American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council has honored five trucking industry professionals with the Silver Spark Plug Award, the group’s highest honor.

The Silver Spark Plug is given to individuals who demonstrate a commitment to improved engineering and maintenance standards through the development of TMC recommended practices.

"Each year, TMC recognizes professional excellence in our industry with the Silver Spark Plug," said Carl Kirk, ATA vice president of maintenance, information technology & logistics and TMC executive director. "These five individuals represent the pinnacle of our field and we are proud to have them as members of TMC and to honor them with this award."

This year’s Silver Spark Plug winners are:

• Curtis Cummings, advisor for maintenance support, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Ark.

• Duane Lippincott, senior project manager, United Parcel Service, Atlanta, Ga.

• Alex Moultanovsky, vice president, Automotive Climate Control, Elkhart, Ind.

• Randy Tumbarello, maintenance director, Trimac Transportation, Gardena, Calif.

• Richard Winters, fleet manager, Verizon Fleet Operations, New Freedom, Pa.

Cummings, a TMC member since 2001, has been active in the S.1 Electrical Study Group for many years, serving as S.1 Study Group Chairman since 2010. He has overseen the development or update of numerous recommended practices and has chaired or moderated numerous technical sessions during his tenure as chairman.

Lippincott, a TMC member since 2009, has been active in the S.11 Energy Conservation/Sustainability and Environmental Technology Study Group, serving as S.11 Study Group first vice chairman from 2011 to 2015. He has contributed to the development or update of several recommended practices and has chaired task forces such as the Future Energy Conservation Task Force, moderated technical sessions, and is actively involved with every task force within the study group.

Moultanovsky, a TMC member since 2006, has been active in the S.4 Cab & Controls Study Group, and currently chairs several task forces pertaining to the update of TMC's heating, ventilation and air conditioning recommended practices for cabs and sleeper berths. He has also served as a liaison to the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Tumbarello, a TMC member since 2011, has been active in S.3 Engine and S.5 Fleet Maintenance Management Study Groups for several years, serving as first vice chairman of S.3 from 2012-2014 before becoming chairman. He has overseen the development or update of numerous recommended practices and has chaired or moderated numerous technical sessions. He has chaired the LNG/CNG Task Force and led the development of an information report addressing the Specification, Deployment and Maintenance Considerations for Natural Gas Powered Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles.  He is also a member of ATA Technical Advisory Group.

Winters, a TMC member since 2005, has been active in the S.14 Light- & Medium-Duty Trucks and S.15 Specialty Trucks Study Groups and Corrosion Control Action Committee for many years, serving as S.14 chairman since 2009. He has overseen the development or update of numerous recommended practices and oversaw the merger of the two study groups

"I congratulate these tremendous individuals for their efforts to keep our trucks, and America, moving," said Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO . "Their hard work, and the hard work of the millions of Americans employed in our industry, is an example for all of us."