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Covenant Transport Receives 2009 SmartWay Environmental Excellence Award

Covenant Transport was among seven entities in the southeast and 37 in the nation to be recognized an Environmental Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Transport Partnership for its leadership in conserving energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from its transportation and freight activities.  The awards were announced October 6, 2009 at the American Trucking Association’s Annual Management Conference & Exhibit in Las Vegas, Nevada.  This is Covenant’s second consecutive SmartWay Environmental Excellence Award.

Operating out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Covenant Transport, Inc. provides truckload for-hire and dedicated contract transportation. All of Covenant’s tractors are equipped with aerodynamic packages including integrated cab roof fairings, cab side fairings, and aerodynamic mirrors. These packages contributed to CO2 savings of 69,568 tons in 2008. All Covenant tractors use low friction engine and drive train lubricant, saving an additional 15,565 tons of CO2 and nearly 1.5 million gallons of fuel. As its fleet turned over in 2008, Covenant began investing in SmartWay-certified tractors and trailers, installing long term idle reductions technologies and specifying fuel efficient tires, saving an estimated 2 million gallons of fuel.  In addition to utilizing 804 trucks with team drivers, PrePass and truck stop electrification, this equipment helped the company save over 45,000 tons of CO2 and 21,900 tons of PM in 2008. In total, Covenant saved nearly 28 million gallons of fuel and 307,368 tons of CO2.

Joey Hogan, President of Covenant Transport, stated, “Covenant is fully committed to the SmartWay program, and we believe it is incumbent on our company to lead by example the charge in our industry to become better environmental stewards.   Participation in the program is very valuable and rewarding to our associates and drivers.  Through the fleet model spreadsheets, they can see the direct impact (in gallons and CO2 reduction) that technology and procedures they have implemented have had in reducing overall fuel consumption and emissions.  It takes a coordinated effort from both our internal support staff and our drivers to produce such an accomplishment.  I want to thank all of the associates at Covenant, as it is their diligent planning and effort that has produced the company’s second consecutive SmartWay Excellence Award. 

We also want to congratulate our peer transportation providers and shippers who participate in the program.  The SmartWay Transport Partner effort has been growing over the past few years, and we want to encourage others to join.  We hope those who are not participating currently will take the initiative to do so in 2010.  It is good for the environment and also good for business.”


“EPA’s SmartWay partnership helps freight companies go the extra mile by saving fuel and money, while cutting air pollution,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “Within our nation’s hard-working freight sector, SmartWay Excellence Award winners have stepped up to help protect our health, climate and environment.”

EPA launched SmartWay in 2004 to help improve the freight industry’s environmental performance. Today more than 2,000 organizations participate, ranging from large multi-national trucking fleets, several rail companies, many well-known retail and commercial shippers, as well as small “mom and pop” trucking companies.   Through their SmartWay participation, these companies both calculate and adopt strategies for lowering their transportation energy use and CO2 emissions. EPA provides technical support, including tools to evaluate options for lowering fuel use and emissions, and help in locating financing for the purchase of environmental and fuel saving technology.  In 2009, the Partnership projects that it will eliminate six million tons of CO2 and conserve more than 540 million gallons of diesel fuel, a savings of at least $1.3 billion a year in fuel costs.

For more information about SmartWay visit:  www.epa.gov/smartway or call (734) 214-4767.
For more information about the 2009 SmartWay Award recipients, visit:  http://www.epa.gov/smartway/transport/partner-resources/awards-2009.htm



Covenant Transportation Group, Inc. is the holding company for several transportation providers that offer premium transportation services for customers throughout the United States. The consolidated group includes operations from Covenant Transport and Covenant Transport Solutions of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Southern Refrigerated Transport of Texarkana, Arkansas; and Star Transportation of Nashville, Tennessee. The group operates one of the 15 largest fleets in North America as measured by revenue. The Company's Class A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol, "CVTI".

See Press Release Here

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Covenant Transport Driver named Indiana Master Truck Driver

Chattanooga, TN –  Mr. Dennis McDonald  a Professional driver for Covenant Transport  received the Master Truck Driver Award from the Indiana Motor Truck Association on February 24 at the Indianapolis terminal.  This will be the 2nd award given to a Covenant Driver from the Indiana Motor Truck Association.

The Master Truck Driver Awards qualifications include an accident free driving record for one million miles or 10 years of service, no traffic citations within the past 3 years and a record of community service or continuing professional education. It is estimated that less than 2% of the nation’s driver will ever qualify for this award.

Mr. McDonald was hired by Covenant Transport on April 17, 2000. Since his employment he has achieved 1,700,643 accident free miles, has obtained the title of master trainer on June 2006.

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Covenant Employees donate to Chattanooga Area Food Bank

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 7, 2008

 

For further information, please contact:

Michael W. Smith

Director of Safety

Covenant Transport

Phone: 800-721-5202 x3501

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

Covenant Transport, Chattanooga, TN. The employees of Covenant Transport have been given many opportunities to give going into this holiday season. During their Winter Safety Blitz employees donated canned goods and packaged foods for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. The employees also donated many toys that will be shared with less fortunate families around the Chattanooga area for the Christmas Holiday. If this was not enough, the employees of Covenant Transport shared the gift of life by donating blood to the Chattanooga Blood Assurance program.

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Covenant Transport Announces Mr. Frank Silio selected as a finalist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
October 21, 2008
 
 
For further information, please contact:
Michael W. Smith
Director of Safety
Covenant Transport
Phone: 800-721-5202 x3501
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Covenant Transport, Chattanooga, TN is pleased to announce that Mr. Frank Silio has been selected as a finalist for the 2009-2010, “America’s Road Team”. The road team is a national public outreach program sponsored by Volvo Trucks of North America and the American Trucking Association. It is represented by a small group of professional men and woman, who have remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway. Frank was selected from a group of over 2000 applicants from member trucking companies from around the country. There are 36 finalists which will go to Washington DC in January for the final selection process to fill 15 open positions. Frank has been employed with us since 2003 and is a master trainer. He is also a member of our Executive Council and has competed in several state Truck Driving Championships. In addition, Frank also assist’s the Safety department in training and education.

 

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Covenant Transport Drivers eat healthy and give back to the community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2008


For further information, please contact:
Michael W. Smith
Director of Safety
Covenant Transport
Phone: 800-721-5202 x3501
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Covenant Transport Drivers eat healthy and give back to the community.


Covenants Fall Safety Blitz was held at 6 terminals September 15th  - 19th, the emphasis was safe winter driving and good health.  It has long been known that many professional truck drivers suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure and other health problems resulting from prolonged lack of exercise and poor food choices while on the road.   To show drivers that eating "smart" can be delicious, each day of the event, drivers were provided healthy lunch:  turkey burgers hot off the grill on wheat buns with low-fat trimmings, chicken and lean sausages cooked in chicken broth with vegetables, baked chips, fruit, water and diet drinks. 


Drivers were also given the opportunity to donate blood at the blitz September 18th.  At the Chattanooga blitz alone, drivers gave 49 pints of blood to the local Blood Bank (Blood Assurance). 


Covenant Transportation Group, Inc. is the holding company for several transportation providers that offer premium transportation services for customers throughout the United States. The consolidated group includes operations from Covenant Transport and Covenant Transport Solutions of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Southern Refrigerated Transport of Texarkana, Arkansas; and Star Transportation of Nashville, Tennessee. The group operates one of the ten largest fleets in North America as measured by revenue. The Company's Class A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol, "CVTI".

Jackie Rooney
Healthy Diet

 

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ATA Names Covenant Transport’s Safety VP 2008 Safety Director of the Year

 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

September 30, 2008

 

For further information, please contact:

Michael W. Smith

Director of Safety

Covenant Transport

Phone: 800-721-5202 x3501

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 


ATA Names Covenant Transport’s Safety VP 2008 Safety Director of the Year

 

Chattanooga, TN – Doug Cook, Vice President of Safety at Covenant Transport, has been named the 2008 American Trucking Associations’ National Safety Director of the Year. The announcement came at the ATA Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council's fall conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The Safety Director of the Year Award is presented annually to the motor carrier safety executive whose professional qualifications, safety programs and achievements are deemed most outstanding among his or her peers. The winner must demonstrate an ability to manage successful safety programs and exhibit a devotion to a highway safety career. 

 

Mr. Cook has 30 years of transportation experience and 18 years as a safety professional. Employed by Covenant since 2003, Mr. Cook has supervised a 26% reduction in vehicular accidents and a 60% reduction in accident cost-per-mile during the period 2003-2007at the company. 

 

Mr. Cook was also named the 2008 Safety Professional of the Year by the Safety & Security Division of Truckload Carriers Association.

 

 

 

Covenant Transportation Group, Inc. is the holding company for several transportation providers that offer premium transportation services for customers throughout the United States. The consolidated group includes operations from Covenant Transport and Covenant Transport Solutions of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Southern Refrigerated Transport of Texarkana, Arkansas; and Star Transportation of Nashville, Tennessee. The group operates one of the ten largest fleets in North America as measured by revenue. The Company's Class A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol, "CVTI".

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Swift Transportation And American Truck Training Assist In USS Oklahoma Memorial

Story by Erin Watson

 

Photographs by Lemuel Finlay

 

 

The crew of USS Oklahoma finally got their day in the sun.  Sixty-six years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a tribute to the 429 men that died on the USS Oklahoma is finally open.  The USS Oklahoma suffered the second highest casualty rate during the attacks at Pearl Harbor.  Constructing the memorial was no easy task though.  The combined efforts of Swift Transportation and American Truck Training’s Jerry Thurman assisted the long awaited memorial’s dedication in Pearl Harbor.  The memorial consists of 429 granite pillars that Swift transported from Oklahoma to California.  Each pillar is engraved with a fallen soldier’s name.

The USS Oklahoma memorial, dedicated on Dec. 7, 2007, cost $1.1 million dollars, all of which came from private donors and the Oklahoma Centennial Commission.  For his part, Thurman is just glad a memorial has finally been erected, “This is something that needed to happen a long time ago...It’s something that needs to be taught in schools.”  Because of the patriotic effort of Swift Transportation, American Truck Training and others, the men who died on the USS Oklahoma finally have a legacy, a legacy that Americans for generations to come can cherish and honor.  These were some of the bravest men the world has ever seen.

For more information on the USS Oklahoma memorial, please visit the website at www.ussoklahoma.com .

USS Oklahoma

 

Survivors and their families pose beside the Swift truck that hauled the memorial from Oklahoma to California.

USS Oklahoma

 

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry speaks at the Oklahoma state capitol as Pearl Harbor survivors wait their turn to speak.

 USS Oklahoma

 

 
A photograph of the USS Oklahoma signed by crew members.

 USS Oklahoma

 

 
The United States, Oklahoma and US Navy flags wave in the breeze at the Oklahoma state capitol during a dedication ceremony.
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U.S. Xpress offers jobs to exiting soldiers with new Military Incentive Program

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 23, 2007) – U.S. Xpress voiced its continued support for America’s troops today with the announcement of its new Military Incentive Program.

The program, which is available to anyone who has served at least two years in the armed forces and separated within the past 12 months, offers former soldiers a head start on the truck driving career path with special increased salary rates. 

Participants in the program will be credited with two years of job experience. That means their starting pay will be equal to that of a truck driver who has already been behind the wheel for two years. For new CDL graduates, that means an increase in starting pay of up to 6.5 cents per mile.

“The men and women of the U.S. armed forces give so much to our great country,” said U.S. Xpress Field Recruiting Manager Homer Paul. “The Military Incentive Program is our way of saying thanks.”

According to Paul, participants in the program could earn up to $40,000 or more in their first year of work with U.S. Xpress, and would also be eligible for CDL tuition reimbursement.

“The Military Incentive Program is a win-win situation for everyone,” Paul said. “The participants are getting the benefit of being ahead of the game in terms of salary, plus they’re getting to work with one of the leading companies in the trucking industry. And we are getting the benefit of receiving the kind of highly trained and dedicated individuals that you find in the armed forces.

“We want to give these individuals a well deserved jump-start into their professional driving careers,” Paul said, “and our Military Incentive Program will do just that.”