AKRON (Sept. 17, 2012) — Goodyear is accepting nominations for its 2012 North America Highway Hero Award through Jan. 31, 2013.
The award, now in its 30th year, was created to elevate the image of professional truck drivers, Goodyear said.
“The Goodyear Highway Hero Award is the first—and most prestigious—award of its kind,” said Phillip Kane, vice president of Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems. “The 30th anniversary of the award will be extra special, and we look forward to crowning an equally special winner.”
The award is given to a professional truck driver who puts himself or herself in harm's way to help others, according to the Akron-based tire maker. The recipient will receive a $5,000 cash award, a custom Goodyear Highway Hero ring and other prizes.
Past winners include: a driver who pulled an elderly man from a car before it was destroyed by an oncoming train; a driver who rescued two girls who were trapped in a burning car; and a driver who jumped into a pond to save a child who was stuck in a rapidly sinking car.
“Through the program, we've heard hundreds of stories about truck drivers' bravery and selflessness. We're looking for more stories, and National Truck Driver Appreciation Week—which runs from Sept. 16 through Sept. 22—is the perfect time to begin the Highway Hero Award nomination process,” Mr. Kane said.
Qualifications for the award include: full-time truck driver; resident of U.S. or Canada; incident must have occurred in U.S. or Canada; candidate must have been on job (on way to and from work) and in his or her rig at time of incident; the nominee's truck must have had 12 or more wheels at the time of incident; and the incident must have occurred between Nov. 16, 2011, and Dec. 15, 2012.
When the nomination period closes, four finalists will be chosen. A panel of trucking industry judges will then select this year's Highway Hero, who will be revealed at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. in March 2013.
Nominations can be filled out at www.goodyeartrucktires.com.