WalMart Transportation's Rickey Oliver is 2011 National Driver of the Year

ARLINGTON, Va. – Rickey Oliver, a Brookhaven, Miss., based professional truck driver for WalMart Transportation, has been named the American Trucking Associations 2011 National Truck Driver of the Year. The announcement came this weekend at the Safety & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition in Albuquerque, N.M.

Oliver has driven over 3.5 million miles of safe driving with zero preventable accidents, in his 27 years behind the wheel. He competed for the national title, considered the highest honor of a professional truck driver can receive, against professionals nominated from the 50 state trucking associations.

“Rickey Oliver embodies the professional truck driver who delivers America’s goods safely and efficiently everyday,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “His passion for educating the public about safe driving and his commitment to his community are remarkable. We are proud to have Rickey represent the industry as National Driver of the Year.”

Among Oliver’s many accomplishments, he was a charter member of the WalMart Road Team and was elected to America’s Road Team in 1997. Oliver is a seven time State Champion at a State Truck Driving Championship, and has received numerous awards from his employers, as well as from the Indiana Motor Truck Association and the Mississippi Trucking Association. Oliver has dedicated his life to causes that support safety, the trucking industry and children in need. He has been an active Trucker Buddy, Career Day presenter, and currently volunteers at schools, helping – through WalMart’s Foundation – to provide a better learning environment for children. Oliver is active in the Honor Roll Driver Education Program, which implements a safe driving education program available to new drivers throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. He serves as a safety ambassador for his company, helping to maintain safety standards and good working relationships between the shipper and receiver. He initiated a partnership with Operation Lifesaver to integrate rail-grade safety education into the program. Rickey also organizes annually the local Christmas toy drive for Children’s Hospital and Earth Day events.

“Rickey is an incredible resource for the trucking industry, said Mississippi Trucking Association President David Roberts. We are glad to have him representing professional truck drivers here in Mississippi and around the nation. I congratulate Rickey for receiving this award and thank him for his tireless efforts on behalf of the trucking industry.

Sponsored by Custard Insurance Adjusters, ATA’s National Driver of the Year award pays tribute to one exception driver annually for his or her significant and career-long professional achievements, his or her stellar safety record, and exemplary community outreach. The qualifications and accomplishments of each candidate are first reviewed by an esteemed group of industry safety professional judges and a group of finalists are then judged by an impartial panel of CVSA and law enforcement representatives. Oliver was nominated as the Mississippi Driver of the Year.

ATA's Safety Management Council is a national organization of transportation professionals involved in safety and human resources management for motor carriers and interested organizations. It aims to advance highway and workplace safety through programs, research, education, training, communication, and peer interaction. http://smc.truckline.com

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight.