TORONTO, Ont. — The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has named its new 2003/04 Road Knights team.

There were a total of 16 candidates for the 12-member team that will spend the next two years promoting the trucking industry in a positive way to the public and representing the industry at business, community and school events as well as with the media.

Drivers chosen for the Road Knights team are selected based on outstanding driving records, their communications skills and their desire to share information about the trucking industry.

This is the fifth Road Knights team the OTA has assembled. The members are selected by a panel of judges representing the OTA, the media, the trucking industry, the Ministry of Transportation and the OPP.

The members of the new Road Knights team are:

– Gerald Billing, a driver with Mackinnon Transport Inc. in Guelph
– Randal John Burry, with L.E. Walker Transport Ltd. in St. Thomas
– James Carniato, a driver for FedEx Ground Ltd. in Mississauga
– Michael Confurious, with Transpersonnel in Chatham
– Albert Cripps, a driver for Lodwick Transport Limited in Beaverton
– Mary Ann Geertsema, with Kriska Holdings Limited of Prescott
– Winston Goold, a driver for Brantford-based Bell City Transport Systems Inc.
– John Meade, with Thomson Terminals Ltd. in Etobicoke
– Jody Orr, a driver for Challenger Motor Freight Inc. in Cambridge
– Cecil Ramsbottom, with Bulk Systems (A Trimac Company) in Thunder Bay
– Beau Rose, of Challenger Motor Freight Inc.
– Glen Shirton, with Municipal Tank Lines (A Trimac Company) in Thorold

“The truck drivers selected are a cross section of the finest individuals on the road today,” says David Bradley, OTA president. “Each of these professional drivers has an exemplary attitude towards his or her job, the industry and road safety. We look forward to their joining the Road Knights who are raising community awareness of the essential service the trucking industry provides.”