Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, March 5, 2024:
Timothy VanNostrand (left) and Elijah Ramos (right) were named the 2023 Goodyear Highway Heroes.Goodyear
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on Monday announced two winners in the 40th anniversary Goodyear Highway Hero program. Since 1983, Goodyear has recognized commercial drivers who go above and beyond their regular duties to keep the highways safe by acting courageously for the good of others on roadways across the U.S. and Canada.
“In 2023, we asked for nominations of commercial drivers who went above and beyond to help others on the road,” said Rich Cottrell, Good year senior director for commercial marketing. “The stories submitted this year reinforced the important job that commercial drivers play in our everyday lives and illustrate in heroic ways the powerful impact professional drivers can have on the roads, individual lives and communities when they help others.”
The grand prize winners and runners-up in this year’s program faced different challenges in the course of their duty but, in a similar fashion, jumped in to help, regardless of danger or situation.
In June 2023, Timothy VanNostrand, an owner-operator of his own log transport company from Northville, New York, turned hero during a New York State Trooper traffic stop that escalated into a shootout. VanNostrand sprang into action. He used his logging truck to block the suspect’s escape, preventing a potentially disastrous situation.
In those intense 12 minutes, gunfire exchanged between the trooper and the assailant. The suspect fled into nearby woods, pursued by police. Thanks to VanNostrand’s swift response, the impact was contained, sparing motorists and pedestrians.
