Meritor Recognizes Professional Truck Drivers During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

TROY, MI--Sept. 17, 2012: Meritor, Inc. , alongwith the American Trucking Association, is taking this week to honor the professional truck drivers who deliver America's freight.

"At Meritor, we want to recognize the more than 3 million truck drivers nationwide who deliver life's essentials," said Tim Bowes, president, Commercial Truck, Meritor. "These men and women literally keep the country moving."

At each of its U.S. manufacturing sites this week, Meritor employees will personally thank the drivers delivering raw materials to its plants and the drivers who transport the finished goods to important customers. Banners of appreciation posted at all plant locations will share the company's appreciation for their service and commitment to delivering goods safely and on time.

From its 12 U.S. facilities, the company makes 120,000 truck freight shipments in the U.S. annually, and interacts with more than 2,400 drivers. In fact, the company's shipments travel 7.8 million miles monthly and 94 million miles annually.

Meritor has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a SmartWay Transport Partner -- a freight sector effort to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, and improve energy security. In 2011, the company accumulated 17,415,079 Green Miles, which are miles eliminated, or not driven, by using more efficient routes or, as in Meritor's case, combining partial cargo loads into one load.

According to the American Trucking Association, the nation's truck drivers log close to 398 billion miles each year and in 2011 delivered 67 percent of the U.S. freight tonnage -- or more than 9.2 billion tons of freight. Eighty percent of U.S. communities depend solely on the trucking industry to receive their goods.

To learn more about the essential role the trucking industry plays in our country, visit NTDAW.