NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — Al Goodhall, professional driver, blogger and Truck News columnist, has been named Driver of the Year by the central chapter of the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association’s Fleet Safety Council.

Goodhall received the award at the association’s conference on the weekend. He was nominated by Paul Knill, general manager of J&R Hall Transport.

“Al is one of those drivers, if you want a driver’s point of view, ask him,” Knill said in his nomination letter. “He will give you a fair and honest answer from both sides, whether it is good or bad or what you want to hear or not – it will be a fair answer.”

Goodhall is involved in training and mentoring new hires at J&R Hall, has seven clean inspections under his belt and routinely receives clean monthly log reports, Knill said. When he has spare time on the road, he keeps fit by running and exercising. He also keeps an Over the Road blog and writes a monthly column for Truck News.

When he accepted the award, Goodhall credited his employer and support network.

“The fact is that I lead a solitary life in the physical sense only,” he said of life on the road. “I have a vast network of support behind me. That network starts with my co-workers at J&R Hall Transportation and the values of honesty, integrity and loyalty that our team brings to the table every day. It spreads from there to our customers, suppliers and professional organizations. To recognize me as driver of the year is to recognize all of the people that support me every day. I am truly thankful for this ongoing support.”