Kansas Road Team

The Kansas Road Team, sponsored by KMCA and the Safety Management Council, promotes highway safety and the importance of trucking to the state's economy. The program uses professional truck drivers to deliver the industry's vital safety and economic message. These individuals continue to drive full-time, but make appearances approximately two to three days per month on behalf of the trucking industry. Audiences include high school driver education classes, civic and service organizations, the media and the general public.

The Kansas Road Team was formed through the Kansas Safety Management Council's efforts to develop an effective tool to communicate information about the trucking industry. The Safety Council established a committee to develop the Kansas Road Team based on the proven record of ATA's America's Road Team. Following approval by the KMCA Board of Directors, the original Road Team Captains were selected in the winter of 1992 and introduced to the media and general public on February 25, 1993.

2010 marked the 17th anniversary of KMCA’s Kansas Road Team Captain Program. Since its inception in 1993, 53 professional truck drivers have served as captains of the Kansas Road Team. Five men were chosen as captains for the 2010-2012 term. These 5 drivers will be our industry spokesmen representing us before a wide array of audiences and events throughout the state. This team has an ongoing total of 123 years of experience and a combined total of over 10.5 million safe miles and counting.

The Kansas Road Team Captains for 2010-2012 are as follows:

Gary Cooper, Frito-Lay Transportation – Topeka, KS

Gary Cooper is a professional truck driver who has compiled more than 1.3 million safe miles during his 21-year career. Gary drives over the road delivering Frito-Lay products throughout an eight-state area with no specific route each week.

Gary received his company’s award for 1 million safe miles award in 2006. He is also involved in his company’s safety programs through training drivers on safety, ergonomics, and is trained to conduct safety audits. Gary would like to represent the trucking industry to teach kids about driver safety and what it is like to be in the trucking profession, in short “teach kids to better their driving skills.”

Frito-Lay’s safety management states, “Gary is a valuable member of the Frito-Lay team and is known throughout the traffic center for his hard work. Gary’s unique perspective would be an asset to the Kansas Road Team.”

Gary and his wife Robin reside in Shawnee, KS. They have two children and a recent addition of their first grandchild. Gary has helped coach Kansas Kids Wrestling and volunteered with the Little League football program. He enjoys boating, camping, and mechanical work after spending time with his family.

Bruce Mitchell, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. – Ottawa, KS

Bruce Mitchell is a professional truck driver who has compiled more than 3.2 million safe miles during his 32 year career.

Bruce is a very active member of the Wal-Mart team as well as his community. Bruce took 3rd place in the 1998 Ottawa Truck Rodeo and was named 1998 KMCA rookie of the year in their Truck Driving Championships. He is active with the accident review committee, a store ambassador, and quarterly grass roots meetings. He also participates in their annual defensive driving class.

Bruce is personally active in helping with his local church bazaar, active with his volunteer fire department, is a sponsor for the DARE program, and is active in the school site council. He has served on the city council for 14 years and holds the office of mayor for his community. Bruce’s spare time is spent outdoors working with animals or fishing.

To quote Bruce, “I have driven a truck my entire adult life. Safety is an issue every hour and every day of that time. Educating the public how to share the road with other motorists and trucks is a constant and never ending necessity. If I could help promote highway safety through this program I would be honored to participate.”

Bruce’s Safety Manager says he conducts himself in a professional and efficient manner to his customers and is always a positive influence in their safety meetings.

Bruce lives in Summerfield, KS with his wife Eulala and has three children. We are honored to have Bruce participate in the Kansas Road Team for the next two years. 

Todd Sarver, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. – Ottawa, KS

Todd Sarver is in his 23rd year as a professional truck driver and has compiled more than 2.8 million safe miles. Todd transports general commodities from Wal-Mart’s distribution center in Ottawa to Wal-Mart stores in the Midwest area. He has been part of the Wal-Mart driving team for more than 11 years.

Todd has accumulated several safe driving awards for his outstanding safety record. He received Safe Mile award milestones at .5, 1, and 1.5 million safe mile marks. He received the February Driver of the Month award and the Driver of the Year award in 2002. Todd attends Defensive Driving Classes and is also a Store Ambassador.

Todd is proud to represent the state of Kansas and Wal-Mart because of their outstanding record in safety. “Growing up with my father driving a truck I was lucky enough to know what I wanted to do at an early age.”

Todd’s Safety Manager says he is the epitome of a professional driver. “He comes in every week, drives safely and represents Wal-Mart in a professional manner.” He goes on to say, “Todd understands the importance of representing the trucking industry as he drives each day.”

While he is away from driving Todd enjoys fishing and motor sports. Todd and his wife Cindy live in Waverly, KS and have four children.

Bryan Carter, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. – Ottawa, KS

Bryan Carter is a professional truck driver who has compiled more than 1.5 million accident-free miles during his 16 year career. Bryan transports general commodities in an inter-regional area where a typical route could send him anywhere delivering for Wal-Mart’s distribution centers. He has been part of the Wal-Mart team for more than seven years.

He has received several safe-driving awards for his professionalism and safety record. Bryan was selected as the 1994 Driver of the Month while driving for a previous employer and has achieved his half million mile safe driving award from Wal-Mart.

Bryan participates in the company’s annual defensive driving class. Bryan spends his free time with his wife Kelly and their son Jake. Bryan enjoys sports and is a proud supporter of the Kansas City Royals.

Bryan will be a great addition to our Kansas Road Team because, in part, he displays a strong message in a quiet voice. “I believe that the drivers of passenger vehicles and trucks should be able to share our roadways in a safe and appropriate fashion. I would like to communicate this to others and help them to understand what it is like to operate a semi-truck on our highways.”

Wal-Mart safety management states, “Bryan is a quiet leader. He comes in, does his job, drives safely and leads by example. When he makes a comment it carries a lot of weight because he is very respected by his peers.”

Dale Larson, Frito-Lay Transportation – Topeka, KS

Dale Larson is a professional truck driver who has compiled more than 1.68 million safe miles during his 31-year career. Dale has delivered Frito-Lay product across the nation during his career as a professional driver. Dale could deliver double 53’ trailers one day, then turn around and deliver product to several states on the next assignment he takes. He has worked a diverse delivery system during his career.

He has received several safe driving awards including the company’s million mile safe driving award in 2001. Dale was Frito-Lay’s truck driving champion in 2003. Dale participates in the Load Quality Team and helped initiate, and participates in the Junior Leagues affiliation with Frito-Lay, “Transporting Next to New Sale.”

Dale is active volunteering for his church and school, as well as coaching his daughter’s soccer team. When Dale is not driving he enjoys carpentry, hunting and fishing, and riding four wheelers and motorcycles.

Dale has a visible passion for what he does. In his words, “I like kids! I’ve seen and experienced a lot in my 30 years as an OTR truck driver. I went on a ride-along trip with my uncle at the age of 16, and knew then that this was what I wanted to do for a living, I was hooked!”

To further Dale’s passion this is what his management team said, “In his nearly 30 years of OTR driving with Frito-Lay, Dale has seen a lot of change. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is his positive attitude. He has worked as a driver trainer and competed in several truck rodeos. Dale would be a great asset to the Kansas Road Team because he is approachable and could easily share his years of experience with groups of all ages.”

Dale lives in Topeka with his wife Jana and their daughter Jamie.