TCA honours MacKinnon Transport for safety

LAS VEGAS (March 6, 2002) — MacKinnon Transport of Guelph, Ont., won the grand prize at the Truckload Carriers Association’s annual fleet safety awards program in Las Vegas yesterday.

MacKinnon won the award competing with truckload companies operating under 25 million miles annually. Marten Transport of Mondovi, Wisc., won among carriers with more than 25 million miles a year.

It is the second time MacKinnon has been honoured by the TCA, based in Alexandria, Va. The company won the grand prize for its category in 1999.

The TCA said it MacKinnon won due in part to its corporate philosophy that safety is a tangible product that attracts business and skilled employees. MacKinnon’s safety department is staffed by five full-time employees, who oversee compliance, safety policies, and training as they relate to employees, equipment, “and the company’s reputation,” according to MacKinnon. The motto of the department is “Prevention with Intention.”

The grand prize-winning companies were judged on their overall safety programs, both on and off-highway. Some of the factors considered included safety-program organization, employee driver/independent contractor hiring procedures, training, supervision, accident investigation, inspection and maintenance of equipment, and outside activities including general highway safety.

All grand prize finalists were audited by independent auditors not affiliated with TCA or the carrier.