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News and Press Releases

Marsh Named 2007 Driver of the Year (February 2008)
Sitton Motor Lines' 2007 Driver of the Year is Hank Marsh. Hank, an owner/operator from Seneca, Missouri, has been with SML since April 1997.

The first runner up is Jackie Burks. Jackie is a company driver from Riverton, Kansas, who has been with the Sitton family for over 17 years!

The second runner up is Sam Lucas from Auburn, Alabama. Also a company driver, Sam has been with SML since 2001.

Sitton provides drivers and owner-operators with the most exceptional opportunities in the industry. To learn more about a career with Sitton, call 1-800-533-4765 or visit www.sitm.com today.

McBride Named MMCA April 2007 Driver of the Month (July 2007)
The Missouri Motor Carriers Association has announced that their April, 2007, Driver of the Month is Jack McBride of Sitton Motor Lines in Joplin, Missouri. McBride is an owner/operator and has been with SML since 1979. He and his wife, Jody, reside in Goodman, Missouri. McBride will receive an engraved watch and certificate from MMCA. He will also be honored at their annual Safety Luncheon.

SML to Offer Scholarships to Drivers and Families (March 2007)
Sitton Motor Lines, a Joplin, MO, truckload carrier, is partnering with Missouri Southern State University to offer a unique program for its drivers. Drivers and their immediate family members will soon be able to "drive their way to a degree."

Drivers can qualify for college scholarships offered by Sitton and attend classes at MSSU via the Internet, even while on the road. A number of Associate and Bachelor level degrees are attainable without setting foot in the classroom.

Additional information can be found at www.sitm.com/Drive2Degree.

Missourians Recognized for Their Efforts in Highway Safety (November 2006)
ST. LOUIS – The first annual Highway Safety Awards were presented today to 12 individuals and four groups who have helped to save lives on Missouri roads. The awards were given at the Blueprint for Safer Roadways Conference in St. Louis. Winners from across the state were nominated and judged by members of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety.

"There are so many people in Missouri doing great things to decrease the number of people who die on our roads,” said Leanna Depue, the coalition’s executive committee chair. “These people and many more deserve awards. But the best reward for all of us is that traffic deaths are down so far this year. Hopefully we can continue that trend and reach our goal of 1,000 or fewer deaths by 2008.”

The winners in the statewide category are:

The Statewide Highway Safety Award for a group was presented to the Interstate 55 TravelSafe Community Partners for their leadership in curbing the number of severe crashes on a deadly 8.5-mile stretch of I-55 in St. Louis through education and increased traffic enforcement.
Dale Findlay of the Missouri Safety Council in Jefferson City was presented with the Statewide Highway Safety Leadership Award for his work in advancing highway safety legislative priorities in the General Assembly in 2006. His efforts helped pass legislation involving emergency workers, work zone safety and booster seats for children during the most important legislative session for highway safety in recent years.
Sitton Motor Lines of Joplin received the Statewide Highway Safety Leadership Award for a business for their dedication to implementing the public safety education “Share the Road” program. The program focuses on the consequences of inattentive and impaired driving.
The Crowder College (Neosho) Truck Driving Department was awarded the Statewide Safety Innovation Award for their Teen Driver Program. They allowed teens to drive on a closed course that is normally used to train truck drivers on the dangers of wet pavement.
The Tempe Humphrey Youth Safety Award was presented to both a group and an individual who are passionate about their work. The Cape Girardeau Safe Communities Program won for their efforts in promoting safety belt use in their community through information and educational programs. Pam Holt of St. John’s Hospital in Springfield was recognized for her work promoting safety belt and bicycle helmet use to young people. She also coordinates many other health and safety education projects for area schools.

Regional Highway Safety awards recognized an individual, group or company that has shown leadership in accomplishing the goals of their region’s roadway safety coalition. Winners include:

Northwest Region -- St. Joseph Safety & Health Council, Inc.
North Central – Judy Rushton, R.N., Macon County Health Department
Northeast – Hannibal High School Team Spirit
Kansas City – Lt. John Hotz, Missouri State Highway Patrol
Central – ThinkFirst Missouri, Columbia
St. Louis – Monsanto
Southwest – The Alliance of Southwest Missouri, Joplin
Springfield – Cpl. Russell J. Fillipi, Missouri State Highway Patrol
South Central Region – Phyllis Papp, Ozark Radio Network
Southeast – Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety Education Subcommittee, Cape Girardeau

The first Blueprint for Roadway Safety conference brought together traffic safety advocates from across the state to develop and implement plans to improve Missouri’s approach to highway safety. The conference is being held at the St. Louis Adam’s Mark Hotel through Nov. 30. For more information visit www.saveMOlives.com.

SML Named Texas Truckload Carrier of the Year (May 2006)
(From the May 22, 2006 Transport Topics magazine)
Sitton Motor Lines, a Joplin, MO, truckload carrier, said it has named Russell Williams its January Driver of the Month. Williams, a contract driver, is in his sixth year with the company. In a separate release, Sitton announced it has been selected as Texas Truckload Carrier of the Year for 2005 by the Southwest Transportation Team.

2005 Driver of the Year Announced (March 2006)
Sitton Motor Lines' 2005 Driver of the Year is Eddie McBride, also known as "Plowboy." Eddie, a company driver from Henryetta, Oklahoma, has been with SML since April 1986. Eddie will receive a new truck with special graphics, savings bonds, a jacket with Driver of the Year embroidered on it, a plaque, and other awards.

The first runner up is Ron McConnell from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Ron is a company driver who has been with the Sitton family since April 1988.

The second runner up is Raydell Banker from Buffalo, Missouri. Also a company driver, Raydell has been with SML since December 1991.

Sitton provides drivers and owner-operators with the most exceptional opportunities in the industry. To learn more about a career with Sitton, call 1-800-533-4765 or visit www.sitm.com today.

Laky Named to Highway Safety Coalition (January 2006)
Dr. Lee Anna Depew with the Missouri Department Of Transportation Highway Safety Office has recommended Sitton Motor Lines Safety Educator Laszlo Laky to be the Coalition Advocacy Liason for the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, MoDOT District 7. Mr. Laky will be responsible for working with communities in Southwest Missouri to solicit contacts with legislators for Traffic Safety Issues addressed by the Coalition, maintain a database of victims of collisions who will testify before the legislature, and keep coalition members informed of legislation that is coming before House of Representatives and the Senate.

Mr. Laky will work closely with Dan Salisbury, Assistant District Engineer at District 7 and Kathy Shikles in Jefferson City at the Missouri Highway Safety Office. Dr. Depew commented that Mr. Laky is highly qualified and will by very succesful in helping save lives on Southwest Missouri Roadways.

SML Announces Practical Mileage Pay (November 2005)
Sitton Motor Lines has announced an exciting new change to their driver pay program. Effective January 1, 2006, driver pay will be calculated based upon practical routing rather than shortest. Drivers should notice an immediate difference on their pay stubs. By implementing this change, SML hopes to stay at the forefront of driver compensation, attract quality professional drivers, and reward their existing drivers for the hard work they do each and every day.

SML Announces Northeast Pay Premium (November 2005)
Sitton Motor Lines has announced an exciting new change to their driver pay program. Effective immediately, drivers will receive an extra five cents for each mile driven in the northeastern US. By doing so, SML hopes to stay at the forefront of driver compensation while rewarding their drivers for the hard work they do each and every day.

Laszlo Laky of SML Educates the World (November 2005)
(From Big Rig Owner Magazine)
Laszlo Laky is a man who stands out. At 6’10” and almost 500 pounds, he can be easily spotted in a crowd. But it is in his work that he makes his biggest impact. He is the Public Safety Education and Media Relations Coordinator for Sitton Motor Lines. Both Laky and Sitton Motor Lines are dedicated to educating the public in order to ensure that everyone on the road arrives safely at their destination.

As a regional driver for Sitton, Laky became active in the company’s many education programs. For the past eight years, his involvement has included: the Share The Road Safely program, Jasper/Newton County Safe Kids Coalition, the Shattered Dreams/Every 15 Minutes program and the Sitton Safety Program.

These programs teach safe driving, seat belt awareness, drinking and driving education and bicycle safety. Participants can climb in the cab of a tractor in order to understand the viewpoint of a truck driver. Laky places cars and other vehicles in the no zones of the tractor. Participants are astounded when they can’t see the cars from any of the truck’s mirrors. “I enjoy the response from the kids when they realize they can’t see the cars. The look of understanding on their faces is priceless,” said Laky. This part of the program makes an impact on adults as well—one man left the presentation and brought his wife back so she could learn about the no zones first hand. Laky points out that educating children is important because they tend to remind their parents about things they learned, which allows the cycle to continue.

After dedicating his career to education and safety, Laky has no doubt made a difference. Currently, he is responsible for coordinating the Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans relief effort for Sitton. This, Laky says, is the most rewarding thing he has done. “I made some phone calls and asked for help. The community rallied behind us in support of the effort. We aren’t just helping one person at a time. We are helping thousands of people all at once. This is rewarding but humbling at the same time,” he said.

In the past, Laky was a law enforcement officer and a fire rescue officer. This prepared him for what he does today. “God uses me to help. I could have never done any of it on my own,” he said.

Laky is dedicated to his work and is also a member of various associations including the Safety Council of the Ozarks, the Ozark Fire Chief Association and local emergency planning committees and emergency response teams. In his spare time, Laky spends time with his three daughters: Chelsea, Alisha and Mary Rebecca. They are all in the “Pride of Antlers Bearcat” show band and he enjoys listening to them play. He is a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church and loves participating in church activities with his family. Another favorite hobby is hot air ballooning.

Based out of Joplin, Missouri Sitton Motor Lines services as an irregular route common and contract carrier throughout the United States. To learn more about the company who places a priority on giving back to their community, call Sitton Motor Lines at 1-800-533-4765 or visit www.sitm.com for an online application today.

SML Congratulates One and Two Million Milers (August 2005)
During their Driver Appreciation Week (August 20-27, 2005) Sitton Motor Lines extended special recognition and congratulations to all of their one and two million mile drivers. SML currently employs seventy One-Million-Milers and eleven Two-Million-Milers. These professionals' constant attention to safety has not gone unnoticed. The complete list of these top performers can be found on Sitton's web site, www.sitm.com, by clicking on the Drivers link.

Sitton provides drivers and owner-operators with the most exceptional opportunities in the industry. To learn more about a career with Sitton, call 1-800-533-4765 or visit www.sitm.com today.