Goodyear Highway Hero is all Harte

Goodyear has recognized Jason Harte as this year's Highway Hero during the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY.

Harte, a trucker from Rogers, AR, and an OOIDA member, made a quick decision last July that saved lives. Harte witnessed a speeding pickup run a minivan off the road and slam into another car. While others attended to the car occupants, Harte, a former paramedic, approached the van. One-by-one he helped a man, woman and baby from the van and assisted in helping three other children in the vehicle as emergency personnel arrived.

Jason Harte

 Harte becomes the 30th Highway Hero. The company has recognized the life-saving efforts of truckers since 1983.

Goodyear held a press event Thursday at MATS to recognize Harte and three other heroic truck drivers for deeds that went above and beyond the call. They are representative of a much larger group of truckers who put their own lives at risk to help others in need.

Other finalists this year include:

Christopher Burgess of Ravenna, OH, who died after steering his truck loaded with 15 tons of sand into trees and over a river bank rather than put the public in harm's way after his brakes failed. Burgess' parents attended MATS as guests of Goodyear in Christopher's honor.

Chad Dickey of Wadena, MN,  who came upon vehicle debris in the roadway one night near Chattanooga, TN. After investigating, Dickey, an OOIDA member, found an 18-wheeler in the ditch and driver Lewis Boyd suffering from a severe gash in his leg. Dickey applied a tourniquet to Boyd's leg as Boyd was passing out, and the act saved his life.

David Williams of Angier, NC, who spotted a disabled car that had spun out in the rain and was facing oncoming traffic. The quick-thinking Williams placed safety cones around the car and directed traffic away. The story doesn't end there. An oncoming pickup then slammed into his rig and burst into flames. Williams put out the flames as the pickup driver made it to safety.

"Each of these finalists is a hero in his own right," said Gary Medalis, director of marketing for Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems.

Goodyear awarded a commemorative plaque and a cash sum to each finalist.

Tune in later to the blog for an interview and feature on this year's Highway Hero, Jason Harte.

Not your daddy's suspension

Mack Trucks rolled out a new Twin Y suspension. The suspension system boasts a 403 pound weight savings, a smoother ride and extends tire life by 25 percent according to Mack.

It's amazing to see this suspension system in action. Here check out the video Mack showed us at the press conference.

When they talk weight savings, they mean it too. The Twin Y was light enough that I conned Associate Editor Dave Tanner into picking up the part. No big deal.

The other cool thing about this suspension system. There is no additional cost associated with spec'ing that system.

A deeper sleeper

If I didn't have other commitments this afternoon, I would probably wander back to the Peterbilt exhibit and  sprawl out in the new 80-inch sleeper the company unveiled Wednesday at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Peterbilt GM Bill Kozek says it's the largest sleeper in company history, and it complements the 579 long-hauler rather nicely.

I've seen apartments with less room.

From the outside, you can identify the larger model because of its ample-sized window on the side.

Once inside, you notice how far Peterbilt has gone to maximize every available space for driver comfort.
 
I'm 6 feet tall and I barely had to duck to transition from driver seat to sleeper berth. And once back there, it was easy to tune the rest of the world out, even if only for a moment.

Speaking of sleepers, Kenworth introduced a new one today, as well. This one is a 52-inch mid-roof sleeper that matches with the company's award-winning T680.

This sleeper provides an aerodynamic option for tankers or flatbedders on regional hauls.

"It's a big package in a smaller footprint," Kenworth GM Gary Moore said.

Kenworth and Peterbilt – under the Paccar umbrella – are offering flatscreen TVs and other amenities to help you stretch out and spec a comfortable truck that fits your operation.