Ninth Annual Lee Crittenden Memorial Award Presented to Robert W. McClanahan

Las Vegas, NV:

The Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc. (PTDI) presented the ninth annual Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award to Robert W. McClanahan, Director, Transportation & Safety Education, Central Tech, Drumright, Oklahoma, during the March 13 General Session at the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA’s) Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The award is given to the person who has done the most to advance the ideals and goals of the Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc., of which Lee Crittenden was a staunch supporter until his death in April 1998.

Robert’s 37 years experience in the transportation industry has included being a driver, owner/operator, vice president of a family trucking company, operations and dispatch, recruiting and vocational education. He has been a superb advocate of truck driver training standards throughout his career, and was instrumental in the development of the PTDI standards from the beginning.

Robert has served on the PTDI Board of Directors for many years, as well as the Certification Committee and is chairman of the Standards Review Committee. He was president of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools from 2002-04 and is the chairperson for the Legislative Issues Committee of that organization as well as their representative member of TCA’s Image Committee. Robert also belongs to the Oklahoma Motor Carriers Association. He is a reviewer for one of the industry’s main truck driver training manuals.

Throughout his tenure and participation in these organizations, he listens attentively to other points of view, he weighs all options before making a decision, and he exhibits common sense when determining a plan of action. Robert is most knowledgeable in the truck driver training field because of his passion for safety, and he takes the time and makes the effort to become informed. His actions reflect a practical, realistic approach to change. He is respected nationwide.

According to Chuck Collins, executive director of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, “When Robert was President of NAPFTDS, his leadership took that young association a giant step forward. At the heart of his philosophy is safety, and at the core of his concern is the student’s welfare as well as the employer’s needs.”

Ray Haight, Executive Director of MacKinnon Transport, Inc., Chairman of PTDI, and presenter of the award, stated: “Robert has been instrumental in helping to keep PTDI moving forward, he has labored and reviewed the standards and has worked diligently with his committee to keep these standards at their highest quality.”

The presentation of this annual award will keep the memory of Lee Crittenden alive and serve as inspiration to others who get involved with truck driver issues. Mr. Crittenden helped many important industry activities get their start. He was passionate about promoting a positive image of the nation’s professional truck drivers, and was largely responsible for the creation of America’s Road Team. He also initiated a scholarship program for the drivers who participate in the National Truck Driving Championships. His greatest industry achievement is largely believed to be his part in founding the Professional Truck Driver Institute, where he served on the board of directors and also served as the finance chairman during the years of the Institute’s infancy. Mr. Crittenden worked for CitiCapital and that company was instrumental in creating this award with TCA.

PTDI currently has certified entry-level training courses at 61 schools in 28 states and Canada.