TORONTO, Ont. – Jack Fielding of Bison Transport has been named Driver of the Year by Volvo Trucks Canada and the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA).

The award – 2015 Volvo Trucks Canada-OTA Driver of the Year – was presented to the 17-year veteran operator during the OTA’s annual conference in downtown Toronto.

“Jack is a modest guy. But it’s his actions – both on and off the road – that speaks volumes,” said Peter Currie, Ontario district manager for Volvo Trucks Canada. “He’s passionate about safety and leads by example. We couldn’t be more proud to recognize outstanding truck drivers like Jack who make this industry great. It is with pleasure to present him with this prestigious award.”

During his career, Fielding has tallied approximately three million kilometres…collision-free.

“Jack is the kind of driver we’d like to clone,” said Norm Sneyd, Bison’s vice-president of business development. “He’s our go-to guy. When we have a special situation that requires immediate attention – something that requires the Fielding touch – we bring Jack in and he gets it done every time.”

Fielding’s influence came from his father, who would take him out on the road during weekends when he was only 17 years old. Before long, Fielding bought his own truck and signed with Bison Transport.

“Safety is the number one priority for me,” Fielding said. “I take pride in my safety record and I’m going to try to everything I can to keep it that way.”

In addition to being safe on the road, Fielding, who also received the Driver of the Year award in 2013 by the U.S.-based Truckload Carriers Association, enjoys mentoring new drivers, and says they need to have patience, always think about what they are doing and get a good night’s rest.

Fielding was also a member of the 2011-12 OTA Road Knights team, which visits schools province-wide to help promote safe driving, environmental awareness and enhance the image of the trucking industry.

“It’s drivers like Jack who are backbone of our industry and help make Ontario roads the safest in North America,” said OTA president David Bradley. “I want to thank him for his overwhelming support of the trucking industry and specifically the OTA Road Knights program. Whatever the role he’s taking on, he always does it with professionalism and class.”