Canadian Trucking Alliance

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Oct. 27, 2008) - Burton "Bud" Rush (Oakbank, MB) a transport driver with Armstrong Moving and Storage Ltd. (a division of United Van Lines Canada Ltd.), has been named the 2008 Canadian Trucking Alliance/Volvo Trucks Canada National Driver of the Year. Mr. Rush has driven 6.6 million collision free kilometers in 40 years of commercial truck driving.

Rush was awarded on Friday (Oct 24) the honourary title 'CTA/Volvo Trucks Canada National Driver of the Year', and presented with a keepsake plaque and a cash prize at an awards dinner held by the Manitoba Trucking Association (The Gates on Roblin, Headingly, MB) and attended by industry leaders.

"Bud Rush exemplifies the outstanding truck drivers with whom Canadians share the road," says David Bradley, CEO of Canadian Trucking Alliance. "It is a great honour to recognize him with this highly coveted award."

Each year the award goes to a professional transport driver who has a collision-free driving record and is an exemplary truck driver both on and off the road. The recipient is selected by a panel of judges made up of representatives from the: Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Safety Council, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Trucking Alliance. The winner is selected from drivers of the year who have been named provincial drivers of the year in their own province.

A good-natured, friendly man who lives by the motto: "you get out of life what you put into it", had an interesting start to his career. Rush attended the University of Winnipeg where he played hockey and drove a truck to help finance his education. He was named 'Most Valuable Player' and was subsequently drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1969. He played one season before team doctors diagnosed a heart condition which sidelined his dream and saw him return to Winnipeg. Rush decided he liked truck driving so much he decided to pursue it as a fulltime career. He bought a tractor-trailer and contracted his services to United Van Lines.

Rush transports household goods to destinations all over Canada. In his own words: "wherever there are roads, I go." During his 40 year career, Rush has been the first to arrive at many accident-scenes and has more than once saved a life or provided comfort to an accident victim. Rush's road stories include a time he saved the life of a man thrown from a vehicle and a time when he provided comfort to a trapped accident victim who did not survive the wreck. Rush credits knowing how to be effective in roadside emergencies to his training as a volunteer firefighter. One of his experiences took place close to home, in 1988 his keen powers of observation prompted him to pull over to the side of the road when he spotted a bicycle lying at the side of the road on the edge of the pavement. Rush inspected the scene closely and he found a 17-year old boy lying unconscious in the ditch. Sadly, the Grunthal, MB youth died the following day of his injuries.

When not on the road, Bud serves as a volunteer firefighter and at one-time coached boy's hockey where he was awarded the honour of "coach of the year".

Bud is as enthusiastic about the truckling industry today as he was when he started in the business 40 years ago. "The industry has treated me very well," he said. "It has provided me with knowledge and experience that I have been able to give back to my family, and the community."

The Canadian Trucking Alliance is a federation of provincial trucking associations. We represent a broad cross-section of the trucking industry-some 4,500 carriers, owner-operators and industry suppliers. With our head office in Ottawa and provincial association offices in Langley, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton, CTA represents the industry's viewpoint on national and international policy, regulatory and legislative issues that affect trucking. www.cantruck.ca