CALGARY, (May 13, 2005) — The long-time compliance and regulatory affairs manager of the Alberta Motor Transport Association has been named the trucking group’s new executive director.

Root — a loyal and dedicated AMTA official — says he’s looking forward to meeting the challenges that lay ahead for the organization, noting that “even though the AMTA has gone through some tough times, we also have enormous potential for growth right now.

Root’s appointment should appease core members of the AMTA, some of which were very vocal about appointing a director from within the AMTA ranks. “I think the fact that I’ve been on board on the compliance side is certainly a positive. Relationships are certainly developed, and it brings context and knowledge to the position,” Root told TodaysTrucking.com in an interview this afternoon.

As for a main agenda, Root says his job is to reinstill confidence in the association after some rough months. Another focus, he adds, is to gain a better position of representation for the entire highway transportation industry in the province.”

However, He acknowledges that Alberta already enjoys perhaps one of the strongest relationships between a trucking association and its respective transport ministry. Feels that Alberta has perhaps one of the closer relationships with respective transport ministry, and wants to build on those ties.

“I think I would call it an enviable relationship between industry and government in Alberta, and I certainly credit the government’s vision towards consultation with all aspects of the industry before they make decions on how the industry should be regulated,” he says.

One other project, according to Root, is to better define the AMTA’s role under the national association umbrella and strengthen its relationship with the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which in the past has been viewed by some Alberta truckers as being Ontario-centric. “No doubt all that will come by enhancing and maintaining a positive working relationship with the CTA.

As a result of this recent appointment, the AMTA will be looking for a replacement for Mr. Root for the position of manager of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs.

Additionally, the association also appointed John Tessier, Injury Reduction and Training adviser, to the position of manager for the same department.

Tessier has been with the AMTA for over ten years and brings over 40 years of experience in health, safety and injury reduction. He was recently awarded the prestigious Outstanding Service Award by the National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) at the AMTA conference in Banff.