TravelCenters Honors Five Truckers With 2015 Citizen Driver Awards

WESTLAKE, Ohio — TravelCenters of America LLC (TA), operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands, announced the winners of its second annual Citizen Driver Awards during a ceremony at the 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.

The company launched the Citizen Driver program in 2013 to honor hardworking professional drivers who help bring respect to the truck driving profession and keep the economy going. Citizen Drivers have exemplary careers in trucking and demonstrate good citizenship and safety, TA stated.

"Citizen Driver is a way to recognize the best of the best in the truck driving community. It is not just about being good at their jobs, but for setting the example of being true leaders and individuals that others admire and respect," stated TravelCenters President and CEO Tom O'Brien. "We are extremely proud of all our honorees and to play a role in support of the companies and drivers that make up the great truck driving industry."

The 2015 Citizen Drivers received a Citizen Driver Award package from TA and Petro and picked out their favorite TA or Petro Stopping Centers location, which will be renamed after them. The winners are:

• Micheal Sheeds — Petro San Antonio, Texas — "Micheal Sheeds Stopping Center"
• Sandy Long — TA Oak Grove, Mo. — "Sandy Long Travel Center"
• Richard Ash — TA Commerce City, Colo. — "Richard Ash Travel Center"
• Robert Fernald — TA Willington, Conn. — "Robert Fernald Travel Center"
• Gary Buchs — TA Bloomington, Ill. — "Gary Buchs Travel Center"

TravelCenters accepted Citizen Driver nominations throughout 2014 and received nominations from a wide variety of people who wanted to recognize the deserving drivers who had touched their lives, the company said. Distinguished members of the trucking industry judged the submitted nominations.

The 2016 Citizen Driver Award nomination form, rules and other information will be posted to the TA and Petro Stopping Centers website in May 2015. Nominations will be accepted throughout 2015 and the new honorees will be announced at the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show.