2005 Ontario Truck Driver of
Year Goes to Truck Hero
(Toronto: Nov. 17, 2005) – Mervin
“Merv” Connolly, an owner-operator contracted to L. E. Walker
Transport Ltd. who has driven over five million collision free kilometres in 38
years, has been named the Ontario Trucking Association/Volvo Trucks Canada
Driver of the Year for 2005. A keepsake trophy, cash prize and a trip to the OTA
convention were all part of the award presented to Mr. Connolly in Toronto Nov.
17.
Each year the award goes to a professional transport
driver who has a collision-free driving record and is an exemplary truck driver
both on and off the road. This
year’s award was presented at a luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the 2005
Ontario Trucking Association Convention (Nov. 17-18, Toronto Congress Centre,
650 Dixon Rd.)
Mr. Connolly, 55, regularly delivers
freight from Ontario to the
USA for L.E. Walker Transport Ltd.
(based in St. Thomas, Ont.). During the course of his driving career he has on
more than one occasion lent a hand at roadside accident scenes.
In March of this year Connolly was
awarded an Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner’s Citation for
Lifesaving, for helping lift a vehicle off a trapped man and assisting a
passenger who had been ejected from the vehicle following an accident along Hwy.
401 approaching Windsor Jan. 3, 2005.
“We at L. E. Walker Transport Ltd. are honoured
to have Merv within our driver ranks”, says Julie Tanguay, President.
“We are proud of all our drivers and extremely proud of Merv’s
accomplishments. To have him receive the Ontario Trucking Association/Volvo
Trucks Canada Driver of the Year award for 2005 is gratifying given our
commitment to public safety. We thank him for his dedication to this industry
and the public while on the road”.
“His performance on the highway
has been outstanding,” says Bill Arthur, fleet manager for L.E. Walker
Transport Ltd. “His everyday performance while out on the highway sharing
the road with the motoring public speaks for itself. Merv is the type of driver
that all other drivers should be modeled after, and we at L.E. Walker Transport
are very privileged and proud to be associated with Merv
Connolly.”
“Mr. Connolly exemplifies the
qualities of a professional truck driver both on and off the road,” says
OTA President David Bradley. “It is a great honour to present him with
this prestigious award in recognition of his
achievement.”
In addition to his impressive safety
record, Mr. Connolly is a family man, with four daughters and three sons.
Mr. Connolly lives in Dutton, Ontario
with his wife Donna.
This year’s selection committee
was made up of representatives from: Transportation Health and Safety
Association of Ontario, Ontario Trucking Association and the OTA Safety
Council.
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Media Contact: Rebecka Torn, Manager of Communications
(416) 249-7401 x 224
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