Ontario Trucking Association CEO David Bradley received the Assistant Deputy Minister’s Partnership Award from the Ministry of Transportation for his contributions to keeping “Ontario’s roads amongst the safest in North America.”
The award was presented to Bradley at the Road Safety Stakeholder Dinner last evening by MTO assistant deputy minister Heidi Francis. 
The distinguished award recognizes an individual or organization that “serve as models in collaboration and co-operation with MTO; provides service above and beyond expectations, and works closely with the department to ensure the province remains at the forefront of road safety.”
“David is a trusted and dependable partner,” Francis said in her presentation. “He has always represented the best interest of the trucking industry and been a valued advocate of road safety.”
Francis itemized Bradley’s many contributions to road safety over his 30 year career, namely the OTA’s work on Target ’97, which, following a series of high-profile crashes and wheel separations in the 1990s, formed the blueprint for many enduring safety programs over the following 20 years.
Bradley was also recognized for OTA’s architectural role in several other important areas, including:
- Helping to develop the Safe Productive and Infrastructure Friendly Vehicles (SPIF) program, which improved the safety and productivity of multiple, truck-trailer combinations;
- The design and application of the successful Long-Combination Vehicle program;
- Implementation of the mandatory speed limiter program limiting the maximum speed of large trucks to 105 km/h;
- The soon-to-be introduced Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) program for commercial Class A drivers.
“David was one of our strongest supporters,” Francis said of the latter initiative. ”I don’t think we would delivered so quickly and so well without him.”
Bradley, who is retiring at the end of 2017 after more than 30 years of service to the OTA, was flattered to receive the award.
“I am honoured to receive this award. However, I do so on behalf of the OTA members who have consistently and unrepentantly established truck safety as the key element of their vision for the industry and of the dedicated team of professionals, current and past, who worked tirelessly to implement that vision,” he said.
“If I have made a contribution it has been by giving voice to the members’ vision; in assembling our team and, I hope, in providing them with the encouragement and support they needed to get the job done.”
In addition, I would like to thank the many ministers of transportation who provided the political leadership and the MTO staff who have been such terrific partners. It’s because of all of these people that Ontario leads North America in truck safety.”
