TORONTO – The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is pleased to announce that seven outstanding drivers have been named to the 2011-2012 OTA Road Knights Team. The members of the 2011-2012 Road Knight Team were selected due to their impeccable driving record, demonstrated commitment to safety and desire to share their trucking industry expertise.
This is the 9th team the OTA has assembled since the program was launched in 1995. This year’s OTA Road Knights Team is sponsored in part by the OTA Allied Trades Division, who demonstrated their generous support of Team by becoming an annual sponsor.
The 2011-2012 OTA Road Knights are:
Jack Fielding, Bison Transport Inc.
Robin Seale, Erb Group of Companies
John Boneschansker, Laidlaw Carriers Van LP
Barry Wicklum, Meyers Transport
Ravinder Athwal, Municipal Tank Lines
Fran Gooderham, Thomson Terminals Limited
Daniel Santoro, Trimac Transportation Services LP
Over the next two years, the Road Knights will present important road sharing tips to motorists, raise awareness of the vital role trucking plays in the economy, talk to young people about careers in the trucking industry and represent the trucking industry at community events, business club meetings, driver education classes, public schools, truck driving schools and to the media. Collectively, members of OTA’s nine teams have appeared on hundreds of local, national and international news programs and met with hundreds of thousands of community residents.
The team was selected by a panel of judges representing many disciplines. This year’s selection panel included representatives from: Ministry of Transportation, Truck News magazine, Today’s Trucking/HighwayStar, 680 News Radio, Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, a member of the previous Road Knights team, members of the OTA Allied Trades Board and OTA staff.
Each of the candidates who were short listed for the program were required to deliver a well organized and clearly presented speech before the panel of judges, undergo a screening of their safety records, submit a detailed application outlining why they want to become a team member and then participate in a rigorous interview by the selection panel. The 2011-2012 OTA Road Knights Team will complete training and begin community outreach in March.
