“Safety is Volvo Trucks’ bedrock value,” said Scott Kress, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “It has been our number one priority since the very founding of Volvo more than 80 years ago, and it guides virtually all product decisions we make. Many of our customers share this passion and invest their time and resources to achieve safe operations in their fleet. The Volvo Trucks Safety Award is a way to recognize fleets with truly superior safety programs and records, and to encourage others to emulate them.”

The Volvo Trucks Safety Award is open to all U.S. and Canadian fleets operating at least five Class 8 units. Fleets will be ranked by their accident frequency rates and on their accident prevention activities. The deadline for entry is June 30, 2009. Winners will be announced in the fall.

Briefs

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has formally withdrawn its Drug & Alcohol rule proposal after receiving criticism from the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), stakeholders, and organized labor, according to an NSSGA update.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the effective date of the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) final rule by 60 days. According to a press release from the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, the amendments will now become effective on April 4, 2009. In addition, the EPA is providing a 30-day public comment period for the final rule. The agency is also reviewing the dates by which owners or operators of facilities must prepare or amend their SPCC plans, and implement the plans.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has begun a review of its regulations governing the use of explosives and is expected to develop a new rule. According to a statement from the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, MSHA will look at the issue of explosives from the standpoint of storage, transportation, and technology. It is believed that, eventually, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will become involved in the process.

Luck Stone Corp. celebrated its 85th birthday in November 2008. It has remained family owned and operated the entire time, being led by three generations of the Luck family, and is now the largest privately-owned and family-operated aggregates supplier in the United States.

Martin Marietta Materials was named to Fortune Magazine’s 2008 list of America’s Most Admired Companies, finishing first among companies in its industry category. This marks the fourth time the company has been recognized by the magazine.

The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association’s booklet, Guiding Principles for Sustainability, won a Gold Award from Association TRENDS magazine in the category of an association publication. The 22-page booklet highlighted the association’s activities and the industry’s contributions to sustainability.