5 drivers nominated for ATA driver of the year award

Aug 6, 2019

Five company drivers have been nominated for one of the trucking industry’s top awards.

In the running for the American Trucking Associations’ EROAD National Driver of the Year Award are:

2018 Driver of the Year David Boyer
Parke Whitney has spent 48 years in the trucking industry after serving in the Navy and Marine Corps from 1967-1971, serving two tours in Vietnam. Whitney has been driving for John Christner Trucking for the past seven years and has accumulated 5 million accident-free miles. Whitney was nominated by the Oklahoma Trucking Association.

Rickey Sharp has been driving for Walmart Transportation for 16 years and has spent 33 years in the industry. Sharp has accumulated 3.5 million accident-free miles and has made seven state appearances and one appearance at the National Truck Driving Championships. Sharp was nominated by the Mississippi Trucking Association.

Remy Braun has spent 33.5 years in the trucking industry and spent 1984-1992 serving as a Motor Transport Operator in the Army. Braun has driven for D & D Sexton for 21 years and has accumulated 2.8 million accident-free miles. Braun has made 21 state appearances and three appearances at National Truck Driving Championships. Braun was nominated by the Missouri Trucking Association.

William Spivey has spent 33 of his 44 years in the trucking industry with TCW Inc. Spivey has accumulated 5 million accident-free miles. He was nominated by the Tennessee Trucking Association for whom he served as a Tennessee Road Team Captain in 2013.

Douglas Christianson has spent 50 years in the trucking industry. Christianson has spent the past 23 years driving for Sparhawk Trucking Inc. and has accumulated 4 million accident-free miles. Christianson was nominated by the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association.

Candidates are selected from a pool of exceptional state Drivers of the Year submitted by state trucking associations. Each candidates’ qualifications are reviewed by a panel of judges. They then narrow the field of nominees to a group of finalists who are judged by a panel of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and law enforcement representatives, who select the award winner.

Each driver now must submit a video by Sept. 6, answering five questions regarding their careers.

The winner is announced at ATA’s Management Conference and Exhibition Oct. 5-9 in San Diego.

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