TORONTO, Ont. — National Trucking Week 2003 is coming Sept. 6 12.

The week is set aside annually to spotlight the important contributions made by the over 400,000 Canadian men and women who make their career in the industry. In Ontario, over 230,000 individuals have picked the trucking industry to make their living.

In Ontario, a wide variety of trucking companies and industry suppliers are poised to mark the event. Some have decided to honour drivers with fresh fruit, hot coffee and fresh muffins each morning, while others are holding BBQs and softball tournaments for employees and their families. Others are recognizing employees with jackets and shirts embroidered with a company logo.

The Ontario Trucking Association will be publishing its annual newspaper supplement filled with exciting stories about the people of the trucking industry and interesting facts the role of trucking in our daily lives. The supplement will be distributed with the Toronto Sun, London Free Press, Ottawa Sun, and Kitchener-Waterloo Record.

OTA will also use the week as a platform to raise awareness of road safety and road sharing techniques. During National Trucking Week 2003, OTA will announce a special road sharing education program, will hold a media event to promote road sharing, and will issue public service announcements aimed at helping make Ontario’s roadways safer.

In addition, a billboard is being displayed (facing Hwy 401 and Martin Grove Road) that promotes National Trucking Week.

For more information about National Trucking Week, please go to www.ontruck.org and click on the "Canada Move by Truck" logo (see Canadian flag) displayed on the homepage. To obtain a free National Trucking Week 2003 poster, please contact OTA’s Rebecka Torn at 416-249-7401, Ext. 224 or info@ontruck.org