Share the Road, America's Road Team Programs Saluted
America's Road Team members by John Sommers II for Transport TopicsPHILADELPHIA — Incoming Chairman Pat Thomas proudly introduced American Trucking Associations’ top ambassadors at the annual Management Conference & Exhibition on Oct. 19 here.
America’s Road Team and Share the Road do “a tremendous job of bringing positive attention to our industry and making a difference on our highways,” Thomas said. “Safety is their No. 1 priority. Share the Road is making a difference in saving lives and is recognized around the country as the premier safety program.”
The programs spread the word about how to stay safe on America’s roads. Stephen Roy, president of North American sales and marketing for Mack Trucks Inc., noted that accidents involving trucks and passenger vehicles decreased 18% from 2003 to 2013 despite an increase in miles driven.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Share the Road has had a significant impact,” Roy said of the program, which Mack is sponsoring for a 14th year.
Share the Road reaches millions of drivers each year to convey the message of how to safely and responsibly drive around large trucks. Michelin also announced the renewal of its sponsorship of the program, which is supported by Hyundai, Omnitracs, PrePass, SmartDrive, Spireon and TA/Petro.
“Through the work of the Share the Road highway safety program, America’s Road Team and the Interstate One [the latter’s specially equipped] tractor-trailer, millions of Americans are exposed to a message of truck safety, essentiality and professionalism each year,” ATA President Bill Graves said. “These programs work diligently to carry out important missions that make America’s roads a safer place for all of us, and none of this could be done without the generous support of our sponsors and supporters.”
Nineteen members of America’s Road Team — a group of professional drivers that travels the nation delivering messages to millions of people, including students who are learning to drive, about the importance of safety and the importance of the trucking industry — were saluted at MCE. The 19 Road Team captains have driven more than 30 million accident-free miles during their collective 454 years in the industry.
America’s Road Team for 2015-16:
• Henry Bruster, UPS Freight, Woodville, Mississippi
• Ricardo Buitrago, Con-way Freight, Kissimmee, Florida
• Charles Demchock II, Wal-Mart Transportation, Cocoa, Florida
• Eric Flick, FedEx Freight, Dayton, Nevada
• David Green, Werner Enterprises, Hot Springs, Arkansas
• Neil Kirk, Penske Logistics, Middletown, New York
• Randall Luschen, Weinrich Truck Line Inc., Merrill, Iowa
• John McKown, UPS Freight, East Berlin, Pennsylvania
• Chad Miller, ABF Freight System Inc., Crown Point, Indiana
• Bill Minor, Con-way Freight, West Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Eric Ramsdell, Wal-Mart Transportation, Wittmann, Arizona
• Paul Savill, UPS Freight, Hamilton, Ohio
• Russell Simpson, Holland Inc., South Vienna, Ohio
• Danny Smith, Big G Express, Shelbyville, Tennessee
• Tim Vogt, Con-way Freight, Loganville, Georgia
• Kirk Weis, ABF Freight System Inc., Rio Rancho, New Mexico
• William West, ABF Freight System Inc., Roopville, Georgia
• Derrick Whittle, Cargo Transporters, Fieldale, Virginia
• Scott Woodrome, FedEx Freight, Middletown, Ohio
Interstate One, which includes a simulator, is pulled by a Volvo VNL 780. Volvo is the solo sponsor of America’s Road Team, which is supported by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Omnitracs, TA/Petro and U.S. Legal Services.
