The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) named Austin’s Arthur “Art” Stoen the 2018 Minnesota Driver of the Year at its Driver of the Year Banquet.

Stoen is a professional truck driver for Kane Transport in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Kane Transport is the Midwest’s premier transporter of petroleum, asphalt, biodiesel and ethanol.

Stoen has been driving a truck for 55 years and has driven more than 4.4 million safe miles.

“This award is a great way to honor the best in our industry,” said John Hausladen, MTA president. “Driving safe is no easy task, especially when you take into consideration his daily driving conditions like congestion, driver distractions and Minnesota winters. Having 4.4 million safe driving miles is an astonishing accomplishment, especially given the unique challenge of safely delivering and unloading diesel and gasoline without incident.”

“Art is hard working, safe, efficient and reliable, and truly understands customer service and expectations of a driver,” said John Shaleen, Director of Safety at Kane Transport.  “He is one of the best running and efficient drivers in our fleet, and always goes above and beyond.”

In addition to being a great example of what it means to be an outstanding professional truck driver, Stoen enjoys traveling, fishing and spending time with his family.

Drivers are nominated by their companies and one driver is chosen each month to be the Driver of the Month. The drivers who are chosen meet a high standard of requirements, including an outstanding driving and work record; contribution to industry and highway safety, and involvement in the community. One of the 12 nominees is selected as Driver of the Year by a panel of judges including Matthew Marin, Division Administrator for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Deb Ledvina, Director of Commercial Vehicle Operations at MnDOT and Captain Jon Olsen, Minnesota State Patrol.