WINNIPEG, Man. – Braving Portage and Main’s famed blustery prairie winds, Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) members once again flocked to the Fairmont Hotel to cheer the year gone by and prepare for new challenges ahead.

Topping the agenda for the provincial fleet group: doling out the hardware to 2001’s top truckers and industry representatives.

Recognized for their outstanding performance in an industry of true professionals, many of the 2001 Custom Truck Sales/Canadian Kenworth Driver of the Month award winners were the special guests of the MTA at the annual Manitoba Public Insurance safety luncheon.

Honorees included John Rempel, Ed Janzen, Douglas Keyes, Merv Stefanishyn, Ernie Penner, Raymond Ross, Pete Neufeld, John Burtnack, David Grewinski, Scott and Donna Gammack, Henry Enns, and Ed Dueck.

Janzen was also selected as the Volvo Trucks Canada 2002 Manitoba Driver of the Year.

Racking up almost 2.5 million miles without an accident, Manitoba’s top trucker has spent his entire career with Reimer Express Lines.

An active participant in the Professional Truck Driving Championships, Janzen’s 32 years of experience have landed him on a city P&D route.

Janzen will now be entered in the competition to become the 2002 Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA)/Volvo Trucks Canada National Driver of the Year.

He’ll be trying to make it two in a row for Manitoba drivers after Penner International’s Robert Ozouf was crowned Canada’s alpha operator for 2001 at the same gathering.

With 32 years of safe driving under his belt, this Steinbach resident, has on several occasions been recognized as a hero by his company and law enforcement officials.