During the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition in Grapevine TX recently, Volvo Trucks announced its ongoing support of America's Road Team, which uses professional drivers with outstanding driving records to deliver messages about highway safety and the essentiality of trucking.
“All of us at Volvo Trucks are very proud to be part of the ATA's America's Road Team program,” said Ron Huibers, Volvo Trucks North America senior vice-president, sales and marketing. “As one of the most important and effective highway safety efforts out there, the program fits perfectly with Volvo's core value of safety.”
Members of America's Road Team are known as captains, many of whom have accumulated millions of miles of accident-free driving. They undergo a rigorous selection process to become part of the program.
The Road Team captains speak to hundreds of groups of lawmakers, government officials, students, regulators, and other truck drivers. Their presentations include safe driving tips and highway safety information, much based upon their own experiences, as well as the importance of trucking to the American economy.
In January 2011, at its New River Vally plant in Dublin VA, Volvo Trucks presented a new VN 780 to the Road Team captains and ATA officials. The new truck features life-saving Volvo safety technologies, including Volvo Enhanced Stability Technology (VEST) by Bendix and Volvo Enhanced Cruise (VEC). It's also equipped with the Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission. Since receiving the truck, the Road Team captains have been using it to transport the ATA Image Trailer, a mobile presentation facility, around the nation, as they spread messages of safety and essentiality.