6 truckers with state ties on elite driver team

Charles Demchock II is a Wal-Mart Transportation driver from Cocoa, Fla.
Charles Demchock II is a Wal-Mart Transportation driver from Cocoa, Fla.

Charles Demchock II got the "bug" when he agreed to join a trucking colleague for an event at a school several years ago.

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Arizona resident Eric Ramsdell is a Wal-Mart truck driver.

Demchock, a Wal-Mart Transportation driver from Cocoa, Fla., knew public speaking was one of his biggest struggles. But something about the experience of standing in front of 3,000 kids as a representative of the trucking industry resonated that day.

"The rest is history," Demchock said. "I love teaching kids to drive safe."

Demchock will continue to get those opportunities on a larger scale after being one of 19 drivers appointed as a captain of "America's Road Team" by the American Trucking Associations. The group serves as ambassadors for the industry and its 3.2 million drivers, participating in public outreach programs around the country while continuing their duties as full-time drivers.

There's plenty of state ties among the group with six of the 19 captains either from Arkansas or working for Arkansas-based companies. Like Demchock, Arizona resident Eric Ramsdell drives for Wal-Mart. Three captains -- Chad Miller of Crown Point, Ind., Kirk Weis of Rio Rancho, N.M., and William West of Roopville, Ga. -- work for Fort Smith-based ABF Freight.

David Green of Hot Springs drives for Nebraska-based Werner Enterprises.

"For a lot of truck drivers this is like winning the Heisman Trophy for driving," said Demchock, who has driven for Wal-Mart Transportation for 13 years and has logged 23 years in the industry. "It's very prestigious. And to be even nominated as a finalist, I was honored. But then to be selected as one of America's road team captains, I still get goose bumps about it."

The American Trucking Associations has appointed road team captains since 1986 in an effort to advocate safety and industry awareness to the community, fellow drivers and public officials. In that time, about 285 drivers have served in the role. Captains are elected to serve two-year terms after making their way through an in-depth selection process.

Tim Thorne, president of ABF Freight, said candidates from his company must be among 12 drivers selected to an in-house road team. After a three-day competition in Fort Smith, six of the 12 drivers are nominated for America's Road Team.

There's a similar process for Wal-Mart Transportation drivers. Jeff Hammonds, a vice president for Wal-Mart Transportation, said safety is a big factor in determining eligible drivers.

"The qualifications sharply tie to their safety record more than anything else," Hammonds said. "They have to go an extensive period of time without any preventable accidents."

Elisabeth Barna, vice president of strategic planning and outreach for the American Trucking Associations, said more than 2,000 drivers were part of the initial pool of candidates for the 2015-16 team. Candidates are required to submit a paper outlining reasons why they should be selected. There's also a three-minute video submission the judges use to gauge their personality, an important element for a group that will be visible in the community.

The pool was trimmed to 31 finalists, who were then paired with a road team veteran driver to prepare for the three-day interview process in Arlington, Va. While there, candidates go through another round of judging, including a one-on-one interview with judges, a five-minute speech and mock media interview.

The 19 captains received navy blue blazers to signify the selection.

"The three days there were very intense. It was very nerve-wracking, lot of sleepless nights," said Ramsdell, who has been in the industry for 17 years, nearly 11 of which have been with Wal-Mart Transportation. "But it was very rewarding. ... Instead of getting a gold medal around your neck, you get to wear the blue blazer, which is something you wear with pride."

The captains for the 2015-16 road team have combined to log more than 453 years of experience and 30.3 million accident-free miles, according to the American Trucking Associations.

"Those drivers could be your kids' Little League coach, they could be the deacon in your church, they are you and me," Barna said. "So it is important to let them know that there is somebody behind that wheel that's professionally trained, that has continuous safety training and reminders."

Captains accompany the American Trucking Associations' "image trucks" to schools and other community events throughout their tenure, offering tips on how to share the road with truckers and to inform the public about the importance of the trucking industry. The road team's schedule also includes stops at numerous truck driver training schools to teach defensive driving techniques.

ABF Freight has had at least one driver selected as a road team captain since 1995 and 28 total since the program began, according to Thorne. Wal-Mart Transportation has had six captains on the past four road teams.

Hammonds said the company is willing to work with the association because it believes the road team is a valuable tool for the trucking industry. It's good publicity for Wal-Mart, as well, he said.

"We're members of ATA, so we're committed to the ATA's mission of advancing the professionalism of the industry," Hammonds said. "We're proud of our involvement. It means a great deal to us to have the kind of driver that can qualify to be an ATA road team member. It's quite a coup for us when we get somebody that passes that selection criteria and is invited to join."

Ramsdell considers it the ultimate honor in his profession to be chosen.

He never imagined a truck driving career after being told it was a "dirty industry" when he was in high school. It didn't take long for Ramsdell to learn there's much more to trucking, which is a message he's now working to share.

"I have this platform to be able to explain to people the importance of trucking, how safe truck drivers are, how professional they are on a daily basis," Ramsdell said. "It's an honor for me to be able to say, 'Hey, I'm one of the best drivers in the country. But there's millions more just like me.'"

SundayMonday Business on 04/19/2015

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