25 million safe miles net MacKinnon big award

 PHOENIX, AZ – – The 75-year-old family-owned MacKinnon Transport of Guelph, Ont., operates approximately 270 trucks.

            In 2009, during more than 25,162,133 miles of operation, the number of preventable accidents that MacKinnon drivers recorded was precisely zero.

            For that, among other attributes, the family-owned MacKinnon Transport has just been acclaimed one of the safest truckers in North America.

            MacKinnon and Upper Lake Foods, which operates out of Minnesota were recognized at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) annual management conference here this week.

            The companies were named winners of the 2010 Volvo Trucks Safety Award. It’s the second year that the award was presented and this year, Michelin Tires is a supporting sponsor.

            “As it is at Volvo Trucks, safety is an integral part of the corporate cultures at both MacKinnon Transport and Upper Lakes Foods, and that doesn’t happen without consistent, sustained effort at every level,” said Ron Huibers, Volvo senior vice president, sales and marketing.

            Added Tim Fulton, Michelin’s vp strategic accounts: “Michelin is pleased to stand alongside Volvo Trucks in recognizing fleets truly committed to safety. Upper Lakes Foods and MacKinnon Transport have shown that investments in drivers, equipment and processes pay off in terms of safety.”

            “The culture at MacKinnon Transport is a safety first attitude,” said Evan MacKinnon, President and CEO.  “In addition to the various safety programs and procedures we have in place, everyone is encouraged to speak freely if they’re aware of something that could be unsafe.

            “It’s one of the key reasons why we’ve been able to attract and retain such a great group of people — including drivers. The safety features that are in the Volvo truck are really second to none, and we have a lot of drivers who want to drive a Volvo for that reason.  We wouldn’t win an award like this without a company-wide commitment to safety.  And our drivers are at the forefront of that commitment.”  

            MacKinnon won in the over-20 million-mile category.

            MacKinnon’s safety program begins with hiring quality drivers and giving them comprehensive training and support. Rigorous maintenance and operational standards are applied to the fleet, and safety equipment, including mandatory electronic on-board recorders, is found in all of its trucks.

            Want to see a short movie about MacKinnon’s approach to safety? Turn  your speakers on and click here.