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.
2016 marked the 22nd anniversary of KMCAs Kansas Road Team Captain Program. Since its inception in 1993, 67 professional truck drivers have served as captains of the Kansas Road Team. Five men were chosen as captains for the 2016-2018 term. These five 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 2016-2018 ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Glen Lawton - Frito-Lay
Glen Lawton has been driving for Frito-Lay for 10 years. While driving for Frito-Lay he has accumulated over 1/2 million safe miles. Glen is Smith System Certified, a Safety Team Leader and Driver Trainer. Glen has been a professional driver for 18 years. In his free time he enjoys sports and spending time with family.
Richard Smith - Wal-Mart Transportation
Richard Smith has been driving for Wal-Mart Transportation for 17.5 years. Throughout his professional driving career of 25 years, Richard has accumulated over 2.4 million safe miles. Richard has received a 2 million mile award and has recently been elected to the accident reviews committee. In his free time Richard enjoys watching sports and movies.
Dale Hinkle - Wal-Mart Transportation
Dale Hinkle has been driving for Wal-Mart Transportation for over 10 years. Dale has accumulated 2.3 million safe miles throughout his driving career. He has been recognized for 1 million accident free miles and has won awards at the Kansas Professional Truck Driving Championships. One of Dales hobbies include classic cars.
Dean Harris - FedEx Freight Inc.
Dean Harris has been driving for FedEx Freight for 19 years. Dean has won multiple Kansas Professional Truck Driving Championships along with one third place award at the National Truck Driving Championships. Dean Has been a Road Coach for six years. In his free time he enjoys hunting, fishing, reading and religious studies.
Wayne Rugenstein - FedEx Freight Inc.
Wayne Rugenstein has been driving for FedEx Freight for 20 years and has accumulated over 2 million safe miles. Wayne has been KMCA Driver of the Month, and placed at the Kansas Professional Truck Driving Championships. Wayne is a Smith System Graduate. In his free time, Wayne enjoys cycling and geocaching with his family.
If you are interested in becoming a Kansas Road Team Member for the 2018-2020 term, please email Melissa Kershner, Director of Governmental Relations and Safety at mkershner@kmca.org for more information and updates at 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 knowledgably about the trucking industry.
Procedure
To nominate a driver, please complete the nomination form and return it to:
Melissa Kershner
Kansas Motor Carriers Association
mkershner@kmca.org
Nominations for the Kansas Road Team must be submitted by January 22, 2018.
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 2018-2020 Kansas Road Team captains.
The new captains of the Kansas Road Team will be formally introduced at the Kansas Safety Awards Banquet.
