Overdrive

April 2014

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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Logbook 14 | Overdrive | April 2014 Two Canadian drivers took top honors at last month's Truckload Carriers Association annual meeting, each winning a 2013 Ram 2500, sponsored by Chevron Delo and Cummins. The competition is man- aged by TCA and Overdrive. Terrance Smith was named 2013 Owner-Operator of the Year. He lives in Miramichi, New Brunswick, and is leased to SLH Transport, based in Kingston, Ontario. Jack Fielding, named 2013 Company Driver of the Year, lives in McKellar, Ontario, and drives for Bison Transport, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In addition to the Cummins-pow- ered trucks, the winners will receive a year's supply of Chevron Delo oil. The three finalists for each award attended TCA's meeting in Grape- vine, Texas, outside of Dallas. The other owner-operator final- ists were Thomas Miller of Bunker Hill, Ill., who hauls for Springfield, Mo.-based Prime Inc., and Bryan Smith of Asbury, Iowa, who's leased to Dubuque, Iowa-based Art Pape Transfer. The other company driver finalists were Reuben Dupsky of Fremont, Neb., who drives for Fremont Contract Carriers, and Allan Raffay of Hawley, Pa., who drives for Prime Inc. Smith, who turns 63 this year, drives reefer in Canada and the United States for SLH. Over his 42- year career, he has racked up 4.75 million accident-free miles. Fielding also is a driver trainer for Bison, which has given him safe driving awards. — Overdrive staff Overdrive, TCA name year's top truckers The owner-operator and company driver winners each receive a 2013 Ram 2500 similar to this model, sponsored by Chevron Delo and Cummins. Terrance Smith has 4.75 million acci- dent-free miles. Jack Fielding trains new drivers at Bison Transport. Photo by Kim Harris Goodyear recognizes driver's life-saving action When he came upon another trucker who had fallen from a burning tank- er truck that was hanging over the side of a freeway overpass, Ivan Vasovic sprang into action. For risking his life to save the driver, Vasovic accepted the 31st Goodyear North America Highway Hero Award during the Mid-America Trucking Show. He received $5,000, a trophy and a ring. The three other finalists, Tim Horton, Brian Dunn and Scott Rosenberg, received $2,500 each. Vasovic, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was in his truck in Los Angeles last October when he witnessed a double tanker truck hit the concrete divider of a freeway overpass, careen off a wall and slam into a guardrail. Its tanks, full of diesel, ripped open, and the truck came to a stop with its tractor and first tanker hanging over the overpass. The truck's driver was trapped inside when the diesel ignited. The driver, whose clothes were on fire, kicked out a window and fell to the ground, breaking an arm and leg. Vasovic and another bystander tried to pull the in- jured driver to safety, but due to the intense heat, they could drag him only a few yards at a time. Vasovic dashed to his truck and poured water on himself, enabling him to drag the badly injured driver to safety. The tanker truck then crashed to the ground. "He literally put himself in harm's way to save another person's life," said Gary Medalis, Goodyear marketing director. "Ivan's decision to interject himself into this deadly scenario is a powerful example of the selflessness exhibited by professional truck drivers." — Overdrive staff Ivan Vasovic received the Good- year North America Highway Hero Award. Logbook_0414.indd 14 4/1/14 5:59 PM

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