TORONTO, Ont. – Two awards were presented at the 2004 Over the Road Canadian Recruitment and Retention Conference held at the International Plaza Hotel on Sept. 22-23.

Paul Murphy, a short haul division dispatcher with Big Freight Systems in Steinbach, Man. won the first annual Canadian Dispatcher of the Year Award. Mike Ham, senior vice-president of Cancom Tracking, and sponsor of the award was on hand to present it to Murphy and Dave Tardi, vice-president sales and operations for Big Freight Systems. This award is given to a dispatcher who has demonstrated a commitment to customer service, safety, driver well-being, courtesy, team work, problem solving and community service.

Kriska Transportation of Prescott, Ont. walked away with the second annual Best Retention for a Canadian Carrier Award. Making the presentation to Mark Seymour, Kriska’s president and CEO, was Rick Cooper of Roadside Edge. Roadside Edge was this year’s sponsor of the award. The retention award is presented to the carrier with the lowest driver turnover rate, the carrier with the most improved driver turnover rate or on a best efforts basis to improve driver retention over a number of years.

For more information about these awards or to nominate a carrier or dispatcher for next year’s awards, call 1(800)416-8712.