TORONTO, (May 5, 2004) — After spending most of his 35 professional years under a truck, Bill Arthur says he’s on top of the world after being named the 2004 Canadian Fleet Maintenance Manager of the Year this afternoon.

The award — presented at the closing ceremonies of the 41st annual Canadian Fleet Maintenance Seminar and sponsored by Volvo Trucks Canada — is handed out every year to an outstanding Canadian fleet maintenance manager who has also demonstrated excellence in training, innovation, leadership, and overall contribution to the trucking industry. The winner is chosen by two trade industry journalists and two past award recipients.

Bill Arthur has served the industry for 35 years — the last 31 as chief maintenance man for L.E. Walker Transport in St. Thomas, Ont. He’s responsible for the maintenance and service program scheduling of over 1050 pieces of equipment.

Arthur was also honoured for extra-curricular activities in both the trucking industry and his community. Not only is he Mr. fix-it at Walker Transport, he also sits on the Ontario Trucking Association board and is a member of the American Trucking Historical Society. Recently, he also found time to lead a team of fellow parishioners from his church community up to Inuvik, NWT to help build wheelchairs for the territory’s disabled.

“This is truly an honour. This award means more than any other award you could have given me,” Arthur told the CFMS audience. “I would lake to thank more than anyone my family, who put up with all the late nights and all the (emergency) calls in the middle of the night. Thank you.”