Alabama Trucking honors its safest members at annual awards banquet
From left, ATA VP of Safety Tim Frazier; ATA Driver of the Year Runner-up Shannon Rowe; Driver of the Year William Brown, Jr.; and ATA CEO Mark Colson pose for a photo during Alabama Trucking’s SMMC Fleet Safety Awards.
Monday night, the Alabama Trucking Association celebrated its members’ continual commitment to industry safety and professionalism at the Safety & Maintenance Management Council’s Fleet Safety Awards Banquet. Nearly 200 families, friends and coworkers gathered at the Pelham Civic Complex to showcase the best of the best of Alabama Trucking while also showcasing all that makes our organization and industry great.
The highlight of the evening was Blair Logistics sweeping the driver category with William Brown earning the Truck Driver of the Year award and his colleague Shannon Rowe earning First Runner-up. Blair Logistics also took First Place in the General Commodities Local Division Under 100,000 Miles and 2nd place in the General Commodities Line Haul and GC Combined.
Brown, 58, has driven a truck for 34 years logging more than 3 million safe driving miles. He’s been with Blair Logistics for 14 years gaining the respect and trust of the management team there as a man of character and integrity. Company Vice President of Safety Jeff Loggins says Brown embodies the word professional as a driver, and more importantly, as a man. “He is a man of his word and that reflects on his impeccable safety record with our company,” Loggins said.
Brown says he was in his truck waiting to be loaded when he received word from Loggins that he’d won Alabama Trucking’s top professional award. “That was a pretty good day, and I sure wasn’t expecting it. But it feels really good to be appreciated for the work I do,” he says.
“Trucking is difficult. It’s up and down. It takes years to learn how to do it right. I have been fortunate to work with some great companies over the years. Everywhere I worked I learned something, and I am still learning every day.”
He says he loves his job and plans to drive as long as he’s healthy, happy and making good money. His advice to new drivers is to take safety very seriously. It’s the most important aspect of the job. “You just can’t come into this line of work and think you know everything,” he warns. “You can learn something new every day, but you have to watch and listen closely. You do that and you’ll make a lot of money in this business.”
Meanwhile, Montgomery Transport had three tables full of folks in attendance, and it seemed at least half of them walked to the dais to accept awards. The Birmingham-based flatbed hauler took top prizes for safety fleet in several categories, and three of its employees took home professional awards including Fleet Manager of the Year Michelle Miller, Maintenance Manager of the Year Micah Calhoun, and Safety Professional of the Year Runner-up Curtis Roberts.
P&S Transortation, Inc. Director of Environmental Health and Safety Tyler Wilbanks was tapped Safety Professional of the Year.
S and M Transportation, Inc. of Saraland, Ala. won the President’s Award for the state’s safest fleet based on the lowest accident frequency rate for miles traveled within state lines.
ATA also recognized its safest fleet for miles traveled within Alabama in the calendar year 2021. More than two dozen companies were honored in several categories.
To download a full list of winners, please Click Here.
Also, the ATA Comp Fund recognized several of its top-performing clients in several categories for loss control and safety performance, including its top honor – Safety Excellence Award – going to LB3 Inc.
Thanks to McGriff Tire & Service, Nextran Truck Centers, Southland Transportation Group, Truckworx, Trimble Transportation, and Vertical Alliance Group for sponsoring this special event.
For photos of the event, please Click Here.
