TORONTO — Longtime technical guru for the Ontario Trucking Association, Barrie Montague is the recipient of the 2009 Shaw Tracking-OTA Service to Industry Award.

During his 40-plus year career in the industry,. Montague served as the CEO of a trucking company and an executive committee member of the OTA board of directors as well as a vice president of the association. He is most recently a consultant to the OTA and its member carriers.

The award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a member of the Ontario trucking industry, is presented each year at the OTA annual convention, to an individual who has exemplified commitment, contribution, and dedication to the Ontario trucking industry and to OTA over his or her career.

Shaw Tracking took over the sponsorship for the award from Trailmobile, which filed for creditor protection in May before its assets were bought by Manac. 

Montague’s trucking roots date back to when the UK-based multinational company he worked for transferred him to Canada to join an Ontario-based tank truck company. He eventually became president of that company.

During his time in the tank truck business, he was an active member of OTA. In 1994, Montague joined the staff of the OTA to work on issues at the frontlines.

He played a key role in the Target ’97 task force on truck safety, serving as chairman and lead industry advocate on several key committees. He played a direct role in the development of the provincial CVOR system and a new Ontario facility audit protocol.

He was at the forefront of a major overhaul of Ontario’s truck weights and dimensions standards. On the national stage, he played an instrumental role in the development of the federal hours of service regulation and served on the Minister of Transport’s Advisory Committee on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.

In 2004, he was presented with the National Transportation Week, Colonel Robert Hardie Award of Lifetime Achievement.