WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Trucking Association has revealed the final three winners of the MTA-Custom Truck Sales Industry Excellence Award for 2009.

All of the winners from 2009 are nominated for the MTA-Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year Award, which will be presented on June 26 at the Driver Awards Banquet following the 2010 Manitoba Professional Truck Driving Championship.

Recipients of the award also receive a keeper trophy, a jacket, pen set and mug, and cash prize to recognize their commitment to the trucking industry.

The three latest recipients, combined, have almost 90 years of driving experience and are approaching 10 million miles.

Ken Bradley of Portage la Prairie, Man. has been in trucking since 1980. He began his career with McCain Foods before heading over to Arnold Bros. Transport for several years. He left Arnold Bros. for a brief time, but returned last year for a total of 17 years of service to Arnold Bros. He has taken a number of safety-related courses and has no preventable accidents on his driving record.

Steve Simmons, based out of Winnipeg, is also a driver with Arnold Bros. Transport and has 14 years experience behind the wheel. Simmons started in the industry back in 1981 as a mechanic with Paramount Kenworth. He also has no preventable accidents on his driving record, and has taken a number of courses as part of his commitment to safe driving.

Bill Gagnon, from Brandon, Man., is currently employed with Big Freight Systems as a driver and has a total of 43 years driving experience. Gagnon was a driver with the Canadian Armed Forces before becoming a commercial truck driver. He has driven on all sorts of roads, from highways to bush roads, and has moved all types of equipment, including Super Bs, reefers, and grain trailers. He helps other drivers with cargo securement and tarping, and goes out of his way to assist those new to the company.