LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has awarded MacKinnon Transport and Marten Transport with the grand prize fleet safety awards.

The grand prizes were rewarded at the Mar. 5 annual banquet and awards dinner.

Ray Haight, president and chief executive officer of MacKinnon Transport and Robert Smith, chief operating officer of Marten Transport were on-hand to accept the prestigious awards.

“While safety has always been a priority and culture of MacKinnon Transport since its founding 72 years ago, we believe that we must always increase the importance within our organization,” MacKinnon wrote in its grand prize award application. “Our safety program operates within the framework of continuous improvement at all levels of the organization and is engrained in our mission, vision and core values.”

MacKinnon’s safety program involves requiring all driving personnel to attend a minimum of two regularly scheduled monthly safety compliance meetings each calendar year. They involve a three-hour training session.

For its part, Marten Transport has given special attention to eliminating driver distractions.

“We believe distraction occurs when drivers are preoccupied with anything other than the task at hand, which is driving,” reads Marten’s statement. “Our fleet managers work very hard to eliminate distraction by honoring our commitments to get drivers home when they need it, by overseeing how many miles the driver runs monthly (which affects his pay) and by offering a free hotline drivers and their family members can call for help on legal, financial, marital or emotional difficulties.”