Private Motor Truck Council honors Dennis, Sonoco Ltd., Praxair

TORONTO (Sept. 17, 1999) — A number of fleets and individuals received special honors during the annual general meeting of the Private Motor Truck Council, held in Toronto on Sept. 16.

The PMTC Executive of the Year is Gord Dennis, manager of distribution for Molson Breweries, Toronto. A former chairman of the PMTC and still a director of the organization, Dennis was lauded for his hard work and innovation in both promoting the mandate of the PMTC and in his operation of the 400-vehicle Molson company fleet.

The PMTC Driver of the Year is Cliff Lammeren, a driver with Praxair Canada in Western Canada for the past 17 years who has had an unblemished safety record during that period. Active in many public-service activities in Edmonton, he also won the 1988 Firestone Truck Hero Award for helping save a life during an incident on the highway.

Two truck fleets were presented the PMTC/Zurich Canada Insurance Private Fleet Safety Award: in the medium-fleet category (11-50 vehicles) the winner was Sonoco Ltd., of Brantford, Ont.; and in the large-fleet (50-plus units) category the award went to Praxair Canada, of Mississauga, Ont.

In the popular annual Vehicle Graphics Design Awards, two winning fleets in each of five categories were recognized: The Toronto Star and Labatt Breweries (van/pick-up truck category); Higgins & Burke and Good Humor/Breyers (straight truck); Molson Breweries and Muskoka Transport (special-events/promotional vehicles); Canadian General Tower and DaimlerChrysler Transport (nighttime safety graphics); and J.M. Schneider and Proctor & Gamble (tractor-trailer).

In administrative matters, the officers of the PMTC for the 1999-2000 business year are: Bruce Richards (PMTC staff) as president; Frank Adams (Air Products Canada, Brampton) as chairman; and Peter Roy (PACLEASE Canada, Montreal) and Bruce Wallace (The TDL Group, Oakville, Ont.) as vice-chairmen.