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Team Selection Criteria Arrange a Presentation Road Sharing Tips

The OTA Road Knights Team is a group of 10 professional transport drivers with first class driving records who make presentations on how car and truck drivers can safely share the road. The team's mission is to help make our roadways safer by encouraging all road users to be partners in safety. The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) oversees the OTA Road Knights program.

"The transport drivers who make up the team are first-class drivers who represent their peers Ontario transport drivers who are dedicated to safety and professionalism in the industry," said David Bradley, president of the Ontario Trucking Association. "They are highly qualified to spread the message of road safety because they travel our roadways everyday and have faced every type of traffic and weather condition imaginable."

According to Ontario's Ministry of Transportation, tractor-trailers are involved in less than 3% of all road collisions. This makes professional truck drivers the safest of all road users. The industry's collision rate has declined in spite of a steady increase in the number of trucks on the road and kilometres driven. The Road Knights program was developed to increase this awareness and continue to make our roads safer. It is a province-wide community outreach project in which transport drivers share their knowledge of sharing the road with a truck.

During their two-year term of service, the Road Knights will participate in media interviews and speaking engagements in order to help improve road safety and increase awareness of the economic and social importance of the trucking industry. The Road Knights, all employed as full-time transport drivers, step out of the cab one or two days each month to meet with the media and community groups such as business clubs, driving schools and community associations. They also visit community schools with their trucks to introduce young people to the trucking industry. As well, Road Knights meet with truck driving students to emphasize the importance of safety, professionalism and courtesy - they know that safety begins with every driver.

Team Selection Criteria:

Team members are selected by a panel of industry, government, police and media representatives every two years. This team of Road Knights was selected by an impressive panel of judges,including: the Ontario Provincial Police, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 680News radio, the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario, Today's Trucking (an industry journal), a truck driver from the previous Road Knights team, and OTA staff.

The program started in 1995. This is the 7th Team that has been assembled. In total, 75 truck drivers have participated in the program. The program earned a National Transportation Week Award of Excellence in 1996.

While close to 70 transport drivers applied for this year’s program, a total of 17 were short-listed and interviewed by the selection committee. Each finalist was required to deliver a speech, participate in a personal interview, and prepare a detailed written statement outlining why he/she wants to serve on the team.

Proof of a first-class driving record, in addition to details about awards and commendations, were also required. To participate in the program, drivers must be nominated by member companies in good standing of the Ontario Trucking Association.

Arrange a Presentation:

OTA Road Knights are available to meet with groups to provide insight on sharing the road with a transport truck and how all road users can be partners in safety.

A visit by a Road Knight includes an oral presentation, a video on road sharing and a complimentary copy of Sharing the Road with a Truck - our highly acclaimed booklet of safe driving tips. If you want, a team member may bring a tractor-trailer for a safety demonstration (space and weather permitting).

OTA's Road Knights will share information on these and other topics:

• how to pass a truck safely;
• making sure the truck driver can see you;
• what to do to minimize splash and spray;
• why tractor-trailers make wide right-turns.
  
  Call OTA's communications department at 416-249-7401 x224 or email Rebecka.torn@ontruck.org to book a free presentation by an OTA Road Knight.