2012  Driver Appreciation BBQ's

Vermillion:              June 21, 2012
Leduc:                     June 28, 2012
Whitecourt:             July 18, 2012
Medicine Hat          August 10, 2012
Demmitt:                 Sept. 12 2012
Balzac:                     Sept. 21, 2012

For details contact Bud Rice at budr1@amta.ca

Enforcement and safety officers say ‘thank you truckers’
By Ann Harvey, Editor Whitecourt Star
July 19, 2011

When the colleagues of truckers who pass through the weigh scales six kilometres north of Whitecourt wanted to say thank you, they said it with food.

The transport officers who do commercial vehicle enforcement, and provincial and company safety officers said they hosted the barbecue to show truckers how important their role is.

Stan Vickers, Edmonton-based AMTA (Alberta Motor Transport Association) injury reduction and training co-ordinator, said, "Between the AMTA and the officers from the site and Alberta Transportation this is put on for the drivers in appreciation.

"That's what it's all about. It's a driver appreciation day just as a thanks to the driver's for all the hard work they do on the road day in and day out."

Doug Hazzard, Edmonton-based Cliff's Towing safety supervisor, agreed. "They never get enough thanks for what they do. We know. We've both been on the highways for many years."

People in Whitecourt and throughout Canada, get food and other items but never think how that is achieved, he said. "It comes by truck and I think people forget.

"They forget to say thanks to the truckers because he's the guy who brings the stuff to the stores."

Paul Gregg of Grimshaw Trucking added another reminder. "Truckers today are extremely skilled professionals."

Hazzard said the safety staff want to make sure the truckers get appreciation and they also want to keep them safe. "We try to make sure that everybody does what's necessary to be safe.

"We believe in it so we try to make sure they do. If we show them we care and we believe than they'll believe."

The truckers participated enthusiastically, stopping for the barbecue and for the chance to visit.


Trucker Tom Mankowski of Grande Prairie said he'd never been offered barbecue food while at a weigh scale before. "This is excellent."

He said he never minds stopping at weigh scales. "I run legal so I'm not nervous about it." But, he's never been welcomed this way before either.

"This is really nice."