Volvo Trucks Continues Exclusive Sponsorship of America’s Road Team in 2021
Volvo Trucks North America will continue to serve as the exclusive sponsor of the America’s Road Team public outreach program in 2021. Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, made the announcement at the virtual American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition (MC&E).
“I am proud to honor the professional drivers who make up America’s Road Team,” said Voorhoeve. “As Captains, these men and women are leaders who set the example for best-in-class driving, and their outstanding safety records complement the Volvo Trucks brand. We look forward to our 19th year as the exclusive sponsor and we appreciate the dedication of these drivers and their tireless efforts.”
This exclusive group of professional truck drivers, recognized for their superior driving skills, millions of accident-free miles and advocacy for safety, are nominated to serve two-year terms as Captains of America’s Road Team. During this time, the Captains travel around the country to educate students, community groups, lawmakers and government officials on safety, in addition to the essentiality and sustainability of trucking.
The 2021 America’s Road Team will receive a new Volvo VNL 760 model, which hauls ATA’s Interstate One mobile classroom to deliver interactive trucking demonstrations. The new VNL will be equipped with the latest innovations such as the best-in-class Volvo Active Driver Assist (VADA) safety system which uses camera and radar sensors to detect motorized vehicles within the vehicle’s proximity. It will also feature Volvo Trucks’ next-generation and most fuel-efficient D13 Turbo Compound engine with a 13-speed I-Shift automated manual transmission. Several innovative technology features including the revolutionary Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS) system and Position PerfectTM steering configuration will enable the Captains to drive in comfort. Additionally, Volvo Trucks Remote Diagnostics and Remote Programming connectivity services will ensure maximized uptime for the Captains while on the road.
The America’s Road Team Captains are expected to visit Dublin, Va., next year for the official truck handover ceremony at the Volvo Trucks Customer Center, a state-of-the-art facility which was built to showcase the company’s products and innovations in a dynamic way. During this time, Volvo Trucks representatives also plan to take the Captains on a tour of the company’s world-class manufacturing plant to show them how their new Volvo VNL 760 truck was built.
“Professional truck drivers deserve great recognition and great respect, and this year the pandemic proved to everyone in North America just how valuable a role drivers play in almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives,” Voorhoeve said. “Volvo Trucks thanks all drivers, and the Captains for the incredible work they are doing to demonstrate the importance of safety and the essential service that trucking provides to our economy.”
America’s Road Team was founded in 1986 to publicly represent professional truck drivers and serve as a celebration of the dedication and teamwork required to deliver America’s freight safely, securely and on time. Volvo Trucks has served as the exclusive sponsor since 2002.