NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. (June 17, 2005) — The best looking trucks and trailers in the land have been honoured by the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada.

Winners of the 20th annual Vehicle Graphics Design competition, co-sponsored by 3M Canada, were announced at PMTC’s general meeting and conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. today.

A not-so-private fleet won the Tractor Trailer category. Winnipeg-based for-hire carrier Bison Transport won that prize, which was shared by Federated Co-operatives. J. M. Schneider Foods got an honourable mention.

Molson Breweries and Les Aliments Jardi got the nod in the straight truck group. Honourable Mention went to Café Napoleon. Molson was also named winner of the Identity Fleet Graphics category with Canadian Tire. Honourable mention went to L. Ritchie Cartage.

In the Straight Truck: Special Events/Promotion category, Steelcase Canada and Maple Lodge Farms took top prizes.

As they’ve done before, Markel Professional Transport won the Night-Time Safety category, along with J. M. Schneider Foods.

Café Napoleon may have been a runner-up in one category, but not the Light Duty Commercial Truck sector, where it won along with Loewen Windows.

Meanwhile, The PMTC and Zurich Insurance also announced awards for Private Fleet safety in two categories. Winners are: Schneider Foods of Kitchener, Ont. for Medium Fleet, and Home Hardware Stores Limited of St. Jacobs, Ont. for Large Fleet.

These awards demonstrate the commitment that PMTC and Zurich have to truck safety and to recognizing fleets with excellent safety records. The competition is open to all Canadian private carriers. Judging is conducted by an independent panel and follows established criteria that concentrate on the company’s overall safety regime and its over the road record.

“Zurich and the PMTC congratulate the management and drivers of these private fleets,” said PMTC President Bruce Richards. “Their combined efforts in promoting road safety are exemplary and their attention to the details of operating safe fleets is to be commended. The combined records of these two fleets included some 16, 500 kilometers and over 130 power units. They should be very proud of their safety management programs and the resulting safety records.”