Minnesota Trucking Association Names Art Stoen 2018 Minnesota Driver Of The Year

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Jan 25, 2019, 11:26 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) named Austin, MN resident, Arthur "Art" Stoen, professional truck driver for Kane Transport in Inver Grove Heights, MN, the 2018 Minnesota Driver of the Year at its Driver of the Year Banquet. Kane Transport is the Midwest's premier transporter of Petroleum, Asphalt, Biodiesel and Ethanol. Art has been driving a truck for 55 years and has driven more than 4.4 million safe miles.

(Left to Right) John Hausladen, MTA President, Captain Jon Olsen, Minnesota State Patrol, Art Stoen, Kane Transport, and Matt Marrin, FMCSA

"This award is a great way to honor the best in our industry. Driving safe is no easy task, especially when you take into consideration his daily driving conditions like congestion, driver distractions and Minnesota winters. Having 4.4 million safe driving miles is an astonishing accomplishment, especially given the unique challenge of safely delivering and unloading diesel and gasoline without incident," says John Hausladen, MTA president. "We're proud to award Art for this outstanding achievement."

"Art is hard working, safe, efficient and reliable, and truly understands customer service and expectations of a driver," said John Shaleen, Director of Safety at Kane Transport. "He is one of the best running and efficient drivers in our fleet, and always goes above and beyond."

In addition to being a great example of what it means to be an outstanding professional truck driver, Art enjoys traveling, fishing and spending time with his family.

Throughout 2018, exceptional drivers are nominated by their companies and one driver is chosen each month to be the Driver of the Month. The drivers who are chosen meet a high standard of requirements including an outstanding driving and work record; contribution to industry and highway safety; and involvement in the community. In January, MTA hosts the Driver of the Year Banquet and one of the twelve nominees is selected as Driver of the Year by a panel of judges including Matthew Marin, Division Administrator for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Deb Ledvina, Director of Commercial Vehicle Operations at MnDOT and Captain Jon Olsen, Minnesota State Patrol.

The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) is a non-profit trade association representing 630 member-trucking companies and allied firms from across the state. Its mission is to serve as the voice for a safe and successful Minnesota trucking industry. It does so by developing innovative and research-based policies that promote highway safety, educating policymakers and the public about the essential role that trucking plays in the economy, and promoting responsible policies that advance the trucking industry's environmental goals.

SOURCE Minnesota Trucking Association