ABF Freight, Old Dominion Freight Line, and Roehl Transport took home honors from the American Trucking Associations' Safety, Security and Human Resources Conference in Little Rock, Ark.

ABF Freight System, a less-than-truckload carrier based in Fort Smith, Ark., won the 2015 Excellence in Trucking Security Award. Each year, carriers applying for consideration under this award's guidelines are evaluated based upon the extent and effectiveness of their security programs, such as security policies, procedures, training, and record. ABF Freight Systems' data for 2014 included a 12% reduction in the year-over-year cargo theft ratio and no incidents of full-load cargo theft.

The Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award recognizes the extent and effectiveness of carrier's freight claims and loss prevention programs, such as policies, procedures, training, and claims experience. The award goes to one truckload and one less-than-truckload carrier.

This year, The Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award for a less-than-truckload carrier went to Old Dominion Freight Line of Thomasville, N.C. Their staff of 21 in claims, 10 in loss prevention, six in security and five in clerical support, along with a robust training program, kept the number of claims filed and paid versus total shipments and claims paid steady to declining over the review period. Equally impressive is their 5% increase in the number of claims solved in 30 days or less, according to ATA.

Roehl Transport of Marshfield, Wis., took home the Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award for a truckload carrier. They boasted a 17% increase in the number of claims solved in 30 days or less. Roehl Transports' staff of four in claims, two in loss prevention, two in security and one in clerical support, along with a robust training program, resulted in a 10% drop in year over year claims paid and a 39% year-over-year decrease in the net claim amount paid.

"Simply put, this award honors the two companies that set the bar for claims management, loss prevention and damage control," said Brian Lagana, executive director of ATA's Safety Management Council regarding the Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award. "They have also mastered the art of negotiation, inspection and investigation; perfected claims filing and processing; and eliminated, minimized and recovered loss above and beyond all others.

When evaluating for these awards, the size of the fleet, staff, and program budget relative to the company's successful experience are all taken into consideration.