Freight professional city driver Russell (Russ) James has been selected by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to serve on the 2019-2020 America’s Road Team.
“Russ James is a true champion of safety. He is one of YRC Freight’s best drivers operating professionally on North America’s highways. We congratulate him for his ongoing commitment to quality and salute him for his continued dedication to keeping our highways safe,” states YRC Freight President T. J. O’Connor.
James, based in Missoula, Montana, has been a professional truck driver for 38 years and has been employed by YRC Freight for 14 of those years. He has driven over three-million accumulated miles during his driving career. He has received a variety of safety and service awards including the 2008 YRC Employee of the Year award and the 2018 YRC Road to Excellence Award. He is the Safety and Smith Trainer for YRC Freight at Missoula and Kalispell, Montana. Since 2005, he has represented YRC Freight at the Montana state truck driving competitions every year in 3-axle, 4-axle and Straight Truck classes, earning a trip to the National Truck Driving Championships in 2011 and 2014.
Road Team Captain James says, “I sincerely welcome this opportunity to be a part of the ATA Road Team. I’ve learned from my earliest days of driving that safety is the number one ‘Driving Concern’ for each and every single one of us.”
Russ James lives in Whitewater, Montana with his wife Diane and daughter where, when not driving, he focuses on safely running the farm that has been in his family since 1912. He is also active in the community, volunteering with the Blackfoot River Preservation Group and environmental quality improvement and wildlife habitat preservation organizations.
America’s Road Team was created in 1986 by the ATA to represent the trucking industry. Since it was established, it has educated millions of drivers about the trucking industry’s safety record, necessity and professionalism. Captains are judged on their ability to express their knowledge of the industry, their skills in effective communication about safety and transportation, and their overall safe-driving record. Sponsored by Volvo Trucks, Road Team Captains, with support from their companies, dedicate a few days each month to attend industry events, speak at schools or meet policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.
