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2010 Trucking Industry Award winners announced

Australia’s top truck driver and leading industry figures awarded for commitment to industry at National Trucking Industry Awards

April 12, 2010

Australia’s top truck driver and leading industry figures were awarded for their commitment to the trucking industry at the National Trucking Industry Awards held on the Gold Coast on Friday night.

The ceremony saw the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) announce the National Professional Driver of the Year, the National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year, the National Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry and the Training Excellence Award.

The 2010 National Trucking Industry Award winners were:

  • National Professional Driver of the Year: Simon Wynne, HS and SM Wynne Transport, Everton Hills, Qld
  • National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year: Jan Pattison, Queensland Trucking Association, Brisbane, Qld
  • Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry: Jim Pearson, Jim Pearson Transport, Port Macquarie, NSW
  • Training Excellence Award: Get into Transport and Logistics (Road Transport) Program, Brisbane, Qld.

Also awarded on the night was the Don Watson Memorial Award, which went to Mario Colosimo of BPW Transpec, Melbourne, Victoria.

On collecting his award, National Professional Driver of the Year, Simon Wynne, urged all motorists to spare a thought for truck drivers when on the road.

“I’d like to urge all motorists to get a better understand of what it’s like to drive a truck, of the difference between cars and trucks,” he says.

“Understanding trucks is the key step in sharing the road safely.”

National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year, Jan Pattison, says it is an honour to be recognised by her peers.

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry Award, Jim Pearson, says he’s proud to be part of the Australian trucking industry.

“It’s been a long, long ride through my life in the industry. It’s a great industry,” he says.

“I’d like to thank my family and particularly my wife – we’ve been married through 53 years. That’s a few kilometres for the trucking industry.”

Speaking on behalf of the Training Excellence Award winner, Peter Garske from the Queensland Trucking Association, says the program gives hope and opportunity to many men and women.

“We have reached out to 226 people and delivered 178 heavy vehicle licenses and 47 forklift licences around the state, funded by the Queensland Government,” he says.

“Eighty percent of the graduates of the program remain employed in the industry today.”

After being presented with the Don Watson Memorial Award, Mario Colosimo says he is grateful to be part of the trucking industry.

“I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to work in this industry for 25 years,” he says.

“It’s unlike any other industry – it’s like a big family, I absolutely love it.”

The National Trucking Industry Awards are held as part of the Australian Trucking Convention and are sponsored by Cummins South Pacific, DECA Training, and ATA Foundation Sponsors BP, NTI and Volvo.

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