Several awards were handed out at the recent Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) annual convention.

Daniel Einwechter, president of Challenger Motor Freight, was presented with the 2004 Trailmobile Service to Industry Award for his “outstanding contribution to the development and success of the trucking industry.”

Einwechter presided over CTA’s first ever Parliament Hill Days. His company has been listed as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for three straight years and has received the Shipper’s Choice Award the last three years. The company was also the CITA Carrier of the Year 2002, and won the Purolator Carrier of the Year Award two years in a row.

In 2002, Einwechter was named Al Palladini Transportation Person of the Year during National Transportation Week and was also the recipient of the Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year Award (EOY) in the Business-to-Business, Products & Services category.

Scott Smith, CEO of J.D. Smith & Sons Ltd., was elected chairman of the OTA. Smith, 42, becomes the youngest chairman in OTA’s history. However, his roots run deep in the association as his father, the late Doug Smith, was chairman from 1985-1987.

Over the years Smith has worked on a variety of OTA committees at the same time as he was progressing up through the chairs on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Most recently, he has served as chairman of the OTA Convention Advisory Committee. He also serves on the board of directors of the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

Wayne Dixon, a truck driver with Muskoka Transport Ltd. of Bracebridge who has driven over 3.2 million collision free kilometers during a 40-year professional driving career, was named OTA/Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year for 2004.

In addition to his impressive safety record, Dixon has won awards at three truck driving championships. He is also very involved in his community, having served as a volunteer firefighter and driving instructor for Vespra Township for 15 years, and coaching local youths in various sports activities. In 1986 he was awarded the Vespra Township Public Service Award. Dixon, 60, lives in Innisfil, Ont. with his wife, Joan.

Darryl Samay, a dispatcher with Provider Transportation & Logistics Inc. in Ayr was named the 2004 OTA/Cancom Tracking Dispatcher of the Year. Samay has been employed by Provider Transportation for five years.

Samay started as a part-time dockworker with Provider Transportation while completing a business degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. He soon moved on to the dispatch department and after graduation started full time with the company. His strong leadership qualities saw him promoted to the position of operations supervisor in 2002.

Samay is a member of the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario Central Chapter. He also volunteers his time to assist the Children and Family Services of Waterloo Region, which has teamed up with Provider Transportation to include a float in the local Santa Claus Parade in support of their annual Tree of Hope Fundraising Campaign, established in 1956.

Tom Pepper has joined the Glasvan Great Dane Sales Inc. Mississauga team. He brings over 16 years of industry experience to Glasvan and he can be reached at (888) GLASVAN or (905) 625-8441.

Phil Jones and Mike Sharpe have joined Eaton Roadranger Marketing. Jones has assumed the position of Canadian region manager replacing Eric Zahrai, who has relocated to Eaton in Europe. He has spent the past 17 years with the Eaton electrical division.Sharpe has assumed the position of territory manager for the Greater Toronto area. He has 11 years experience in the transportation industry in both sales and service. n