JD Smith’s Scott Smith Wins Service to Industry Award

TORONRO- President of JD Smith, Scott Smith won the Service to Industry Award last week at the Ontario Trucking Association’s (OTA) annual convention.

“Scott exemplifies the important history of this prestigious award and the traits of the best industry leaders – commitment, responsibility and compassion,” said Kate Rahn, national director, Sales & Marketing, of award sponsor Shaw Tracking.

JD Smith was founded in 1919 by Smith’s great grandfather, John D. Smith, and his uncle started a freight cartage business with two trucks. In the 1950’s Smith’s father, Doug, took over the company and over the next 40 years established himself as a heavily respected voice at the OTA, becoming chairman in 1985 and later honored with the Service to Industry award.

Born and raised in a trucking family, Smith understood the importance of getting involved in the industry’s future through associations and other means.

“Throughout his career, Scott’s passion and tireless support for the OTA and unrelenting advocacy of vital industry issues – always conducted in a thoughtful and friendly manner – have inspired friends, colleagues and competitors alike,” the OTA claims.

While chairman of the OTA in the mid-2000s, Smith spearheaded the association’s campaign to introduce speed limiter legislation in the province and introduced a statement of guiding principles for OTA members.

Smith remains active in the association. He is the current chair and dedicated advocate of the OTA Education Foundation, and a board member on the charitable Trucks for Change Network. He also served on the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) board of directors for many years and is currently CTA’s second vice chair.

“I remember meeting Scott when we were both very young and starting out in the business – he with JD Smith and me with OTA,” says association president David Bradley. “Not only was Scott clearly a principled and intelligent person, it was evident from the outset how much Scott cared about the industry and for OTA.

“A lot of young industry executives are initially intimidated when they first take a seat on the board and I’m sure Scott had some of those feelings too,” Bradley says. “But it didn’t stop him; he got involved from the start and ended up chairing some of the trickiest committees OTA has. It was no surprise when in 2004 Scott became what was at the time OTA’s youngest chairman ever. He was the quintessential face of the new generation of industry leaders and his influence is still being felt today.”

Added OTA board member and close friend Mark Seymour, president of the Kriska Group: “What amazed me about Scott is how someone so young has been able to accomplish so much. He has a tremendous amount of respect for the people who came before him, but at the same time possess a clear vision for the future of the industry.”


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