By Mari Radtke
Dean Key, a Primghar resident employed by Ruan Transportation Management Systems has earned many awards during his 37-year career for safety. Now, the Iowa Motor Truck Association name Key a Master Trucker of the Year (2021). The competition brought Key the honor of being nominated to serve as an American Road Team Captain. Captains typically serve 2-year terms, but can serve longer.
Special designations for Key’s diligence on the road include the accumulation of 700,000 of accident-free miles, quarterly safety awards and Ruan’s 2-million-mile accident-free award. Through the years, he has competed at the Iowa Truck Driving Championships and place many times in a variety of classes.
Being nominated to the prestigious Ruan Driver of the Year club is not a new honor for Key. He was also nominated in 2015 and again in 2017 when he was “inducted into the winner’s circle.”
In addition to claiming safety excellence, Key served as a Ruan Team Safety Instructor since 2016.
America’s Road Team is meant to symbolize professional truck drivers and serve as a rallying point for the “spirit of professional dedication and team work” necessary for safe, secure and timely delivery of goods.
The organization also promotes the industry through a variety of events that include interacting with as many individuals as possible by attending motorcycle rallies, career fairs, schools, educational conferences and work with the White House and at state capitols. America’s Road Team Captains may do ride-alongs with policy makers and members of the media to show first hand what is required for safe highways.
Road Team Captains also have the special honor to drive the “Interstate One” tractor-trailer and classroom-on wheels. That tractor-trailer was donated by GE Trailer Fleet services and pulled by a Volvo VNL760 donated by Volvo Trucks.