TORONTO, Ont. – The Ontario Trucking Association has knighted seven new truck drivers into the 2015-2016 Road Knight Team.

Those selected in the Road Knights, travel the province over their term and share their experiences and knowledge of the trucking industry with students and community groups.

The 2015-2016 team is as follows:

• Gerald Brown, Kriska Transportation
• Phil Blanchette, Bison Transportation (O/O)
• Don Dunbar, Trimac Transportation Services
• Mike Foster, Challenger Motor Freight
• Justin Martin, International Truckload Services
• Jimmy Pereira, Onfreight Logistics
• David Stocker, Erb Transport

“The professional  transport drivers who make up the team are first-class drivers who represent their peers Ontario transport drivers who are dedicated to safety and professionalism in the industry,” said OTA president David Bradley. “They are highly qualified to spread the message of road safety because they travel our roadways every day and have faced every type of traffic and weather condition imaginable.”

The program is free and promotes highway safety as well as trucking education across Ontario. In the next two years, the selected Road Knights will participate in media interviews, help improve road safety and increase awareness of the industry. They will also visit with schools to introduce young people to trucking.

Team members are selected by a panel of industry, government, and media representatives every two years. The six member selection team consisted of: Guy Broderick 2009-2010 OTA Road Knights Team; Dean Dunn, Manager, Labour Management Network, Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario; Lak Shoan, Program and Education Coordinator, Ontario Trucking Association; Steve McCallum, Eaton Roadranger, OTA Allied Trades Representative; John Stall, President, Stall Communications; Barrie Montague, Consultant, Erleigh Associates.

To be considered as a Road Knight, drivers must be nominated by their employer or company they are contracted by.