Olympia, WA – Annual awards from Washington Trucking Associations, Washington State Patrol recognize industry safety leaders on the state’s roads and highways.

The Washington State Trucking Associations, in partnership with the Washington State Patrol, have announced the winners of the 2024 Trucking Fleet and Safety awards. The awards were presented Aug. 10 at a private ceremony in Lakewood.

“This year’s honorees reflect the best of the best in our industry,” said WTA President/CEO Sheri Call. “Safety remains our number one industry priority, something we continuously emphasize in our member training and course offerings and in our collaborations with the Washington State Patrol,” she said. “This year’s award winners have a demonstrated record of excellence in safe driving practices. It’s reassuring to know there are so many truck drivers and fleets working to maintain high standards and a commitment to safe travel on the roadways.”

Washington State Patrol Assistant Chief Shannon Bendiksen, who oversees the WSP Commercial Enforcement Bureau, said the awards provide clear examples of best practices for the rest of the industry.

“There are a significant number of Commercial Motor Vehicles traveling up and down Washington roadways every day, and intentional focus on safety is critical to protect all motorists,” said Bendiksen. “We are fortunate to have a collaborative partnership with the Washington Trucking Associations in recognizing those in the trucking industry who strive for the highest level of safety for drivers and vehicles,” she said.

“It was a privilege to hand out awards and personally thank each person for their contributions to roadway safety and their commitment to overall safety.”

There are multiple divisions within WTA’s annual fleet safety awards based on a company’s operation type and miles traveled. The division awards are distributed based on the carrier’s crash rate for the previous year.

All first-place division winners are considered for the annual Grand Champion Fleet Award. The section of the Grand Champion Fleet is conducted by a committee of Washington State Patrol commercial vehicle enforcement officers, who select the top carrier based on the fleet’s overall and Washington crash rate, the carrier’s CSA scores, and the company’s description of its safety program, which includes the company’s greatest safety achievement the previous year, and any information provided to highlight the company’s strong commitment to highway safety.

This year’s Grand Champion Fleet of the Year was presented to Charlie’s Produce. Charlie’s is the West Coast’s largest, most efficient network of distribution centers and modern, refrigerated fleet for moving high quality, fresh produce and floral products from fields to markets, kitchens and tables.

“We could not be more proud of this recognition, which honors both our people and our company-wide commitment to safety,” said Jorge delToro, corporate director of safety for Charlie’s Produce. “Our safety-first culture is something we emphasize every day. Our fleet drivers work hard to ensure the safe transport of the region’s best quality produce from farms to stores and tables. It is particularly rewarding to be recognized for these efforts by both the trucking industry and the WSP enforcement division, which has examined our safety record and acknowledged our commitment to safe practices.”

This year’s awards were presented in the following categories:

Driver of the Year – Intermodal
Roy Lafromboise – Stryder Motorfreight USA, Inc.

Driver of the Year – Common Carrier Over 5 Million Miles + WSP Driver of the Year
Timothy Atwood – Walmart Transportation, LLC

The Driver of the Year award recognizes the top driver in each motor carrier conference for their outstanding safety record and who consistently achieve excellence during their driving career.

Driver Manager of the Year:
Jason Threlfall – Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc.

Driver Manager of the Year recognizes the top driver manager of the year. The recipient of this award is selected based on their commitment to excellence, their ability to communicate, their understanding and respect of the regulations and laws as they pertain to the trucking industry and their ongoing contributions to the overall success of the company.

Fleet Safety Winners:
2024 Fleet of the Year – Common Carrier Over 5 Million Miles
1. Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
2. Atech Logistics, Inc.
3. Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc.

2024 Fleet of the Year – Common Carrier Under 5 Million Miles
Ludtke Pacific Trucking

2024 Fleet of the Year – Private Carrier Over 5 Million Miles
1. Charlie’s Produce
2. 2nd Walmart Transportation, LLC

2024 Fleet of the Year – Private Carrier Under 5 Million Miles
1. Pepsi Northwest Beverages, LLC
2. The Boeing Company

2024 Fleet of the Year – Intermodal
1. Mitchell Bros. Truck Line, Inc.
2. Stryder Motorfreight USA, Inc.
3. Portland Container Repair Corporation

Fleet Safety Awards recognize WTA member companies for their outstanding safety and accident prevention programs in the trucking industry. This award is designed for the member carriers who consistently achieve excellence during a 12-month period of operating commercial vehicles.

Safety Professional of the Year:
Jeff McLaughlin – Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc.

The Safety Professional of the Year is based on a summary of outstanding activities, company and industry contributions to safety developed of provided by the nominee.

Photos of this year’s honorees are available online.

About the Washington Trucking Associations
Since 1922, the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) has served as the unified voice for the trucking industry in Washington. Member supported, WTA is dedicated to advocating sound public policies, providing excellence in education, training, and information, as well as promoting a safe, dependable, and efficient trucking industry in Washington For more information, visit www.watrucking.org.