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ATA Unveils 2024-2025 America’s Road Team: 24 Captains Selected for Nationwide Safety Tour

The American Trucking Associations has named 24 elite professional drivers to serve as industry ambassadors, backed by a tour featuring a Volvo VNL 760 and a mobile classroom.

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Washington, D.C. — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has officially named 24 professional truck drivers to the 2024-2025 America’s Road Team. These drivers were selected for their exceptional safety records and will serve as the primary public face of the trucking industry for the upcoming two-year term.

The program, which has operated since 1986, functions as a high-level advocacy and education initiative. By placing drivers with spotless safety histories on a national stage, the ATA aims to shift public perception and highlight the professional nature of the trade. The selected Captains represent a diverse cross-section of the workforce, hailing from 14 different states and working for 14 distinct motor carriers. Collectively, the group has accumulated 61.6 million accident-free miles, a statistic that underscores the rigorous standards required to earn a spot on the team.

Volvo Trucks serves as the official sponsor for this cycle of the Road Team. The Captains will travel across the country in ATA’s Interstate One Image Truck, a Volvo VNL 760 towing a trailer decorated with the American flag. This mobile unit is equipped with a state-of-the-art truck driving simulator and a fully functional classroom, allowing the team to conduct hands-on training sessions and educational presentations in various communities. Each Captain is expected to dedicate specific time each month to these industry events, school visits, and meetings with policymakers to discuss the realities of the profession.

What This Means for Drivers

For the CDL-A driver or owner-operator looking to understand the industry's advocacy efforts, this initiative signals a continued push to professionalize and humanize the role of the trucker. The Road Team’s presence at major conferences and community events helps maintain the visibility of safety standards that all commercial vehicle operators must adhere to under FMCSA regulations. While the program is an honorary distinction, it reinforces the value that trucking companies hiring top talent place on long-term safety records. By following the team’s activities on social media, drivers can stay informed about the broader advocacy work that supports the regulatory environment in which they operate daily.

Industry Reaction

Chris Spear, President and CEO of the ATA, emphasized that the new Captains represent an essential segment of the American workforce whose contributions are felt by nearly every citizen. Spear noted that the group rose to the top of their field through years of hard work and an unwavering commitment to safety. The association expressed pride in the achievements of these individuals, stating that the nation will learn valuable lessons from the example they set. This high-level endorsement from the industry’s largest trade group highlights the strategic importance of positive public relations for the sector.

Key Points

  • The 2024-2025 America’s Road Team consists of 24 drivers from 14 states representing 14 different carriers.
  • The group holds a combined record of 61.6 million accident-free driving miles.
  • The team will tour the country in a Volvo VNL 760 equipped with a driving simulator and mobile classroom.
  • Volvo Trucks is the official sponsor of the program for this term.

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Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels

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Dave Kowalski
Owner-operator and industry commentator. Runs his own flatbed operation out of Ohio.