Canadian Trucking Alliance

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Oct. 27, 2008) - Janet Murray of Warren, MB, a dispatcher with Payne Transportation L.P. (Rosser, MB) has been named Canada's 2008 dispatcher of the year by Shaw Tracking and the Canadian Trucking Alliance for her commitment to dispatch excellence. Murray's nomination was supported by Payne's drivers, customers and managers and selected by a panel of industry judges.

Murray was presented Friday (Oct. 24) with the prestigious title 'CTA/Shaw Tracking National Dispatcher of the Year', a keepsake plaque and a cash prize, at an awards banquet held by the Manitoba Trucking Association (The Gates on Roblin, Headingly, MB) and attended by industry leaders.

Dispatchers play an instrumental role in the overall process of transporting highway freight," says Canadian Trucking Alliance CEO David Bradley. "This award program is an excellent vehicle for spotlighting outstanding dispatchers and is made even more relevant because it is drivers and customers that play a vital role in their nomination."

"The Shaw Tracking/Canadian Trucking Alliance National Dispatcher of the Year award is bestowed annually to a dispatcher who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to customer service, safety, driver well being, courtesy, team work, problem solving and community service/volunteer work," said Mike Ham, Vice President Business Services, Shaw Tracking. "The winner is selected from dispatchers who have won the award at the provincial level in each of Canada's provinces. To be considered for the award, a dispatcher must be nominated by his employer and have at least two letters of recommendation from drivers and the company's customers."

Murray got her start in the road transportation industry 13 years ago when she obtained her truck driving license so she could join her husband, a long-distance truck driver, on the road as a team driver. After a period of time as a truck driver, the one-time nurses' aide and administrative assistant moved into the operations side of the trucking industry when she became a dispatcher.

"Janet has successfully grown revenues per mile five consecutive years in her division, yielding higher margins each of those years," says Tom Payne Jr., President, Payne Transportation L.P. "Janet has a complete understanding of what it takes to survive in our industry especially in the dry van market where typically margins are very low and considerably tougher in our current economy."

Murray credits her job satisfaction to the people she works with and to the time she spent on the road as a truck driver. "I'm glad I drove for a while because I know what the drivers are going through," says the newly minted dispatcher of the year. "I understand where they are coming from. I like the challenge in making things work, making the drivers and customers happy."

An avid dog lover, gardener and stitching enthusiast, Murray shares her home with husband Robert and two Bichon Frise dogs. She is active in her community in numerous ways, including being a supporter of the Prairie Dog Central Railway, one of the oldest regularly scheduled vintage operating trains in North America. She is also the kind of neighbour everyone would love to have. Murray provides transportation and general assistance to a wheelchair bound neighbour.

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