ATA Brings Image Trucks to Dayton, Ohio

Interstate One and Share the Road Truck Open to Public at ATA Member Jet Express

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Feb 25, 2015, 09:50 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations brought its two show trucks – the Share the Road Truck and the Interstate One image truck – along with members of America's Road Team to Dayton, Ohio's Jet Express for a demonstration of truck safety and to honor three of their new America's Road Team Captains who hail from the Buckeye State.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.Trucking Moves America Forward.

"We're honored in Ohio to have three members of our industry's finest ambassadors, the America's Road Team," said ATA Second Vice Chairman Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express. "And at Jet, we're thrilled to host not just these fine industry representatives, but our two fantastic show trucks, Interstate One and the Share the Road Truck, as they come to spread their message of safety.

"Trucking is important not just to Ohio's economy, but the nation," Burch said. "Seven million men and women – one in every 16 people employed in the U.S. is connected to our industry. Events like this help us give back and educate the public about how essential we are and how safe we strive to be."

During an event earlier today, Captains Scott Woodrome, FedEx Freight, Middletown, Ohio; Paul Savill, UPS Freight, Hamilton, Ohio and Russell Simpson, Holland Inc., South Vienna, Ohio, spoke to industry representatives, the media and public about highway safety and the importance of trucking to the economy, not just of Ohio, but of the nation.

"With many parts of the country experiencing dangerous winter weather, it is more important than ever to take care on the roads, leave extra room between your vehicles and others, and to not drive distracted," Woodrome said.

"When I'm on the road, I see lots of behaviors I'd like to change," said Savill. "Most importantly, people should slow down. Speeding causes, or exacerbates, many, many crashes and if people were more conscious of speed limits, we could save a lot of lives."

"Trucks are bigger, which makes some people nervous. Don't be," said Simpson. "Behind the wheel is a professional driver who is dedicated to making sure you both get home safe. However, because his or her vehicle is bigger, it has bigger blind spots than your car. Make sure when you're passing, to stay out of those areas, especially on the right – where the blind spot can be the length of the whole truck."

These captains, three of 19 named earlier this year, have a combined 67 years of driving experience and almost 5 million miles of accident free driving.

The event also highlighted Trucking Moves America Forward, the industry's image movement and role of safety technology in the industry. The trucks are now on their way to Columbus as part of the Ohio Trucking Association's Day at the Capitol where they will educate lawmakers and media with Interstate One's mobile classroom and ride alongs.

The America's Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway.www.americasroadteam.com.

Share the Road is a highway safety program that delivers life-saving messages to hundreds of U.S. cities and reaches millions of motorists annually, designed to educate automobile drivers about sharing the roads safely with trucks. The program, sponsored by Mack Trucks Inc. and Michelin North America Inc., is represented by an elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of miles of accident-free driving. Follow Share the Road on Facebook or Twitter.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations