PMTC awards season is now open

by Bruce Richards

As you read this, it is February or close to it, the deepest part of the winter in most of Canada. And while the skiers, skaters, and outdoor types are still enjoying the weather, the rest of us may be longing for something, anything, that we can look forward to that might indicate that warmer weather is on the way.

So it’s at this time of the year that we at the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada begin to look forward to the beginning of the celebration season; the time of year when we recognize excellence in its many forms in the private trucking community. For the PMTC it all begins with the opening of our annual awards programs.

It may be that the general public has little understanding of, or appreciation for, the importance of trucking. But if you work in this industry, you know just how much the country depends on us. It’s hard to imagine an economy without the driving force (yes, I know) of a strong, healthy trucking sector behind it.

That’s why the PMTC and other trucking associations place so much emphasis on promoting the positives in trucking, and recognizing individuals and companies who demonstrate excellence.

And so we are pleased to announce that the PMTC’s 2013 awards season is open for receiving your entries.

The PMTC awards are presented during our annual conference in June. That event combines educational forums and networking with the presentation of awards that celebrate some of the people and fleets that contribute so much to trucking in Canada.

This year’s conference takes place June 19-20, at Kingbridge Conference Centre in King City, Ont., just outside of Toronto. This will be our fourth year at this venue, and we are returning there because it has drawn rave reviews from participants for its facilities and service.

One of the highlights of the conference is the presentation of these prestigious awards, each of which have a long history within the private trucking community. They represent the commitment to excellence of PMTC, its members, and the sponsors that help us maintain the awards.

The importance of the awards cannot be overstated. There are companies and individuals who stand out because of their special contributions and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts.

Here’s a brief overview of the PMTC awards and how to participate:

The Hall of Fame for Professional Drivers, sponsored by Huron Services, inducts up to four professional drivers each year. The Hall of Fame resides on our Web site at www.pmtc.ca and a visitor can review the outstanding records of the 39 inductees dating back to 1990.

These are individual awards of excellence, and the safety records of the recipients are extraordinary. The many years of safe driving that Hall of Fame inductees represent should be the goals of everyone who makes a living behind the wheel.

Nomination forms are available on the PMTC Web site, along with a description of the criteria for entry. While the award winners are, in the estimation of the judges, the best of the best, it is also a mark of distinction for any driver to be nominated, and we encourage the participation of all our members.

The Private Fleet Safety Awards, sponsored by Zurich, are open to all private fleets in Canada. Awards are available for fleets in three categories based on fleet size. These awards recognize companies that have integrated detailed safety programs as a key component of operations, and whose programs deliver results.

The awards are as much about recognizing the whole package as they are about on-road performance. It takes a well-managed safety program built on solid principles to achieve long-term results.

By completing the application on our Web site, any fleet manager will be shown a clear pathway, or a ‘how-to’ for implementing a safety program. The awards program criteria are based on the best practices of private fleets and winning in any category is a significant achievement.

The Vehicle Graphics Design Awards, sponsored by 3M Canada adds the colour and drama to our annual awards luncheon. This is the 28th year of these awards, a competition that attracts entries from across the country. There are a number of categories for which awards are presented, each based on vehicle type, and the awards are shared by the fleet and its graphics house.

The graphics competition is open to every Canadian truck fleet, private or for-hire, PMTC member or not. Our goal is to encourage all carriers to dress up and maybe show off just a little.

Studies report the value of using trailers as roaming billboards, whether to advertise specific products or the company itself.
It is a worthwhile endeavour, a byproduct of which is a classy looking truck fleet. Many of the entries come via the graphics industry and we welcome their role in making this such a great event.

And the recognition continues after the conference with award winners featured in the PMTC’s own international magazine, Private Motor Carrier, other industry magazines such as Truck News, and on our Web site. So join in and enjoy some free promotion, whether a fleet or a graphics house, we welcome your entries.


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