Pair of Alabama drivers are among finalists for America’s Road Team
Two Alabama-based commercial drivers have been selected as finalists for America’s Road Team, a public outreach program of the American Trucking Associations that promotes the industry and highway safety.
Darrien Henderson, a driver for J&M Tank Lines, Inc. Mobile, and Lloyd Howell, a driver for TCW, Inc. in Birmingham, are among 36 finalists for the 2022-2023 term of the Road Team.
“These men and women were selected as finalists for America’s Road Team because they have outstanding safe driving records, share a passion for the trucking industry, and are role models among their peers,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We owe these professional drivers our gratitude, without them the American economy would come to a halt.”
America’s Road Team, a group of professional truck drivers with superior safety records, was created in 1986 to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. Captains, with support from their companies, dedicate a few days each month to attend industry events, speak at schools, or meet policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.
Finalists advance to a selection process that will take place in January in Arlington, Virginia. A panel of evaluators, including industry officials and trucking news media representatives, will judge the contenders on their knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s messages and overall safe driving record. The finalists, with a combined total of 75 million safe-driving miles and 923 years as professional truck drivers, are highway safety experts eager to share their experiences with the motoring public.
The new Road Team will be announced on January 19 following a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington. New Captains, after receiving their signature navy blue America’s Road Team blazer, will begin working to share the industry’s message of safety, essentiality and sustainability with the motoring public, media, business and community groups, public officials and their fellow truck drivers around the country.
Captains from previous teams continue to serve as ambassadors to the industry and are called upon frequently to participate in safety events, speaking appearances and industry conferences.
“Being named a finalist for America’s Road Team is a major achievement for professional truck drivers and ATA congratulates each of them for this accomplishment, said Elisabeth Barna, executive vice president of industry affairs. “America’s Road Team will continue to serve as a voice for the industry, which benefits from their professionalism, dedication and safety as they educate the public on highway safety, the role trucking plays in our economy and why the trucking industry is a great career option.”
To be nominated to serve as an America’s Road Team Captain, professional truck drivers must be employed or leased to an ATA member company. Each nominee should have an excellent safety record and should demonstrate an ability to communicate his or her commitment to safety and passion for the industry. Nominees should also portray a positive image of the professional truck driver in all that they do.
This year’s finalists hail from 21 different states, haul a diverse assortment of products and materials, and range from short-haul drivers to over-the-road drivers operating in all of the lower 48 states. The finalists represent a cross-section of the industry with experience ranging from four years to 43 years as professional truck drivers with anywhere from nearly 400,000 to 3.9 million safe driving miles.
Read National ATA’s press release here.
