WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s best and brightest truckers were honored by the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) last week.

Now in its seventh year, members of the MTA nominate their peers to receive awards based on contributions to not only the MTA, but to the industry as a whole.

The 2011 Volvo Trucks Manitoba Driver of the Year went to William DeGroot of Arnold Bros. Transport.

Payne Transportation LP Associate of the Year Award was handed to Larry Seel of Wajax Power Systems.

Earl Coleman of Big Freight Systems Inc. won the MTA/RBC Royal Bank Service to Industry Award, and the MTA/Shaw Tracking Distinguised Member Award went to Arnold Bros. Transport.

The inductees to the MTA Pioneers Club this year were Bordon Hadley of Smooth freight and Eldon Funk of Wajax Power Systems. To be inducted into the Pioneers club, members must be employed in the trucking industry for 25 years, and actively engaged in the formulation, direction or execution of policy in a managerial capacity at an MTA member company.

"Each year it becomes more difficult to pick just one recipient for these awards,” said MTA executive director Bob Dolyniuk, “with so many deserving members to choose from the selection process is very tight."

Congrats to all the award winners!