ITTES: ATA lauds heroic truckie

The ATA has announced courageous truckie Brad Morrison as the inaugural recipient of its Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award

At a special ceremony held on the opening day of the 2014 International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show, the Australian Trucking Association – in conjunction with Bridgestone Tyres – has named the first recipient of the new Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award.

Created to honour truck drivers who go above and beyond the call of duty, the first inductee was named as Brad Morrison from Nightingale Transport.

On November 14, 2013, Morrison came upon a tragic accident near Aratula, Qld, on the Cunningham Highway. He fought through flames and smoke to rescue a 10-month-old baby girl from the back seat of a car, getting her to safety before an explosion ripped through the vehicle, sadly claiming the life of the girl’s mother.

Noelene Watson, Chair of the ATA, said the award will play an important role.

“Today the ATA and Bridgestone are launching a new award to recognise the public spirit and bravery of Australia’s truck drivers,” she said.

“Professional truck drivers are on the road all day, every day. Sometimes they are in the right place at the right time to make a huge difference to other people’s lives.

“The new Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award will honour the drivers who go out of their way to look after others in the course of their duties, and by sharing their stories the ATA and Bridgestone will improve the public’s understanding of the trucking industry and gain respect for our drivers on the road.”

The Managing Director for Bridgestone Australia Ltd, Andrew Moffat, said Bridgestone was only too happy to back the award.

“Bridgestone is proud to affirm our commitment to the trucking industry by supporting this important ATA initiative,” he said.

“We’re also enormously pleased that the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award will help to highlight some of the excellent people in this industry.”

Candidates can be brought to the ATA’s attention at any time.

“The title is not exclusive to one person but rather will belong to a growing number of our drivers over time,” Mrs Watson said.

“Once a driver is recognised as a Highway Guardian they will always be a Highway Guardian.”

New recipients will be hosted by the ATA at its next national trucking event and honoured at the ATA’s Foundation Sponsors Gala Dinner.

Morrison said he had no course other than to act when he came upon the accident.

“I was just past Cunningham’s Gap on the way into Brisbane when I got a call over the UHF radio that a truck had gone into the bushes,” he said.

“I slowed down and came around the bend, expecting to see him just run off the road, and saw a big crash instead – the truck had jack-knifed and there was a little car, all on fire.

“There was diesel all around from the truck. The crash must have ruptured the main tank – I reckon he’d only just filled up – so there was probably about 1500 litres spilling around.

“I pulled up and jumped out as quick as I could to see if there was anything I could do to help. As I came up around the back of the little car I could hear a baby crying.

“I just had to get in there; I had to get the baby out.”

Mrs Watson said Brad was a fitting recipient of the award.

“While we would like to extend our greatest sympathies to the family, Brad’s quick thinking and decisive action enabled him to save the child at great risk to his own life,” she said.

“For these reasons, it is our greatest pleasure to present Brad with the first Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award.”

ITTES: ATA lauds heroic truckie

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