Former heads of Trimac and TNT North America receive prestigious service to industry awards

Andrew B. Zaleski, the past president of Calgary-based Trimac Transportation Services and John Stollery, the former CEO of TNT North America, TNT Canada and TST Solutions are this year’s recipients of the prestigious Service to Industry Award.

The award recognizes an individual who, by their commitment, vision, leadership and unstinting service, has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of the truck transportation industry.

Zaleski’s award is presented by the Canadian Trucking Alliance and Trailmobile. Stollery’s award is presented by the Ontario Trucking Association and Trailmobile.

Zaleski stepped down from his position with Trimac earlier this year and was simultaneously appointed to the company’s board of directors.

During a career at Trimac that spanned 19 years he earned a place as a highly respected player in the North American trucking industry. He began his career at Trimac Transportation Services as vice-president and general manager of the company’s Canadian operations. In just over a year he rose to president of the company and, in 1986, he also assumed responsibility for the company’s US trucking operations. Trimac’s revenues grew from $100 million to approximately $700 million over the 19 years of Andrew Zaleski’s leadership.

Trimac Transportation is Canada’s largest bulk transportation company and the second largest in North America. The company transports a wide range of liquid, gaseous and bulk transportation products in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Zaleski is widely known for his active involvement with the trucking industry’s national group, the Canadian Trucking Alliance and its precursor Canadian Trucking Association. For many years he served on its board and on the executive committee. He also served on the board of directors of the Alberta Trucking Association. Always an ardent supporter of tougher truck safety rules, he was a vigilant proponent of a strong National Safety Code for trucks.

Zaleski is a founding member and chairman of the Canadian Conference of Highway Bulk Transporters (CCHBT) and chairman of the Washington, DCbased National Tank Truck Carriers. He was named Canada’s National Transportation Person of the Year in 1999.

Stollery, a passionate champion of the trucking industry, is currently chairman of Process Capital Corporation, but is best known for his time as chief executive officer of TNT North America, TNT Canada and TST Solutions (which he and his management team purchased in the late 1990s).

During his time at the helm of some of Canada’s largest trucking operations, Stollery served as chairman of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, treasurer and vice-chairman of the Ontario Trucking Association. He also served as a board member of the Canadian Tariff Committee of the Freight Carriers Association of Canada. In the 1996 he was awarded the ‘Transportation Person of the Year for Ontario.’

Stollery is an outspoken proponent of highway safety and was a major force behind the Target ’97 Government-Industry Task Force on Truck Safety. He was instrumental in revitalizing the national trucking lobby group that is now the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA).

“John Stollery is a tour de force in the trucking industry,” says David Bradley, president of OTA. “He is truly one of the greatest leaders and visionaries that this industry has produced. He has raised the bar in terms of how the industry views itself and how it is perceived by others.”