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Weekend edition May 10, 2024 | Katelyn Keenehan

Local transportation company awarded ‘Responsible Care Partner of the Year’

For the fourth time, Highway Transport has earned the prestigious award from the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

For the fourth time, Highway Transport has earned the “Responsible Care Partner of the Year” Award, which the American Chemistry Council (ACC) presented during its “Responsible Care® and Sustainability Conference” in May.

Responsible Care® is the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative. The 2024 Partner of the Year Award recognizes ACC partners with superb performance and safety records in the distribution, transportation, storage, use, treatment, disposal and sales and marketing of chemicals.

“We are focused on safety and receiving the title of Responsible Care® Partner of the Year for the fourth time underscores our commitment,” said Rick Lusby, vice president of safety and fleet services for Highway Transport. “This award reflects the dedication exhibited by our team of employees and drivers. Highway Transport places emphasis on setting high safety standards in an industry where accountability is of utmost importance.”

Knoxville-based Highway Transport provides bulk transportation of specialty chemicals. The company took on the role of a Responsible Care® Partner in 2005 and then earned Partner of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Lusby and Travis O’Banion, managing director of safety and sustainability, accepted the award on behalf of Highway Transport at the conference in Miami.

“As we continue our years in the industry, safety remains at the core of our company,” O’Banion said. “Our team is happy to celebrate this important achievement for the fourth time, and the credit goes to everyone who focuses on safety with every transport.”

The ACC recognized Responsible Care® Partner Companies that are committed to open and transparent safety reporting and undergo mandatory audits at their headquarters and facilities to verify performance.

“Our commitment extends beyond chemical transportation,” Highway Transport CEO and CFO Marshall Franklin said. “We are dedicated to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of our customers, employees and the communities we serve. Transparency is key to our operations, whether it’s granting customers access to real-time location and temperature monitoring with TempTrack™ or sharing safety performance reports through Responsible Care®.”

Responsible Care® is a global initiative that began in Canada in 1984, was enacted by the U.S. chemical industry in 1988, and today is practiced in 68 economies around the world.



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