Among more than 3 million professional truck drivers in America, Cleveland, Tenn., driver Gary Helms is one of the best.
And now, the Covenant Transport master trainer is also an official ambassador for the industry, tasked with spreading awareness about trucking and safety to the general motoring public.
The American Trucking Association this week named Helms one of 20 America's Road Team captains for 2017 and 2018, an honor voted on by industry leaders and professionals.
America's Road Team was established in 1986 to identify and train ambassadors for the trucking industry. Every two years, the group selects a new class of captains who are responsible for telling the stories of professional truck driving and improving public perception of the industry.
He considers being named an America's Road Team captain one of the highest honors in the business.
"It's wonderful," said Helms. "It's a long process, and it was well worth the effort. It's probably the highest honor a driver can achieve."
Helms has worked at the Chattanooga-based Covenant Transport since 2006 and, as a team-driver and trainer for other drivers, has ridden or driven in Covenant semitrailers for more than 2 million miles across the country.
Helms is also a former Tennessee Trucking Association road team captain and this year competed for a spot on America's Road Team against more than 2,000 applicants from across the country, becoming one of only 33 to be invited to Washington, D.C., for face-to-face interviews and ultimately one of only 20 announced as winners on Tuesday.
For the next two years, Helms and the 19 other America's Road Team captains will take turns touring the country in an American flag-emblazoned tractor-trailer, while carrying out normal, full-time driving and training duties at their respective companies.
Elisabeth Barna, executive vice president of industry affairs for the American Trucking Association, said the newly appointed group of captains represents the face the trucking industry wants to put forward.
"By compiling millions of accident-free miles, serving hundreds of hours in their communities and articulating the passion they have for their careers as truck drivers, these new captains are excellent examples of the professionalism that's become a hallmark of our industry," she said.
Helms is the second driver in Covenant Transport's 31-year history to be named to America's Road Team.
Joey Hogan, president of Covenant Transport holding company Covenant Transportation Group, said Helms' Road Team membership is a huge honor for both him and for Covenant Transport.
"Gary is an impressive individual and will represent Covenant and CTG very well," said Hogan.