
Hartman, an America’s Road Team Captain, has used her more than 37 years of experience as a driver to educate the public about the role of trucking in their lives. This year, she participated in the convoy honoring the centennial of Louisa Swain being the first woman to cast a ballot in the United States. In all, Hartman has logged nearly 3 million accident-free miles and is passionate about recruiting women into the trucking profession, Barna said.
Rhonda Hartman of Old Dominion Freight Line participated in the convoy honoring the centennial of Louisa Swain being the first woman to vote in the United States. (Transport Topics)
Also on Oct. 26, Randy Guillot, ATA chairman and president of New Orleans-based Triple G Express, was awarded ATA’s 2020 Highway to Victory Award, which acknowledges outstanding industry advocacy efforts.
Catherine Evans, vice president of legislative affairs for ATA, gives the 2020 Highway to Victory Award to Randy Guillot, ATA chairman and president of Triple G Express. (Transport Topics)
Catherine Evans, vice president of legislative affairs for ATA, who presented the award to Guillot, said that Guillot testified virtually twice before congressional committees and led the industry in successfully getting tort reform in Louisiana.
“His efforts to effectively communicate our industry’s priorities will no doubt serve us all well,” Evans said. “His passion for tort reform on punching back at the trial bar has been equally impressive. In particular, he has been relentless in coordinating with state and local officials to combat the scourge of self-serving litigation that has plagued our industry in recent years.”
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