Commercial Driver Honored for On-Road Emergency Rescue

Goodyear’s 42nd Highway Hero Award highlights the vital role commercial truck drivers play as emergency responders across North American freight corridors.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Joseph Stanekenas, a professional driver for General Transport, as the recipient of its 42nd Highway Hero Award. Stanekenas was recognized for extracting a fellow commercial driver from a burning semi-truck following a highway collision.

For North American fleet managers, safety directors, and motor carriers, on-road incidents emphasize the importance of crisis awareness and driver safety protocols. According to Goodyear, Stanekenas and fellow driver Charles Johnson pulled the trapped individual from the engulfed cab, preventing a fatal outcome before emergency services arrived at the scene.

Established in 1983, the annual award program recognizes exemplary conduct and bravery among professional heavy-duty truck drivers in the United States and Canada. For commercial logistics operators, promoting strong safety cultures and emergency readiness helps mitigate catastrophic operational risks and protects workforce human capital on major transport routes.