Fairfax, VA-outstanding fleet and individual driver safety practices, leadership, marketing, and other achievements for 2008 were in the spotlight at Trailways' recent 73rd annual conference in San Antonio, TX.

William C. (Bill) Steele, former chairman of the Trailways Board (2000-2008), and president of Carolina Trailways, received the Trailways Vanguard Award (the system's highest leadership award) for his outstanding service to Trailways from 1985 through 2008.

Trailways honors its drivers for demonstrated professionalism and documented safe-performance records. Criteria include miles driven, number of preventable accidents, work attendance, and passenger, employer, and customer testimonials.

Reginald Marshall of Adirondack Trailways in Hurley, NY, captured the Driver of the Year Award (Scheduled Route Division).

Turgay Kandemiroglu of Pine Hill Trailways in Hurley, NY, was named Driver of the Year (Charter & Tour Division - fulltime).

James Gaines of First Priority Trailways in District Heights, MD, was also recognized as Driver of the Year (Charter & Tour Division - part-time).

"Trailways continues to emphasize safety above all other operations priorities," said Gale Ellsworth, Trailways president, "and the annual awards we give our members and employees are indicators that our system's legacy of over seven decades has not faltered."

Trailways Fleet Service Awards for Safety represents a ratio of miles driven to the number of recorded preventable accidents. 

                       Top Honors went to the Following Companies:

•  Fleet Service Award for Safety: Arrow Trailways of Killeen, TX (less than two million miles traveled, Scheduled Route Division);
• Fleet Service Award for Safety: Martz Trailways of Wilkes-Barre, PA (over two million miles traveled, Schedule Route Division);
• Fleet Service Award for Safety: Sun Travel Trailways, Beaumont, TX (less than two million miles traveled, Charter & Tour Division);
• Fleet Service Award for Safety: Abbott Trailways, Roanoke, VA (over two million miles traveled, Charter & Tour Division);
• Fleet Service Award for Safety, 2008 Most Improved: Pine Hill Trailways, Hurley, NY (Scheduled Route Division);
• Fleet Service Award for Safety, 2008 Most Improved: Capital Trailways of Alabama, Montgomery, AL (Charter & Tour Division)

Team Trailways companies that demonstrated professionalism within their corporate, promotional campaigns were also honored.

Anchor Trailways of Nashville, TN, captured four distinguished awards, including Best Product-Service Literature; Best Magazine/Publication Advertisement; Best Public Relations/Promotion; and, Best Trailways Website, category II;

Best Direct Mail Campaign went to Burlington Trailways of West Burlington, IA; and,

Utah Trailways of Salt Lake City also received the award for Best Trailways Website, category I.

View Award Recipient Photos through link below:

 http://picasaweb.google.com/galetrails/TrailwaysAwardRecipients2009SanAntonio?authkey=Gv1sRgCKXa25_Gka34wQE&feat=directlink

XXX

Established in 1936 as North America's first organization supporting and promoting independent motorcoach owners and operators, Trailways continues to expand throughout the continent and Europe; providing scheduled-route, charter-and-tour transportation, school bus, transit, commuter, and a variety of related travel services that include air, rail, and cruise ship connections. Phone/Info: 703-691-3052 www.trailways.com