NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. — The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada and Zurich announced awards for Private Fleet safety in two categories during the PMTC’s annual conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. June 17.

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.

The 2005 award winners were:

Medium Fleet Category:Schneider Foods, Kitchener, Ont.

Large Fleet Category:Home Hardware Stores Limited, St. Jacobs, Ontario

The awards aim to demonstrate the commitment that PMTC and Zurich have to truck safety and to recognizing fleets with excellent safety records.

"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."

Richards went on to also salute Zurich for making these awards possible, saying that "Zurich is good example of a company that promotes and supports the safe operation of truck fleets they have been the sponsor of these awards since their inception and we appreciate that type of support."