It is nomination time once again for the annual Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Highway Hero contest. Goodyear is accepting nominations through Nov. 29, 2013, for the award, which recognizes truck drivers who have put themselves in harm’s way to help others.
“Since the Highway Hero Award’s creation in 1983, we’ve heard hundreds of stories about truck drivers’ bravery,” said Gary Medalis, director of marketing for Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems. “But for every story that we hear, there are probably hundreds of stories that we are not aware of. That’s why we are urging the trucking industry, law enforcement agencies and the general public to forward these stories to us by Nov. 29. If you know of a truck driving hero, we want to hear from you.”
Anyone can nominate a driver. There is an online Highway Hero nomination form.
Goodyear will reveal the 31st Highway Hero Award winner at the 2014 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The winner of the award will receive a $5,000 prize, a custom Goodyear Highway Hero ring and other prizes.
The most recent Goodyear Highway Hero Award winner, Jason Harte, a truck driver from Rogers, Ark., rescued a family of six, including four children, from a crushed minivan in July 2012.
Past Highway Hero Award winners include a truck driver who rescued a woman from a gun-carrying attacker, a truck driver who pulled an elderly man from a car moments before it was destroyed by an oncoming train, a truck driver who dove into a pond to rescue a child who was trapped in a rapidly sinking car, and others.
For Goodyear Highway Hero Award consideration, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a full-time truck driver
- Must reside in the U.S. or Canada
- The incident must have occurred in the U.S. or Canada
- Nominee’s truck at the time of the incident must have had 12 wheels or more
- Nominee must have been on the job – or on the way to or from work in his or her truck – at the time of the incident
- Incident must have taken place between Nov. 16, 2012, and Nov. 16, 2013, to qualify for this year’s program.
After the Goodyear Highway Hero Award nomination period ends, the list of eligible Highway Hero Award candidates will be narrowed down to four finalists. A panel of trucking industry judges will then select the 31st Goodyear North America Highway Hero. Final approval is at Goodyear’s sole discretion and finalists must clear background checks to Goodyear’s satisfaction.
“Truck drivers not only keep North America’s economy moving,” said Medalis. “They are often the first responders to life-threatening situations that develop on our continent’s highways. We believe that these great men and women should be honored for their courage. Join us in helping determine Goodyear’s next Highway Hero.”
