YRC Freight is proud to announce that professional drivers Russ James and Jeff Rose are finalists in the American Trucking Associations (ATA) selection of Captains for the 2019-2020 America’s Road Team.
Drivers chosen as Captains for America’s Road Team are the “best of the best” with superior safety records. America’s Road Team Captains educate the public about sharing the highway, safe driving practices and the trucking industry. Captains must be excellent communicators as well as exceedingly knowledgeable about safety within the industry.
“Russ and Jeff are true champions of safety. They are two of YRC Freight’s best drivers operating safely and professionally on North America’s highways. We congratulate them for their commitment to quality, unparalleled customer service and unmatched enthusiasm. We salute them for their continued dedication to keeping our highways safe,” said YRC President T. J. O’Connor.
Russ and Jeff are two of the thirty-four professional drivers now moving to the final round held January 27-30, 2019 in Arlington, Va. A panel of evaluators will judge the contenders on their knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s message and overall safe driving record.
Russ James is a city driver at the YRC Freight Missoula, Mont. service center. He has been an accident-free professional driver for over 38 years and has been employed by YRC Freight for 14 of those years. James has driven over three million accumulated accident-free miles during his driving career. He has been the recipient of numerous safety awards. James is the Safety and Smith Trainer for YRC Freight at Missoula and Kalispell, Mont. He has competed in state truck driving competitions for ten years in 3-axle, 4-axle and Straight Truck classes. He earned two trips to the National Truck Driving Championships. James wants to be an America’s Road Team Captain because he firmly believes that safety is “A Driving Concern.” He welcomes this opportunity to be a part of the ATA Road Team and share valuable safety information. He runs the farm that has been in his family since 1912 and is a safety advocate.
Jeff Rose is a linehaul driver at the YRC Freight Akron, Ohio service center. He has been a professional driver for 34 years and was employed by YRC Freight for 27 of those years. Rose has driven over three million accident-free accumulated miles during his total driving career. Over two-and-a-half million of those miles were driven while he was a driver for YRC Freight. He is a prominent member of the YRC Freight R36 Safety Team as well as a YRC Freight Safety Trainer. Rose works closely with the Ohio Highway Patrol and Ohio Motor Carrier Enforcement in numerous officer training and motoring public safety initiatives and ambassador programs. He has competed in four state truck driving competitions. Rose earned the top overall score at the 2017 Ohio state competition. He has participated in two National Truck Driving Championships and earned second place in the nation in the 2017 Twins class. He wants to be an America’s Road Team Captain to promote highway safety and share the importance of trucking with our country.
America’s Road Team was created in 1986 by the ATA to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. Captains, with support from their companies, dedicate a few days each month to attend industry events, speak at schools or meet policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.
