American Trucking Associations’ Safety Management Council recognized outstanding drivers, executives and trucking companies at the Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, California. David Boyer, a professional truck driver with ABF Freight and an America’s Road Team Captain, was honoured as trucking’s 2018 National Driver of the Year.
“The trucking industry is made up of millions of individuals whose primary focus day to day is on safety – how to practice safe driving, incentivize safety, and enhance safety outcomes on a large scale,” said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. “Because trucking is defined by our approach to safety, ATA and ATA’s Safety Management Council understand how important it is to recognize leaders in the safety field, like David Boyer, and we work hard to celebrate their achievements.”
The National Driver of the Year Award annually recognizes one exceptional driver for noteworthy and career-long professional achievements, holding a stellar safety record, and maintaining a dedication to keeping the roads safe.
The driver is selected from a pool of exceptional state Drivers of the Year submitted by ATA’s affiliated state trucking associations. Each candidates’ qualifications are first reviewed by a group of industry safety professional judges. These judges then narrow the field of nominees to a group of finalists who are judged by an impartial panel of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and law enforcement representatives, who select the award winner. The 2018 National Driver of the Year Award is sponsored by EROAD.
Boyer recently attended an October 17 White House event at which President Trump heard about his achievements. He is in his 47th year as a professional truck driver and has driven more than 5 million safe miles throughout his career.
Boyer is a 40-year veteran of ABF Freight and drives an average of 150,000 miles per year.
“David is a first-rate truck driver and representative of our industry, always jumping at a chance to talk about safety or share his trucking experiences with the motoring public,” said ATA EVP, Industry Affairs and COO Elisabeth Barna. “His commitment to the trucking industry, his family, and his company are as impressive as his safe driving record and we could not be more pleased that the selection committee chose David as the 2018 National Driver of the Year.”
In October, Boyer coordinated high school safety demonstrations through ATA’s Share the Road safety program, teaching thousands of Virginia and West Virginia students about truck blind spots, stopping distances and distracted driving. He hosts annual multi-week safety demonstrations for young drivers each year in Virginia and West Virginia.
As a prolific truck driving championships competitor at both the state and national levels, Boyer has won two state titles and appeared at the National Truck Driving Championships. He was also awarded the 2016 Virginia Governor’s Transportation Safety Award, named the 2018 Virginia Driver of the Year, and has been recognized with 39 years of annual safety awards. Boyer was named an America’s Road Team Captain in 2011.
