Seven OOIDA members were among the 17 owner-operators recognized by Landstar at a dinner in their honor during Landstar's annual convention in Miami this month.

OOIDA members Jon Barnes, Pensacola, FL; Arthur Didde, Burnsville, MN; Kenneth Gonyea Sr., Lambertville, MI; Raymond Jay, Little Orleans, MD; Normand LaPointe, Sandy, OR; Don Lee, McKenzie, AL; and Moses Torain, Cheasapeake, VA; were recognized for their lifetime achievement by being named as part of the 2002 Class of Landstar Roadstars.

Honored for their consistently high levels of productivity, excellence in customer service and safety, Roadstar is the highest level of recognition in the Landstar system. Every member of the new class is a million-mile safe driver. Only a select few are recognized each year - out of more than 7,000 Landstar owner-operators, the 17 chosen raise the number of Landstar Roadstars to 249 since the company began presenting the award in 1990.

Other owner-operators in the Class of 2002 are: Richard Bickel, Knoxville, IL; Charles Boyles, Billingsley, AL; Alan Buckman Sr., Bryant Pond, ME; Michael Magee, Elkins Park, PA; Otis Melton, Madisonville, KY; Clarence Metzger Jr., Lancaster, PA; Gerald Nichols, Leeds, AL; Henry Rich, Seagrove, NC; D.C. Smith, Denver, CO; and Steven Tillett, Sulphur, KY.

--by René Tankersley, feature editor

René Tankersley can be reached at renet@landlinemag.com.