Trucker of the year shrugs off hero status
With two million collision-free miles across North America, not to mention a heroic rescue of another driver whose tractor-trailer flipped on a suspension bridge over the St. Lawrence River, Brockville's Luke Langlois is officially Ontario's top trucker.
The 45-year-old trucker with Prescott's Kriska Transportation was recently named the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA)/Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year for 2008.
"I was surprised," said Langlois in an interview. "It's quite an honour. It's good to be recognized."
Langlois was given the top trucker title to acknowledge his two million collision-free miles during his 20-year driving career. But he was also praised by his peers for "an act of heroism" last January 9.
While travelling north that morning on the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge during a wind storm after a routine pickup in Canton, N.Y., Langlois witnessed a transport truck flipped on its side at about 10 a.m. The force of the vehicle caused a guardrail and lamp post to tumble into the St. Lawrence River.
He said the routine trip over the border took a harrowing turn when he spotted the overturned transport truck, but he didn't think twice about pulling over to help.
Langlois brought his transport truck to a safe stop and with the help of another truck driver on the bridge, secured the scene and removed the trapped driver from the overturned truck.
"There was oil and antifreeze and diesel blowing all over the place," he recalled.
A portion of the trailer was left hanging over the St. Lawrence River. He used a steel bar to remove the windshield and evacuate the shaken driver to another truck, which transported him to Canada Customs for medical attention.
"We pulled him out and he wanted to get off the bridge right away," he said. The driver in the toppled tractor-trailer, Robin Bell of Gatineau, Quebec, suffered minor injuries.
"He was a lucky guy," said Langlois, downplaying his role in the rescue. "It was all so fast. The thing didn't last five minutes."
In granting the award to Langlois, the province's trucking association noted his safe driving record and the fact he has "repeatedly been the first to lend assistance and comfort at an accident scene."
"Luke Langlois exemplifies qualities of a professional truck driver both on and off the road," said OTA's president David Bradley. "It is a great honour to present him with this prestigious award in recognition of his achievement."
Each year the award goes to a professional truck driver who has a collision free record and is an exemplary driver both on and off the road. Langlois was recently presented with his award during the association's 82nd annual convention in Toronto.
Langlois, who used to do long haul trucking with his wife Claudia, now commutes regularly over the international bridge to Canton, N.Y.
He said his two million miles of driving transport trucks is typical of a driver with two decades under his wheels.
"Truck driving is not a job, it's a lifestyle," he said, adding: "It's an honour to encourage highway safety and treat people the way I would like to be treated. For me, it's about being happy, enjoying the journey and being the best you can be."
"Luke Langlois exemplifies qualities of a professional truck driver both on and off the road."
