ATA names industry award winners

The 2020 National Trucking Industry Awards were announced yesterday at the culmination of the Australian Trucking Association's online event, ATA Live.

The annual awards were a little different this year thanks to COVID-19. Whereas in past years the ceremony has been staged over a gala dinner at the end of the ATA's Trucking Australia conference, this year saw the awards take on a 'socially distanced' format during ATA Live, a web-based livestream broadcast that nevertheless encompassed many of the ATA's popular conference segments.

The winners of the 2020 National Trucking Industry Awards are as follows:

Fellow nominees: Wagners Transport, K&S Energy
Award sponsor: Sutton Road Training Centre – TISC
A wholly owned division of K&S Corporation, Chemtrans noted a rise in minor incidents and near misses with Class 8 corrosive liquids and subsequently developed a dangerous goods bulk tanker loading/unloading simulator. Since the simulator was incorporated into the firm's training, it has recorded a 51 per cent decrease in incidents.

Fellow nominees: DT Rogers Bulk Transport, Brown's Citrus Transport
Award sponsor: AEI Transport Insurance Brokers
From one truck and tanker in 1996, this family-owned business has grown to a fleet of 63 trucks and 110 tankers servicing NSW, WA and Victoria. A member of the ATA's TruckSafe programme since 1998, SRH Milk Haulage says its accreditation has shaped how it deals with both customers and employees. Always looking to harness new technology, the company has installed Seeing Machines Guardian systems in all its new trucks since February 2019.

Fellow nominees: Sarah Brosnan (Fonterra Farm Milk Cartage), Philip Crowe (Western Suburbs Concrete)
Award sponsors: BP Australia, National Transport Insurance, Volvo Trucks
A finalist for the ATA's National Professional Driver of the Year Award in 2019, Russell drives road trains for Directhaul in Darwin and has been with the company for 32 years. In that time he's driven an estimated 11 million kilometres, delivering 509 million litres of fuel. Described by his colleagues and management as safe, dependable, professional, trustworthy and hardworking, he is also extremely knowledgeable and is well known for his positive influence on the company's workplace culture.

Fellow nominees: Candice Lureman (Women in Trucking Australia), Bette Phillips-Campbell (Uniting Victoria)
Award sponsor: Cummins South Pacific
Rosyln is Chief Financial Controller at Wales Truck Repairs in Smithfield, NSW. With a longstanding passion for the industry, Roslyn has been responsible for multiple divisions at the business and attends a range of industry events. In 2018, Rosyln became a Transport Women Australia board member and was named winner of the Road Freight NSW Woman of the Year Award. Roslyn was also a finalist for the 2019 National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year.

Fellow nominees: Lindsay King (Transking), Rex Chapman (Total Insurance Agencies)
Award sponsor: BP, National Transport Insurance, Volvo Trucks
An expert in livestock transport, Robert is Managing Director of Cavanagh's Transport/Stockmaster in Inverell, NSW. Robert has over 35 years' experience in the industry and is an active and committed member of state and national rural road freight transport associations. He is a strong advocate for safety, technology and animal welfare and is often recognised for his future thinking, ability to adapt to change, and as an early adopter of technology and modern business practices. Robert has served as President of the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association, and has also held the roles of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association. In 2018 he was awarded an ALRTA life membership in recognition of his significant contributions.

Related reading:
ATA hosts ATA Live
Trucking Australia cancelled
2019 ATA National Trucking Industry Awards winners announced

"While we are in the midst of unprecedented and stressful times, it has never been more important to celebrate the valuable contribution of the trucking industry and its people," said ATA Chair, David Smith.

"Trucking is essential to the Australian way of life and is connected to every industry from agriculture to construction and retail. That's why it's important we recognise the outstanding businesses and individuals whose actions inspire others and make a positive impact."