KELOWNA, B.C. — The B.C. Trucking Association came away from its annual conference with a new chairperson and some recognition for a handful of deserving members.

After 56 years behind the wheel and roughly six million miles, Lorne Rasmussen got a deserving congratulation as the 2008 BCTA/Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year.

The 71-year-old has been unofficially retired since 2000, when after a couple of months he decided a few days a week on the road would be better than nothing and he went back to Arrow Transportation Systems in their Kamloops wood fiber division.

Rasmussen spent the second half of his driving career with Arrow beginning in 1972 and never recorded a preventable collision or missed work due to personal injury. He spent time at a couple of different outfits during his first few decades behind the wheel and his only infraction came from a speeding ticket the day before his wedding as he rushed to finish off the workday.

Lorne Rasmussen was accompanied by his wife Elaine
when he received the 2008 B.C. Driver of the Year honor.

Rasmussen entered the trucking industry back in the 1950s because he saw it as an up and coming industry with great career potential and stuck around because of the great camaraderie.

TOP SERVICE

With a dedication and work ethic for the BCTA described as invaluable, Hanne Madsen, president of DanFoss Couriers and Freight, was presented with the association’s Service to the Industry award.

Madsen started with her father’s Delta, B.C.-based outfit back in 1987 and was chairperson of the BCTA from 2002 – 2004.

Through a few tears of joy, Madsen thanked her fellow members for the “unexpected and great honor.”

A LONG TIME COMING

The BCTA took a moment to honor some of Long Service Members during the annual conference, including: Rocky Mountain Transport – 55 years, Arrow Transportation Systems – 50 years, Thompson Horse Van Lines – 50 years, Chevron Canada – 45 years, Bulk Systems – 40 years, Farwest Group of Companies – 40 years, Shadow Lines Transportation Group – 40 years, Husky Oil Marketing – 35 years, Freightliner of Vancouver – 30 years, Penner International – 30 years, Mack Canada – 25 years, Stewart Trailers – 25 years, and Fountain Tire Corp./Goodyear Canada – 25 years.

EXECUTIVE DECISIONS

Dietmar Krause of TMS Transportation Management Services has served his term as the chairman of the BCTA executive committee and takes on the role of past chairman.

Greg Rogge of Clark Freightways is now the chairman of the BCTA executive committee.

The rest of the executive committee consists of: Steve Islaub of Northwest Tank Lines, secretary/treasurer; Murray Scadeng of Triton Transport, first vice-chairman; Victor Martin of Excel Transportation, second vice-chairman; Gerry Cullen of Western Star and Sterling Trucks of Vancouver, associate member; and Greg Munden of Munden Ventures, alternate.