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.
2021 marked the 28th Anniversary of KMCA's Kansas Road Team Captain Program. Since its inception in 1993, 73 professional truck drivers have served as captains of the Kansas Road Team. Six men were chosen as captains for the 2018-2021 term. These six drivers will be our industry spokesmen representing us before a wide array of audiences and events throughout the state.
THE KANSAS ROAD TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2018-2021 ARE AS FOLLOWS:
John Bouddhara Jason Damron Travis Harries Mark McNeely Robert Oswald Matt Rohrer
John Bouddhara - FedEx Freight • Wichita, KS
John has been driving professionally for 10 years with 1 million miles driven. During this time, he has competed and placed in several truck driving championships. Prior to his career with FedEx Freight, John was in the Marines Corp. as an Inspector/Instructor. John resides in Wichita and is father to four children.
Jason Damron - Convoy Systems LLC • Edwardsville, KS
Jason has been a professional driver for 20 years with over 2.75 million miles logged. He is a dedicated safety professional who participates in Convoy’s annual safety training and accident review board. Jason is also instrumental in Convoy’s charitable efforts including the Wreaths Across America program. Jason resides in Edwardsville with his wife and two children.
Travis Harries - Walmart Transportation • Andover, KS
Travis has been a professional driver for over 25 years with over 2.3 million miles logged. He has competed in the Kansas Truck Driving Championships. Travis lives in Andover and is married with three children.
Mark McNeely - FedEx Freight • Bonner Springs, KS
Mark has been driving professionally for 32 years with 4 million miles driven. He has competed in several truck driving championships. Mark has two children and enjoys fishing and motorcycling and belongs to his local Masonic lodge.
Robert Oswald - Walmart Transportation • Boonville, MO
Bob has been a professional driver for 43 years with over 4.4 million miles logged. He has participated in national truck driving championships and been named driver of the month twice. Bob resides in Boonville, MO and has two sons and six grandchildren His hobbies include spending time with grandkids, playing golf and watching sports.
Matt Rohrer - Walmart Transportation • Falls City, NE
Matt has been driving professionally for over 23 years. He has logged 3.5 million safe miles and has participated and placed in the annual Kansas Truck Driving Championships. Matthew resides in Falls City, Nebraska and is father to two children.
If you are interested in becoming a Kansas Road Team Member for the 2021-2023 term, please email Kay Hendrix, Director of Safety at kayh@kmca.org for more information and updates as they become available.
KMCA is soliciting nominations of professional truck drivers, both men and women, who can deliver our industry’s message from the unique perspective of a truck driver. Successful candidates must be willing to spend one to two days per month during a 24-month period following the selection and training process to meet with the news media, speak before civic, industry and other audiences, appear at trucking industry events and to school students -- particularly driver education students.
KMCA provides training, uniforms and support materials including videotapes and literature.
Eligibility
1. Nominees must have been continuously employed as a full-time truck driver for the past 12 months and currently employed by a KMCA member as a full-time truck driver.
2. Nominees must possess an outstanding safety record and must maintain an accident-free record and have no convictions for any moving violation in both the truck and personal vehicle for the previous three years.
3. Nominees must be able to clearly and convincingly communicate their commitment to safety and courtesy. They must be able to represent a positive image of professionalism.
4. If selected, the nominee must be willing to spend one to two days each month traveling and speaking on behalf of the Kansas trucking industry.
5. The nominating company shall continue to pay the salary and provide benefits and insurance to the driver while he/she is traveling for the Road Team. In selecting the representatives, emphasis will be placed on driver’s safety record and ability to speak knowledgeably about the trucking industry.
Procedure
The nominator must be a motor carrier executive with the authority to commit his/her company’s support for the program. The nominator also should confirm before submitting the nomination that the candidate is willing to participate in the program.
After the individual has been nominated, it is the nominator’s responsibility to immediately notify the Kansas Road Team office at KMCA if the candidate becomes ineligible at any time during the selection process.
Once nominations are closed, the Kansas Safety Management Council will announce a group of finalists who will come to Topeka for two days in March where a panel of judges representing industry-related business, communication and public relations will select the 2020-2022 Kansas Road Team captains.
The new captains of the Kansas Road Team will be formally introduced at the Kansas Safety Awards Banquet April 27, 2021.
