The Truckload Carriers Association has presented its highest honor to Don H. Freymiller, founder and chairman of Freymiller Trucking of Oklahoma City, Ok. The award honors a TCA member who has served as a role model for the trucking industry. Freymiller was presented with the award Tuesday at the association’s annual convention in Las Vegas.

“I have to say that Don Freymiller is a charismatic leader and strong driver advocate who built an excellent company from the ground up," says TCA's 2011-12 chairman, Robert Low. "Over the years, he’s readily stepped forward to share the lessons he has learned throughout his career with people or organizations that might benefit from his knowledge. He’s the role model that every trucker aspires to be.”

Freymiller began his career in 1964 hauling cattle in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, to supplement his income as a dairy farmer. He bought a single cattle truck in 1968 and the following year sold all of his farm equipment to become a full-time truck driver. He eventually focused on hauling refrigerated products between California and Chicago.

By 1980, Freymiller Trucking had grown to 56 trucks, and the company relocated to Bakersfield, California. Within 15 years, the company had grown to more than 800 trucks with more than 1,200 employees. In 1994, the company set up shop Oklahoma City, where the company is headquartered today.

The company has always emphasized safety; its recognitions include being named a TCA National Fleet Safety Award division winner 11 times over the past 30 years. Freymiller has also placed in the Oklahoma Trucking Association’s fleet safety awards several times.

Freymiller is a past chairman of the Interstate Truckload Carriers Conference (1990-91) and a past chairman of the Interstate Carriers Conference Refrigerated Division (1986-87). He has also participated in TCA’s Highway Policy Committee, Carrier/Shipper Relations Committee, and the “Improving Efficiency on the Docks” Management Panel. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and a past board member for the ATA Foundation. He also belongs to Rotary International.