APTA names top truck drivers at Atlantic championships

by Adam Ledlow

MASSTOWN, N.S. – The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA) has recognized the top truck drivers in Atlantic Canada, following the 2006 APTA Professional Truck Driving Championships held at Commercial Safety College in Masstown, N.S. June 10.

Top Honours in the five-axle class (three-axle tractor and two-axle trailer) went to Rod Wood of Midland Transport, who lives in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

The best driver in the four-axle class (two-axle tractor and two-axle trailer) was Herb Peters of Day & Ross, who is based out of Moncton, N.B.

The top driver in the two-axle class (straight truck) was Roy Mattinson of Roy B. Mattinson & Sons Trucking, who hails from Pugwash, N.S.

The winner in the Step Van Class was James Daye of CleanX – The Dryclean Xpress. Daye is based in Sackville, N.S.

The champion of the B-Train category was Jerry Thibodeau of Irving Oil. Thibodeau, who lives in Grand Bay-Westfield, N.B., also received the Rookie of the Year Award for outstanding performance by a first time competitor.

The team award for the highest scoring team was presented to Armour Transportation Systems. Top scoring team members included Sandy Cooke, James Chambers, Alan Constantine, Chris Griffin and Victor Poirier.

The winners of the competition will represent the Atlantic Provinces at the 2006 National Driving Championships in Quebec City, Que. Sept. 7-9.

This year’s events saw a large turnout of competitors, with 73 professional drivers showcasing their skills. Competitors drive through a timed precision course which requires them to demonstrate their ability to navigate through obstacles such as diminishing clearance, serpentine and ally dock.

Organized through the APTA Safety Council, the Atlantic Driving Championship is designed to promote safe driving skills and professional awareness among truck drivers.

In order to compete, a driver must be a professional truck driver and must have maintained an accident-free driving record for at least a full year before the event. The complete list of winners is listed below.

Step Van Class

1st place – James Daye, CleanX – The Dryclean Xpress

2nd place – James Chambers, Armour Transportation Systems

Two-Axle Class

1st place – Roy Mattinson, Roy B. Mattinson & Sons Trucking

2nd place – Sandy Cooke, Armour Transportation Systems

3rd place – Cliff MacDonald, Midland Transport

Professionalism – Ward Lewis, Day & Ross

Four-Axle Class

1st place – Herb Peters, Day & Ross

2nd place – Jeff Campbell, Clarke Road Transport

3rd place – Tony Moore, David Brown United

Professionalism – Jeff Campbell, Clarke Road Transport

Five-Axle Class

1st place – Rod Wood, Midland Transport

2nd place – Luc Delcourt, Midland Transport

3rd place – Ken Samis, King Freight Lines

Professionalism – John Robertson, Midland Transport

B-Train Class

1st place – Jerry Thibodeau, Irving Oil

2nd place – Dana Glew, RST Industries

3rd place – Leo McGrattan, RST Industries

Professionalism – Glenn Fisher, Tim Hortons/TDL Group

Rookie of the Year

Jerry Thibodeau, Irving Oil

Team Award

Armour Transportation Systems

(James Chambers, Sandy Cooke,

Alan Constantine, Chris Griffin and Victor Poirier).


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  • My highest praise to Victor Poirier of Armor Transportation Systems for assisting that woman who was stranded at a gas station without any money or other means to get the 200 km home, safely, she reports. That could have worked out very differently for her.