ATA Presents Russell Image Awards for Trucking Advocacy

Mike Russell Image Award recipients
Accepting for their organizations are, left to right: Shannon Newton and Tony Bradley (Arizona Trucking Association), John Elliott (Load One) and Herschel Evans (Holland & America’s Road Team). (John Sommers II for TT)

ORLANDO, Fla. — American Trucking Associations honored a professional truck driver, a state trucking association, an industry nonprofit and a motor carrier with the ninth annual Mike Russell Trucking Image Award.

The awards were presented Oct. 23 here at ATA’s annual Management Conference & Exhibition.

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“Every person working in the trucking industry has the responsibility to advocate on its behalf and demonstrate the safety-first mentality of the trucking industry to the public,” said outgoing ATA Chairman Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express Inc. “The winners we present today embody this award. These companies, organizations and individuals have gone above and beyond over the past several years to establish positive awareness of the trucking industry.”

The winners are:

• The Arkansas Trucking Association Foundation for its efforts to leverage local relationships to amplify the American Trucking Associations national agenda, and setting an example of how to build a network of advocates who positively represent the trucking industry.

• Load One for its substantial involvement in the Trucking Moves America Forward image campaign and companywide efforts to elevate pro-trucking statements through image programs, trailer wraps and work in the local community.

• Truckers Against Trafficking for outreach in the community, on social media and on the highways to combat human trafficking.

• Herschel Evans of Holland Inc. for representing the industry through his role as an America’s Road Team captain, lifetime commitment to safe driving and establishment of the “Safety Drive for a Cure” truck driving competition to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

“The Mike Russell Trucking Image Award helps us recognize the ways in which individuals, organizations, and companies are committed to promoting the trucking industry to the public in new ways,” said Steven Spencer, managing director of transportation at HireRight. “These award winners continue to contribute to the advancement of our industry’s positive message and magnify the work of the many great people working in the trucking industry.”

The Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards are named in honor of the late Mike Russell, a former ATA vice president of public affairs.