TORONTO, Ont. — Cancom Tracking, in partnership with the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) and Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), has named its Dispatchers of the Year at the provincial level, and for the first time ever, at the national level.

Tyrone Downs, a dispatcher with Trenton, Ont.-based Erb Transport has been named Ontario’s Dispatcher of the Year and Darryl Samay, a dispatcher with Provider Transportation & Logistics Inc., has been named Canada’s first National Dispatcher of the Year. The awards were presented during a breakfast ceremony at the OTA’s annual convention.

Both awards, sponsored by Cancom Tracking, go to a dispatcher who has demonstrated a commitment to customer service, safety, driver well being, courtesy, teamwork, problem solving and community service/volunteer work.

“Dispatchers play an instrumental role in the overall process of transporting highway freight,” said CTA CEO David Bradley. “This award program is an excellent vehicle for spotlighting outstanding dispatchers.”

Downs, 28, has been employed by Erb Transport for nine years. He started as a part-time dockworker with Erb during high school and quickly moved up to work full-time at the dock during the summer of 1996. In July 1999, Downs started working as a dispatcher/dockworker, loading and unloading on Sundays, and by July 2003 he earned a senior dispatcher position. Downs is a full-time family man as well, regularly attending soccer games with his wife and two sons.

“In association with the OTA, Cancom is once again proud to present the Dispatcher of the Year award to yet another deserving winner. Tyrone Downs is a model dispatcher who continues to bridge the gap between his drivers and his customers, which continues to be a challenge due to changes in the industry,” said Mike Ham, vice president, Cancom Tracking.

“Tyrone does an outstanding job for the Erb Group, and more specifically, for his fellow employees every day,” says John Verkuyl, Erb’s Trenton terminal manager and one of those who nominated Downs for the award. “The drivers who he dispatches greatly appreciate the fact that he goes the extra mile to be aware of every load so that he can plan ahead for them. He will ask drivers if they feel too tired to do extra work, or strive to get them home early for appointments or family commitments.”

“Tyrone seems to go out of his way to help local truck drivers, as well as the line haul and U.S. drivers,” said Martin Fagg, a driver with Erb since November 2003. “Tye has also got on a forklift many times, without even batting an eye, to help unload or load trailers on the weekends. He should get this award because he has a good work ethic, is friendly, pleasant on the phone, responds to satellite messages promptly, and asks if you are too tired to do some extra work … Customers are always a concern for Tyrone and somehow he manages to balance both customer’s needs and driver’s needs and he is consistent with it.”

Samay, 25, has been employed by Provider Transportation for six years. Samay started as a part-time dockworker with Provider Transportation while working toward completing a business degree at Wilfred Laurier University. He soon moved on to the dispatch department and after graduation he started full time with the company. His strong leadership qualities saw him promoted to the position of operations supervisor in 2002.

Samay volunteers his time to assist the Children and Family Services of Waterloo Region, which has teamed up with Provider Transportation to include a float in the local Santa Claus Parade in support of their annual ‘Tree of Hope Fundraising Campaign.’

“Cancom is extremely pleased with the expansion of this prestigious award. The most significant form of recognition is that of your peers and your customers: which is what this award is all about. The National Dispatcher of the Year is taking this recognition to another level,” Ham said.

“Darryl’s superior work ethic shows in the respect he is given by his customers, drivers and all other office staff,” said Norm Casarin, president of Provider Transportation Inc. “Darryl continues to work long hours and can be called upon at any time night or day to help anyone solve the proverbial problems that are all part and parcel of a career in the trucking industry. And Darryl realizes that drivers have family commitments and that sometimes life interferes with work. He has been known to pull more than one rabbit out of his hat.”

Samay was selected from current recipients of the Dispatcher of the Year Award from each of the participating provincial associations.

Both men were presented with a plaque and cash award.