Ontario truck driving champs crowned

PEMBROKE, Ont. (July 22, 2004) — Mike Francis — a driver with paper, printing, imaging supplier Unisource Canada — has been named Grand Champion at this year’s Ontario Truck Driving Championships at the Irving Big Stop in Pembroke, Ont.

Francis racked up the highest point total — 462 out of 500 — on his way to winning the Straight Truck category and being named top driver. He was also honoured for Highest Pre-Trip Inspection, and was handed the Ministry of Transportation Award.

Seventy drivers participated in this year’s event, where competing truck drivers face a grueling obstacle course, a pre-trip inspection judged by Ministry of Transportation inspectors, and a written exam as well.

SLH Transport was well represented at the championships as four different drivers placed in the top three in various categories.

Winners in all categories include (listed from first to third place):

Single Single: Jose Vergara, J D Smith & Sons; Brent Rose, SLH Transport; and Larry Ruoho, Challenger Motor Freight.

Single Tandem (sponsored by the Ontario Trucking Association): Vitas Savickas, Con-Way Canada Express; Irving Gilley, Epic Express; and Roland Webster, SLH Transport.

Tandem Tandem: Don Mason, Loblaw Companies; Dan Condgon, Reimer Express Lines; Peter Walton, J. D. Smith & Sons.

Train: Douglas Pettitt, SLH Transport; Wayne Burnett, Rothsay Maple Leaf Foods; Gerry Morgan, Toronto EMS.

Jeff MacLean, of SLH Transport and David Loenzen, Miller Waste Systems, followed Mike Francis in the Straight Truck category.

Vitas Savickas of Con-Way Canada Express was named Rookie Of the Year for his effort in the Single Tandem category.