ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations’ Supply Chain Security & Loss Prevention Council presented its 2009 Excellence in Security Award to ABF Freight System Inc., its Leadership Award to Director of Security Geoff Stephany of Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., and its Cargo Theft Prevention Distinguished Service Award to Det. Keith Lewis, Task Force Agent for the Major Theft Unit of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  The Council presented the awards recently at its 2009 Supply Chain Security & Law Enforcement Conference & Exhibition in Forsyth, Ga.

The ATA Excellence in Security Award is bestowed on the motor carrier best demonstrating its ability to evaluate the risk, implement the plans, apply the tools, train the personnel and manage the systems and processes to successfully minimize theft and secure its supply chain.  Accepting the award were ABF Director of Safety & Security James W. McFarlin CDS and Manager of Security Brian Shutt CCSP.

“ABF Freight System is being recognized for the breadth and effectiveness of its security plans that cover both traditional asset protection and innovative homeland security programs.  It is a carrier dedicated to constantly evaluating and improving its security measures and experience record to ensure future prevention and recovery,” said Wally White, Chairman of the Council’s Homeland Security Committee and Director of Safety and Regulatory Compliance for U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc.

The Council’s 2009 Leadership Award was presented to Geoff Stephany, Director of Security for Old Dominion Freight Line, who was applauded for his common sense wisdom, leadership and tenacity in moving the Council and industry forward in a positive and meaningful way – both in terms of growth and achieving its mission.

“As Chairman of the Council, Geoff was proactive in identifying the concerns of the industry, voicing the Council’s stance of those issues, and building the alliances to help resolve them.  His credibility as a successful security professional and his belief that the Council and its members can make a difference in national supply chain security, allowed him to move others to action,” added Susan Chandler, Executive Director of ATA’s Supply Chain Security & Loss Prevention Council.

Keith Lewis, Task Force Agent for the Major Theft Unit of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation accepted the Council’s Cargo Theft Prevention Distinguished Service Award, which acknowledged his tireless efforts to bring attention to the issue of cargo theft in his state and nationwide, and for his career-long dedication to serving and protecting.

“Agent Lewis has long understood the value of a national infrastructure against cargo theft and the power of collaboration,” said Eric Mauro, the Council’s Cargo Theft Committee Chairman and Vice President of Security & Claims for UPS Freight. “With the support of his department, he has been able to provide the forums and communication avenues to further educate law enforcement and carriers on how best to prevent and recover from cargo theft. For this the Council and industry are forever grateful.”

ABF Freight System Inc. provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments via its TimeKeeper® service. Regional shipments are handled via the carrier’s RPM® Network, providing next-day and second-day shipping. The ABF system stretches throughout North America, with local service centers serving all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico. Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries. ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corp. (Nasdaq: ABFS).  ABF is the only five-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award.

Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. is a leading less-than-truckload (LTL) super regional carrier. Through its non-union work force and four operating groups, OD•Domestic, OD•Expedited, OD•Global and OD•Technology, Old Dominion offers an array of innovative products and services and provides complete nationwide coverage within the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Central States, Gulf States and West regions of the country and international services around the globe.

The Major Theft Unit of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was formed in 2009 at the urging of Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, GBI Director Vernon Keenan, Georgia Public Safety Training Center Director J. Dale Mann and Georgia Motor Truck Association’s President Edward Crowell.  A cargo theft bill was signed into law in Georgia in 2004 with later legislation stiffening the penalties for those convicted of cargo theft passed in 2006.

The Supply Chain Security & Loss Prevention Council of American Trucking Associations is an organization of transportation security, freight claims and loss prevention professionals representing motor carriers and interested organizations. It serves, promotes, and creates value for members and the industry through research, education, training, and peer interaction.  American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its fifty affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the U.S.

Contact Information:

Clayton Boyce 703-838-7902