Council’s highest honor recognizes outstanding contribution to industry

Atlanta – American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council honored three professionals with its highest honor — the Silver Spark Plug —at the opening of TMC’s 2018 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.

“The Silver Spark Plug is our industry’s highest honor, recognizing professional excellence in commercial vehicle maintenance,” said Robert Braswell, TMC executive director. “This year’s winners represent the pinnacle of our industry and we are pleased to bestow this honor on them.”

This year’s honorees are: Todd Cotier, director of maintenance, Hartt Transportation, Bangor, Maine; Randy Obermeyer, terminal manager, Batesville Logistics Inc., Batesville, Ind.,  Paul Menig, CEO, Tech I-M., Sherwood, Ore., and Jeff Harris, vice president of maintenance at USA Truck Inc., Van Buren, Ark.

“I congratulate these tremendous individuals for their efforts to keep our trucks, and America, moving,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “More than half of the 7.3 million people employed by the trucking industry do something other than drive a truck, and without them, our nation’s goods don’t get to our stores, hospitals and factories. These individuals are examples to all of us in this industry and they’re to be commended.”

“Only individuals who represent the best of our council in their commitment to improved engineering and maintenance standards through the development of TMC recommended practices are honored with the Silver Spark Plug,” said TMC General Chairman Glen McDonald, director of maintenance at Ozark Motor Lines Inc.“I congratulate all these winners for their achievement and commitment.”