NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. — A handful of special private fleets and truck drivers were honored by the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada at the group’s annual conference last week.

PMTC and Zurich Canada named TDL Group Corp. of Guelph, Ont. the top 2007 private carrier for safety performance in the Large Fleet category. For the Small Fleet division, Pro Trucking Systems of Burlington, Ont. was recognized; while Maple Leaf Consumer Foods of Kitchener, Ont. was named Most Improved Fleet.

The competition is open to all Canadian private carriers. Judging is conducted by an independent panel and follows established criteria that concentrate on companies’ overall safety regime and over-the-road record.

Bruce Richards, president of PMTC, saluted both Zurich and the fleets. “It is their efforts in promoting and managing with road safety in mind that results in their exemplary safety records. They are excellent examples of well-run fleets.”

In order to have a safe trucking fleet, a company needs safe drivers. That’s why PMTC also took the time to induct several top private fleet drivers into its Hall of Fame for Professional Drivers.

The first inductee in 2007 was Leonard Long of Kraft Foods. He was followed by Henry Holland of Advantage Personnel, driving for HBC Logistics. Carl Stone of Advantage Personnel, driving for J & F Trucking was the third inductee named.

The Hall of Fame — found on PMTC’s website at www.pmtc.ca — is sponsored by Shaw Tracking. It’s goal is to recognize superior over-the-road performance by drivers from PMTC-member companies.

“Canada is blessed with a core of professional commercial truck drivers who accumulate and maintain safe driving records that are absolutely amazing, considering all the adverse conditions they face every day,” said Bruce Richards. “We are very grateful for the interest and support shown by Shaw Tracking that helps us sustain this Hall of Fame and celebrate the achievements of these drivers.”