CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Eastern Canada’s trucking industry recognized its best at the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association’s 54th annual convention, held at the Delta Prince Edward Oct. 28-29.

Over 400 members of the Atlantic trucking industry gathered to celebrate the contributions of five key individuals at the convention awards ceremony.

Gordon Phippen, a driver with over 23 years experience was named the 2004 Driver of the Year, sponsored by Volvo Trucks Canada. Phippen has driven for Fastrax Transportation of Florenceville, N.B. for the last 14 years. He has driven three million accident-free miles.

The Safety to Motor Transportation Award, sponsored by Markel Insurance Company of Canada, was presented to Frank Henderson, owner and general manager of Commercial Safety College in Masstown, N.S. Henderson, a resident of Truro, N.S., was instrumental in helping to promote a 12-week truck driver training program widely recognized in the industry. As he enters semi-retirement, he continues to share his expertise with the APTA and the Nova Scotia Trucking Human Resource Sector Council.

This year’s Good Samaritan Award, sponsored by Marine Atlantic, was presented to Leonard Maurice Belliveau of Saint Antoine, N.B. Belliveau, a driver for Fillmore Trucking, was travelling along Route 185 near Rivire-du-Loup, Que., a notoriously bad stretch of highway, on Feb. 3, 2004 when he came across the scene of an accident.

A van with five occupants was sitting in his path, one of eight vehicles in a pile up. Belliveau was able to steer his rig away from the van safely and so the van occupants sustained only minor injuries. When not on the road, Belliveau is involved in his community as a volunteer fire fighter, a minor hockey coach, a volunteer with the Saint Antoine Gun Club as well as the Kent South ATV Club.

The 2004 Dispatcher of the Year Award, sponsored by Cancom Tracking, was presented to Leslie Waite of Seafood Express in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Waite has been a dispatcher with his company for the past 16 years, and has shown unwavering commitment to his drivers by being available to them 24 hours a day, seven days a week, company officials said.

Donnie Fillmore Sr., president of Fillmore Trucking in Clairville, N.B. was presented with the 2004 Service to Industry Award, sponsored by Trailmobile Canada. This award is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding commitment to the well being of the trucking industry. Fillmore has been an active member of the APTA for a number of years and continues to serve on the Board of Directors as chairman. He also participates in various meetings and functions on the Association’s behalf. Fillmore also volunteers with his local church, snowmobile clubs and youth sports groups.