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Whitewood Awards:

• The steel remnant of the World Trade Center enroute from New York to Kennewick, Washington

• Truck Driving Championship Winners

• The Chase Hawks Memorial Association (CHMA)

• Whitewood Transport wins Montana Motor Carrier Safety Award Fourth Year Running (2010)

• Stacey Hemming Awarded MCM 2010 Safety Director of the Year and RMRSR 2010 Safety Supervisor of the Year

• Billings Chamber/CVB 2009 Employer of the Year Whitewood Transport

• Whitewood Transport Honored with Montana Philanthropy Award (2009)

• Owner Operator Larry Spiekermeier of Whitewood Transport, Named Motor Carriers of Montana "2009 Driver of the Year" 

• Owner Operator Merle Clizbe of Whitewood Transport, named Montana Motor Carriers’ “2007 Driver of the Year”
  

THE STEEL REMNANT OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ENROUTE FROM NEW YORK TO KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON

Whitewood Transport Inc. hauled a large steel remnant from the September 11, 2001 destruction of the World Trade Center. The crippled steel was loaded Tuesday June 21st at the New York Port Authority in route to Kennewick, WA. The shipment passed through and made brief stops in Billings, Helena and Missoula. Whitewood’s Owner Operator, Jack Heffern transported the piece on behalf of Whitewood and its customer, Lampson Crane of Kennewick, who facilitated the move for the City of Kennewick where the column will become the center piece of a 9/11 memorial constructed along HWY 395.

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Pictured is the steel remnant of the World Trade Center enroute from New York to Kennewick, Washington transported by Jack Heffern

Jack Heffern

TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

David Stanley and Jack Heffern represented Whitewood Transport in the Montana Truck Driving Championships on June 11, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings, MT.  They competed with more than 35 professional truck drivers who came to Billings from across the state to compete for the title of the state’s best truck driver.  Jack placed third in the tank division.  David placed first in the Flatbed division.  This was an outstanding accomplishment to have both contestants place in this competition.

Stanley received the top score in all three elements of the competition in his division:  Written test, driving skills course and a pre-trip inspection where the drivers must identify planted safety defects on a tractor-trailer.   The first place win afforded him the opportunity to compete at the American Trucking Associations National Driver o f the Year competition in Orlando, FL, August 10-13, 2011.  Although David did not place in Orlando, Whitewood was proud to have our first entrant in the National Truck Driving Championships.

We commend both drivers for a job well done and sincerely appreciate their professionalism and commitment to the trucking industry.  We look forward to seeing them both compete for a State and National title in 2012. 

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THE CHASE HAWKS MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION (CHMA)

The Chase Hawks Memorial Association (CHMA) is a Montana non-profit corporation raising money in Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas to disburse to families in crisis.

In September of 1994, a six-year-old Montana cowboy named Chase Hawks was killed in a tragic accident.  Family and friends gathered to form the Chase Hawks Memorial Association (CHMA) with the goal of finding hope for others facing crisis and possibly easing some of their own heartbreak.  CHMA is simply neighbors helping neighbors in the cowboy tradition of community spirit.

The Association’s efforts are anchored by the Annual Rough Stock Rodeo and the Cowboy Gatherin’ Dinner and Dance. The willingness of world-class rodeo personnel to offer their time, as well as the fact that the event draws the best cowboys in the world have established this event as a regional highlight.

The Association awards grants, organizes volunteer efforts and labor, and co-sponsors fund-raising benefits for families facing crisis situations that fall outside traditional sources of aid. Funds are distributed on a non-
discrimination basis.

Whitewood has become affiliated with Chase Hawks through Mike Wilson serving on their Board of Directors and is a sponsor of the Annual Rough Stock Rodeo.  For more information visit www.chasehawks.com.  The 2010 Gatherin’ Dinner and Dance will be December 17 and the rodeo will be held on
December 18.

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WHITEWOOD TRANSPORT WINS MONTANA
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY AWARD FOURTH YEAR RUNNING (2010)

MOTOR CARRIERS of Montana is pleased to announce that Whitewood Transport from Billings, Montana, has won the prestigious Grand Trophy award sponsored by Great West Casualty Company for the fourth consecutive year.

The Grand Trophy Award winner is chosen by an independent panel of judges that selects the winner using various safety criteria, such as activity in the Safety Management, Maintenance and Technology Council, Truck Driving Championship, Driver Appreciation Week, previous Fleet Safety Awards, involvement in America’s Road Team, and the company that displays an overall exemplary safety program with no accidents in the current year.

Whitewood Transport travels over 1.2 million miles in Montana each year and in excess of 3.5 million miles nationwide.  They are an authorized for hire carrier and are heavily involved with the MOTOR CARRIERS of Montana and the Safety Management, Maintenance and Technology Council.  Whitewood was chosen from over nineteen Montana carriers who applied for the award. 

Whitewood was also privileged to have their Safety Director, Stacey Hemming, awarded the Safety Director of the Year.  Stacey’s nomination was automatically submitted to the Rocky Mountain Regional Safety Rendezvous Safety Director of the Year competition.  She was selected and awarded that honor on July 15, 2010.

Whitewood Transport specializes in heavy hauls, for customers throughout the continental United States (including Alaska) and Canada. They are known nationally as a heavy-haul specialist, expertly moving equipment and commodities of large or unusual weight or dimension.

MOTOR CARRIERS of Montana represents Montana's motor carrier industry and currently has over 600 members.  Its goal is to promote the trucking industry through cooperation and education in Montana and across the country.  MCM members strive to improve transportation service by providing leadership and assistance to persons and firms engaged in the motor carrier industry.  MCM’s chief goal is to make Montana's highways a safer place for our families and the traveling public.

More information about the MOTOR CARRIERS of Montana or the Great West Fleet Safety Award can be obtained by contacting MCM at 406-442-6600 or mcm@mttrucking.org.

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2010 Grand Trophy MCM Carrier of the Year

2009 Grand Trophy MCM Carrier of the Year

2008 Grand Trophy MCM Carrier of the Year

2007 Grand Trophy MCM Carrier of the Year

STACEY HEMMING AWARDED MCM 2010 SAFETY DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
AND RMRSR 2010 SAFETY SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR

Stacey Hemming was awarded the 2010 Montana Safety Director of the Year from the Motor Carriers of Montana and went on to receive the Safety Supervisor of the Year at the Rocky Mountain Regional Safety Rendezvous (RMRSR) held in McCall, Idaho, July 14 – 16, 2010.  The RMRSR is a gathering of safety professionals from the five Rocky Mountain States including Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, and has been meeting for over 50 years.  Each member state selects their Safety Supervisor of the Year and their entry is submitted to the RMRSR selection committee to choose the RMRSR Safety Supervisor of the Year. The process takes into account the carrier’s safety record, the involvement of the Safety Supervisor in association activities such as Drivers’ Appreciation, Share the Road, Truck Driving Championships, and Safety Council participation in addition to training courses they have attended or presented to others.  Also taken into account are other safety awards received by the Member Company under the supervision of the applicant. 

In 2009 she attended the North American Transportation Management Institute and added Certified Director of Safety to her list of credentials.  She was also recognized as the 2003 MMCA Safety Director of the Year, and has received multiple transport safety credentials during her career. 

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BILLINGS CHAMBER/CVB 2009 EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
WHITEWOOD TRANSPORT

The people behind the Billings Chamber of Commerce/CVB had a vision to honor the wonderful residents, organizations and businesses that make Billings such a great place to live, work and play.  In order to give well-deserved recognition, the Roche Jaune Awards for Business Excellence event was created in 2007.  The Roche Jaune Awards offers an opportunity for the community to highlight the professional and personal excellence of residents of Billings: Montana‘s Trailhead.
Roche Jaune, pronounced Row-sh Shwan, originated with the Minnetaree Indians.  It means Yellow Rock River.  They used Roche Jaune as reference to the Yellowstone River.  When French Trappers and the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition came into contact with this tribe in 1805, they too began calling the Yellowstone River by that name.  The first committee to organize the Billings Chamber/CVB business awards decided Roche Jaune would be the perfect official name.

Billings Chamber/CVB 2009 Employer of the Year
This category will be awarded to a Billings’ area business that has consistently provided a positive work environment for its employees, helping make Billings an even better place to do business.

WHITEWOOD TRANSPORT
In the fall of 2009, the Billings Chamber/CVB Roche Jaune Awards committee, comprised of ten business members and community leaders, announced that Whitewood Transport was the official recipient of the Billings Chamber/CVB Roche Jaune Awards for Business Excellence Employer of the Year.

The following was published by the Billings Gazette in partnership with the Billings Chamber/CVB, to full city circulation in November 2009, honoring Whitewood Transport partners Mike Wilson and John Hanson:

One of the most rewarding moments as a business owner might be when you learn you’ve been nominated for the community’s Employer of the Year award.  What could be better?  Finding out you won!  Partners Mike Wilson and John Hanson own and operate Whitewood Transport in Billings.  Their staff holds them each in high regard as both businessmen and superiors.  Both Mike and John work to offer their employees well-paying jobs, opportunities to expand their horizons and chances to give back to the community they call home.  Whitewood Transport staff play roles in numerous trucking and carriers associations, but they might tell you the most important organizations they rally around are the local, non-profit entities they support as a team like Eagle Mount and Special K Ranch.  It is with the leadership of Mike and John that this business, management and staff stand out in the Billings business community.

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WHITEWOOD TRANSPORT HONORED WITH MONTANA
PHILANTHROPY AWARD - 2009

Story courtesy of Billings Gazette
Towering cranes and heavy equipment — “anything big and ugly that’s hard to move” — are Whitewood Transport’s usual hauls, but the company’s owners have also volunteered their acumen to move such things as a new facility for disabled skiers from Washington to Red Lodge Mountain.    
Since the mid-’90s, that’s just one of many contributions Whitewood has made to Eagle Mount, an organization that offers recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities.

BIG SMILES   

“You got to find those things that touch your heart and when you see the kids on that mountain, they can’t walk or talk possibly, but they can smile,” said Mike Wilson, who owns the trucking company with his partner, John Hanson.  
On Thursday, the Montana Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is honoring Whitewood Transport with a philanthropy award for its support of Eagle Mount and other community organizations.  The association presents annual awards to the top community fundraisers in Billings.       
“It’s people who are volunteering their time, their treasures and their talents in a particular area with the intention of helping their neighbors and friends, and adding to the value of their community,” said John Eastman, president of the association.

OTHER HONOREES

Along with Whitewood Transport, this year’s honorees include Jim Gainan of Gainan’s Flowers and Garden Center, Kim Kaiser of RiverStone Health Foundation, and Fred and Laurie Gunville.
 
For the awards, the Association of Fundraising Professionals solicits nominations from nonprofits and charitable organizations.  The nominees are then judged on the basis of the length, nature and impact of their
community service.   

Whitewood Transport was nominated for its award by both Eagle Mount and Special K Ranch, a working ranch that houses adults with developmental disabilities.

“They’re kind of low-key in the community, and I just thought they needed a little recognition for what they do,” said Jonathan Peart, executive director of
Eagle Mount.   

Back in 2005, Wilson was navigating an icy path at Red Lodge Mountain Resort to meet a wheelchair-bound skier coming off an Eagle Mount bus.  
That’s when he decided the organization needed its own facility at the base of the mountain, and soon he enlisted a team of businesses to make it happen.  Beall Trailers Inc. donated a small building that had been used as a temporary office at a job site in Washington.  ConocoPhillips donated money for materials to fix up the building.  Red Lodge Mountain Resort donated space for the building.  And Whitewood Transport did the hauling.        

“He’s one of those guys that when he commits himself to a project you can count on him and he gets the job done,” Peart said.  
Wilson served on Eagle Mount’s board of directors for many years, and recently Hanson joined the board.  Since 2001, the trucking company has donated more than $56,000 to Eagle Mount, and it also makes regular donations to numerous other Billings nonprofits.      

“We try to do things right, with our employees and our company, and you don’t do it to get recognition like this, but it feels pretty good when you do,” Hanson said.  
The recession has caused a drop in business over the last year for Whitewood, a national company that hauls about 10,000 loads of freight a year.  But Wilson said their commitment to philanthropy remains strong.

“It’s about who you are and what you stand for and what your mission is,” Wilson said.  “I think if you have all that as part of your foundation, that it works its way through everything that you do.”

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OWNER OPERATOR LARRY SPIEKERMEIER OF WHITEWOOD TRANSPORT, NAMED MOTOR CARRIERS OF MONTANA "2009 DRIVER OF THE YEAR" 

Hauling specialized equipment with a payload of 100,000 to 130,000 pounds is second nature for Whitewood Owner Operator Larry Spiekermeier.  Larry leased to Whitewood in June, 1999.    His 9-axle setup consists of a 2000 “light autumn-wood metallic” Western Star and a 1999 Aspen trailer with a jeep and booster.  Larry’s career in trucking began in his early twenties.  In the early years of his career he hauled cement, produce, hot oil and logs.  In the 1970’s, Larry placed 6th in the National Truck Driving Championship.  He started trucking to pay for college, however, as he recalls, “I realized I could not make that kind of money in college so I quit.”  Larry is most commonly known as “Sneaky” and also “Grandma.”  The origin of “Sneaky” is mysterious, but the latter was given by dispatcher Ray Arlint and a few Owner Operators because of his tendency to drive slowly.  Ray also stated, “He is easy to get along with and he deals with problems professionally.”  Professional, courteous and safe are a few of the descriptive adjectives that one would use to describe Larry.   Larry is a valuable member of the Whitewood team of Owner Operators.  He has traveled over one million accident-free miles with Whitewood Transport.  We look forward to a million more.

Larry traveled to Montana from North Dakota in 1974 to partake in a family hunting trip.  That trip changed his life considerably.  He met Mary Anne, the woman destined to become his wife.  They were married in 1975 and have three grown children—Mandy 32, Ryan 30, and Cody 27.  The Spiekermeiers have a beautiful home overlooking the river in Plains, Montana.  They enjoy working in the yard and admiring the wild turkeys, deer, and black bear that frequently visit them.   Larry is an avid sportsman and enjoys hunting big game in
Northwestern Montana.

 
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