On January 20, Selvin Ramirez joined an elite group of professional truck drivers when he was selected as an American Trucking Associations (ATA) Road Captain. He will serve a two-year term as an ambassador for the trucking industry, travelling to educational and industry events and engaging with state and federal leaders and policymakers. His duties will include manning and repositioning ATA Interstate One to events throughout the country. He is the first Rhode Islander to serve as a Road Captain and was the only driver in this year’s class selected from ATA’s northeast region, which stretches from Maine to Maryland.

Ramirez began the lengthy and very competitive nomination process earlier this year, which included many, many hours of preparation, coaching and training.

“When Al D’Angelo told me that Selvin was going through this process way back in July, I was both excited and cautiously optimistic about the prospect of his being selected, as the process is grueling. That being said, Selvin is no stranger to us at RITA and has been front and center representing us at events over the years. He’s a pro and a natural fit for this role,” said RITA President Chris Maxwell.

ATA held its final round of selections from January 18-20 at ATA Headquarters in Washington, DC. The drivers were judged on their ability to express their knowledge of the industry, their skills in effective communication about safety and transportation, and their overall safe driving record. The panel of judges included trucking executives and trade press.

News of Ramirez’s selection came late Tuesday night after the Annual Meeting when Maxwell received simultaneous texts from Al D’Angelo (RITA Chair and Ramirez’s supervisor at XPO) and ATRI CEO, Rebecca Brewster, who shared a photo of her with Ramirez. Brewster had served as a judge in the selection process.

“It was perfect timing after an important night for the Association and a well-deserved honor for Al and the team at XPO,” added Maxwell.

This is not the first honor for XPO’s Western Cranston Service Center, which has produced National TDC Rookie of the Year and Four Axle Champion Joe Hicks, who has also won RITA’s TDC Grand Championship seven times. That terminal, under D’Angelo’s leadership, has produced multiple million-mile safe drivers, including, most recently, Brian Evers, who has accrued over two million accident-free miles behind the wheel.