AKRON, Ohio — Goodyear is now accepting nominations for its 2012 North America Highway Hero Award – the 30^th anniversary of the award. The award honours truck drivers who put themselves in harm’s way to help other people. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash award, a custom Goodyear Highway Hero ring, and other prizes. The person who nominates the winning Highway Hero will receive a $1,000 cash award.

Last year’s Highway Hero winner, Mike Schiotis, a truck driver from Spring Hill, Tenn., rescued a woman from a crazed, gun-wielding attacker.

“The Goodyear Highway Hero Award is the first – and most prestigious – award of its kind,” said Phillip Kane, vice-president of Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems. “The 30th anniversary of the award will be extra special, and we look forward to crowning an equally special winner.”

Past Highway Hero winners include a driver who pulled an elderly man from a car before it was destroyed by an oncoming train, a driver who rescued two girls who were trapped in a burning car, and a driver who jumped into a pond to save a child who was stuck in a rapidly sinking car.

“These are just a few of the many acts of heroism that our Highway Hero Award winners have performed since the Goodyear Highway Hero program was created in 1983,” said Kane.

“Through the program, we’ve heard hundreds of stories about truck drivers’ bravery and selflessness. We’re looking for more stories, and National Truck Driver Appreciation Week – which runs from Sept. 16 through Sept. 22 – is the perfect time to begin the Highway Hero Award nomination process.”

Candidates must meet the following criteria for the award:

• Nominee must be a full-time truck driver.
• Nominee must reside in the US or Canada.
• The incident must have occurred in the US or Canada.
• The nominee must have been on the job – or on the way to and from work – and in his or her rig at the time of the incident.
• At the time of the incident, the nominee’s truck must have had 12 or more wheels.
• The incident must have taken place between Nov. 16, 2011, and Dec. 15, 2012, to qualify.

After the nomination period ends, the list of Highway Hero candidates will be pared down to four finalists. A panel of trucking industry judges will then select the 30th Goodyear North America Highway Hero, who will be revealed in March during the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.

To nominate a candidate for Goodyear’s 30th North America Highway Hero Award, go to www.goodyeartrucktires.com. The nomination deadline is Jan. 31.