NEW HAMBURG, Ont. — Erb Group’s director of safety and compliance Tom Boehler has won the 2011 Transportation Safety Professional of the Year Award from the Central Chapter of the Fleet Safety Council.

“Tom and his team are the driving force behind many safety programs. Their commitment to safety and best practice has directly impacted the safe working environment at Erb,” Erb officials said in a release.

“Safety involves everyone. It’s easy to come up with an idea, but it’s those that embrace it that make it successful,” Boehler says.

Boehler started at Erb Transport in 1997 as a driver trainer. After a period as coordinator of safety and compliance with another transportation company, he returned to Erb as corporate driver trainer and compliance manager. In January 2008, he was appointed director of safety and compliance. Boehler is also involved in various committees at Erb, including the Health and Safety and the Employees’ Representatives to Management.

“Through Tom’s guidance Erb has excelled in many areas such as: automated driver log audits, driver procedures and manuals, the company-wide implementation of Turnpike Global, Entry-Level Program, Pro-Drive Driver Bonus Program and various safety award submissions,” officials said in a release.

Boehler serves on the district of Kitchener’s Safe Driver Award Banquet Team and is a co-chair of the Markel Best Practice Council. He also volunteers annually at the Central Ontario Regional Truck Driving Championships and is involved in the NASCAR 22 Canadian Tire Series Racing Team.