LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Jim ONeal, president of O & S Transportation in Springfield, Mo., has been elected as 2007-2008 chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). The swearing-in ceremony took place on Mar. 11 at the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas, site of the associations annual meeting.

As chairman, ONeal has said his single driving passion is to promote the safe operation of TCA member companies and improve the image of the industry through the elimination of at fault bodily injury accidents.

It is up to our industry to take back highway safety and driver wellness from the so-called safety advocates, TCA officials said in a release. These are our issues. There is nothing more important in our businesses than operating a safe fleet, and there is nothing more important than telling the public we are serious about getting it done.

Also elected to the TCA board was Ray Haight of MacKinnon Transport in Guelph, Ont. Haight will be serving as first vice-chairman of the association.

Also serving will be officer at large, Tom Kretsinger, Jr., American Central Transport; officer at large, Robert Low, Prime Inc.; officer at large, Gary Salisbury, Fikes Truck Line; officer at large, Bob Baylor, Baylor Trucking; association vice-president to ATA, Clifton Parker, G & P Trucking; secretary, John Kaburick, Earl L. Henderson Trucking Company; treasurer, Christopher Kozak, Willis Shaw Express; second vice-chairman: Kevin Burch, Jet Express; and immediate past chairman, Barry Pottle, Pottles Transportation.