APTA elects new chairman

DIEPPE, N.B. (Nov. 19, 2003) — LeeAnn McConnell of McConnell Transport Ltd. in Jacksonville, N.B., is the first woman ever elected to chair the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, the trucking group announced last week.

McConnell, who succeeds Donnie Fillmore Sr. in the two-year posting, cited education in support of drivers, employees, and customers, as her top priority. “We need a National Occupation Code for our drivers, so that they are identified by Human Resources Development Canada as skilled workers,” she said. “We also need to educate our public as we are the only industry to share our work space with the motoring public. They need to understand that every single item they use has come by truck, that our drivers are well trained and skilled.”

Other members of the Board of Directors for the Year 2003/2004 include: Vaughn Sturgeon of Warren Transport Ltd., Rexton as first vice-chair; Gerry Dowden, East Can Transport Services Ltd., of St. John’s, as second vice-chair; and Gord Peddle, D. D. Transport Ltd., Mount Pearl, Nfld., as secretary/treasurer.