Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Finalists Selected for America’s Road Team

American Trucking Associations named 32 professional truck drivers as finalists for the 2015 America’s Road Team captains. America’s Road Team is a group of drivers with good safety records picked to represent the trucking industry.

by Staff
October 20, 2014
Finalists Selected for America’s Road Team

America's Road Team Truck: Photo by Volvo.

2 min to read


America's Road Team Truck: Photo by Volvo.

American Trucking Associations named 32 professional truck drivers as finalists for the 2015 America’s Road Team captains. America’s Road Team is a group of drivers with good safety records picked to represent the trucking industry.

“The professional drivers selected as finalists are great industry ambassadors,” said Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO. “These professionals all have impressive driving records, share a passion for safety and are engaged in their communities.”

Ad Loading...

The top picks for America’s Road Team will be announced on January 14. The new captains will receive the signature navy blue America’s Road Team blazer and will begin representing the industry to share the message of safety, essentiality and sustainability with the public.

The 32 finalists are:

  • Paul D. Brandon, Fed Ex Freight, Oxford, Conn.

  • Henry Bruster, UPS Freight, Woodville, Miss.

  • Richard Buitrago, Con-way Freight, Kissimmee, Fla.

  • Gary Lee Capps, UPS Freight, Grantsville, Utah

  • Kenneth J. Clark, YRC Freight, Desoto, Mo.

  • David Conkling, Werner Enterprises, Metairie, La.

  • Charles E. Demchock, II, Walmart Transportation, Cocoa, Fla.

  • Eric Flick, FedEx Freight, Dayton, Nev.

  • David Green, Werner Enterprises, Hot Springs, Ark.

  • Neil Kirk, Penske Logistics, Middletown, N.Y.

  • Randall Luschen, Weinrich Truck Line, Inc., Merrill, Iowa

  • Clarence Wilburn Lyons, YRC Freight, Halton City, Texas

  • Thomas McIntosh, YRC Freight, Aurora, Colo.

  • John McKown, UP Freight, East Berlin, Penn.

  • Tim W. Melody, ABF Freight System, Inc., Payette, Idaho

  • Chad Miller, ABF Freight System, Inc., Crown Point, Ind.

  • Bill Minor, Con-way Freight, West Milwaukee, Wis.

  • Brent Quire, Con-way Freight, New Albany, Ind.

  • Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Transportation, Whitmann, Ariz.

  • Terry Rankins, Weinrich Truck Line, Inc., Tollesboro, Ky.

  • Paul Savill, UPS Freight, Hamilton, Ohio

  • Gary Schmidt, Cliff Viessman, Inc., Fergus Falls, Minn.

  • Russell Simpson, Holland, Inc., South Vienna, Ohio

  • Danny Smith, Big G Express, Inc., Shelbyville, Tenn.

  • Clarence Taylor, Walmart Transportation, North Chesterfield, Va.

  • Stanley J. Thrasher, Danny Herman Trucking, Inc., Boaz, Ala.

  • Brian K. Turner, Old Dominion Freight Line, Newport, Tenn.

  • Tim Vogt, Con-way Freight, Loganville, Ga.

  • Kirk Weis, ABF Freight System, Inc., Rio Rancho, N.M.

  • William West, ABF Freight System, Inc., Roopville, Ga.

  • Derrick Whittle, Cargo Transporters, Inc., Fieldale, Va.

  • Scott D. Woodrome, FedEx Freight, Middletown, Ohio

Ad Loading...

America’s Road Team is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. To be eligible for nomination, drivers must be employed by or leased to an ATA member company. The ATA looks for drivers with excellent safety records who demonstrate the ability to communicate his or her commitment to safety and passion for the industry.

More Drivers

YouTube thumbnail showing two Western Star trucks with the text "Behind the Experience: Western Star Star Nation"
Equipmentby Lauren FletcherAugust 3, 2026

Drivers Put Western Star Trucks to the Test at Star Nation Experience

Watch to get an inside look at the Western Star trucks, technology, and community behind the Star Nation Experience 2026!

Read More →
American flag in background with photos of military truck and Freedom Haulers ad graphic
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 30, 2026

Trump Administration Looks to Put More Veterans Behind the Wheel

The Freedom Haulers program pulls together existing and expanded programs at several federal agencies to recruit veterans to drive commercial heavy-duty trucks and cut the red tape for them to get a CDL, training, and employment.

Read More →
Equipmentby Jim ParkJuly 30, 2026

Putting Mack’s Command Steer to the Test

A test drive of Mack’s Command Steer active steering system evaluates how it can make truck driving easier and less tiring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Truck driver behind the wheel with illustration overlaid of someone handing out cash
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 28, 2026

Competition Heating Up for Truck Drivers

New report reveals rising driver hiring costs, the return of sign-on bonuses, growing AI advantages, and the operational factors shaping driver retention.

Read More →
Line of gray semi trucks with Fraley & Schilling logo
Safety & ComplianceJuly 15, 2026

How Fraley & Schilling Improved Logbook Compliance by Over 50%

Fraley & Schilling needed a way to close a compliance workflow gap in its ELD system without adding more work from driver training, reminders, and back-office follow-ups. It found the answer in a custom driver app.

Read More →
Volvo American Truck Simulator.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseJuly 8, 2026

Volvo Goes Gaming

Volvo has roared into American Truck Simulator with two new flagship trucks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two black men in safety vests walking together laughing in a truck fleet yard
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 6, 2026

What the Best Fleets to Drive For Teach About Driver Retention

Survey fatigue, AI-powered routing, owner-operator expectations, and the decline of social media all emerged as themes from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program.

Read More →
Podcast thumbnail showing Jane Jazrawy, the words "When Drivers Tune Out," and a line drawing of a truck.
DriversJuly 2, 2026

Driver Retention Lessons From the Best Fleets to Drive For

What separates trucking's best workplaces from the rest? Jane Jazrawy shares the biggest lessons from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program on driver retention, communication, AI, and workforce trends on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast.

Read More →
Man standing beside tractor-trailer in sepia tone with the words "Farewell CDL" superimposed on top
Driversby Jack RobertsJuly 1, 2026

Farewell, CDL: Why I'm Giving Up My Commercial Driver's License

After more than 20 years as a CDL holder, HDT Executive Editor Jack Roberts is letting his commercial license expire. Not because he wants to — but because trucking's nuclear verdict crisis has made the risks of public-road test drives too great for editors, manufacturers, and everyone involved.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
HDT Talks Trucking thumbnail with photo of Jane Jazrawy and the text,, "When Drivers Tune Out"
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJune 24, 2026

How Top Trucking Fleets Improve Driver Retention [Video]

What do healthy snacks, optimized routing, and just picking up the phone have in common? They're all strategies the Best Fleets to Drive For are using to retain truck drivers.

Read More →