Meet AMTA's New Road Knights Team

Four professional Alberta-based truck drivers have been named to the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) Road Knights team. The Knights are a select group of professional truck drivers dedicated to raising awareness of how to safely share the road with a truck. They also promote the vast array of exciting careers that exist in today’s trucking industry.

“The Road Knights are first class drivers who represent their peers – Alberta transport drivers who are dedicated to safety and professionalism in the industry,” said AMTA Executive Director Don Wilson.

The inaugural team members are:

Rob Wells of Bison Transport
(5.6 million collision free kilometres during a 36 year professional driving career).

The former mechanic is a recipient of multiple Lion’s Club awards including the organization’s highest honour for humanitarian services, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. His strong commitment to humanitarian endeavours started when he was a young man. In his 20s Wells assisted the local police department in conducting search and rescue missions whenever someone was missing. He attributes his self-discipline and strong moral character to the time he spent in the Reserves Military Unit.

“I am blessed with the opportunity to work in a career I am passionate about. As an owner-operator I have been able to develop my business skills and provide well for my family. The trucking industry is a great place build a career,” he says.

He and his wife Marlene have five adult children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In his spare time Rob loves to play with his grandchildren.


Darwin Clark of Trimac Transportation
(2.75 million collision free kilometres in a 12 year driving career)

The fuel delivery driver is a veteran of heavy city traffic and negotiating his rig into tight fueling facilities throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area.

"Representing the AMTA Road Knights for all it stands for in making our roads safer is a great honour," he says.

Darwin, his wife Shannon, children Keilan and Quinn live in Edmonton Alberta. In his spare time he enjoys riding his BMWK1200GT motorcycle, watching his kids playing sports and enjoying the outdoors walking his two dogs.




Craig Gavel of Bison Transport
(1.5 million collision free kilometers in 19 years of professional driving)

A multiple recipient of safe driving awards, Craig is a seasoned city delivery specialist and a trainer of drivers on the environmentally friendly longer combination vehicles (LCV). The son of a professional truck driver, Craig followed his dad’s footsteps into the industry and says he can’t wait to “share his love for the industry with the community.” He brings a wealth of experience in training and driver mentoring to the table. “Safety is way of life, not just a slogan on a bumper sticker,” he says.

A multiple recipient of safe driving awards, Craig is a seasoned city delivery driver and a trainer of drivers on the environmentally friendly longer combination vehicles (LCV).

The son of a truck driver, Gavel followed his dad's footsteps into the industry and says he can't wait to "share his love for the industry with the community."

He brings a wealth of experience in training and driver mentoring to the table. "Safety is way of life, not just a slogan on a bumper sticker," he says.

Craig and his wife Brenda and their children Brandon and Ashlyn live in Edmonton. In his spare time he enjoys competing at the Alberta Truck Driving Championships and camping with his family. In addition he is a boys’ club leader and soccer coach at his neighbourhood church, West Edmonton Christian Assembly.


Dennis Hokanson of Trimac Transportation
(3 million collision free kilometers in 15 years of driving)

Dennis specializes in hauling chemical products and does both long and short distance hauls in Western Canada.

“I look forward to sharing knowledge about road safety and the numerous industry advancements that have made the trucking industry a leader in environmental stewardship,” he says.

An avid horseman, Dennis makes his home in Carvel (near Edmonton) and spends his spare time working as a certified auctioneer. He is married to Debbie and the couple has two adult children and four grandchildren. Debbie shares his love of horses and is supportive of both his career and commitment to the AMTA Road Knights Team program.

About the AMTA Road Knights:

The four members of the team were selected because of their collision-free driving record, commitment to safety and enthusiasm for the industry in which they have made their career.
The selection panel included representatives from: Alberta Transportation, Workers’ Compensation Board, Calgary Police Service, Corus Entertainment, Today’s Trucking magazine, Truck West magazine and AMTA.

Candidates who were short listed for the program were required to deliver a well organized and clearly presented speech before the panel of judges, submit a detailed application outlining why they want to become a team member, and then participate in a rigorous interview by the selection panel.

“They are highly qualified to spread the message of road safety because they travel our roadways every day and have faced every type of traffic and weather condition imaginable.”
who meet with community groups to share their knowledge about how to safely share the road with trucks. Their mission is to make our roadways safer by encouraging all road users to be partners in safety. The team also works to increase awareness of trucking’s economic importance and to promote the industry as a viable career choice.

AMTA Road Knight Team are professional transport drivers with flawless driving records. During their two-year term, the Road Knights will step out of the cab several days each month to meet with community groups, business associations, driving schools, seniors’ organizations and service clubs to help improve highway safety and increase awareness of the trucking industry and career opportunities. This is a free community outreach service.

AMTA Assembles Western Canada’s First Road Knights Team

The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) has assembled the West’s first team of road safety ambassadors called the AMTA Road Knights Team. The team members were selected because of their collision-free driving record, commitment to safety and enthusiasm for the industry in which they have made their career.

AMTA Road Knights are professional transport drivers with flawless driving records who meet with community groups to share their knowledge about how to safely share the road with trucks. Their mission is to make our roadways safer by encouraging all road users to be partners in safety. The team also works to increase awareness of trucking’s economic importance and to promote the industry as a viable career choice.

Over the next two years, the AMTA Road Knights will appear at driving schools, business clubs, high schools, social clubs and other public venues.

The 2011-2012 AMTA Road Knights are:

Robert Wells, Bison Transport, Calgary
Dennis Hokanson, Trimac Transportation, Edmonton
Craig Gavel, Bison Transport, Edmonton
Darwin Glenn Clark, Trimac Transportation, Edmonton

The selection panel included representatives from: Alberta Transportation, Workers’ Compensation Board, Calgary Police Service, Corus Entertainment, Today’s Trucking magazine, Truck West magazine and AMTA.

Candidates who were short listed for the program were required to deliver a well organized and clearly presented speech before the panel of judges, submit a detailed application outlining why they want to become a team member and then participate in a rigorous interview by the selection panel.

Team members will now undergo training to help them further prepare for their role as industry ambassadors.

For more information, please call Dr. William Raccah at the AMTA office 403-214-3428 or williamr1@amta.ca.