Read about, listen to OOIDA Board candidates here

Voting in OOIDA’s biennial Board of Directors alternate election wraps up Thursday, Jan. 31. Paper ballots have been mailed to all current dues-paying members, and online voting is now open. OOIDA’s membership elects nominees to serve as alternates to the Association’s Board of Directors.

The Nomination-Election Committee has determined the list of nominees, made up of members who have had a minimum of five consecutive years of commercial truck driving experience and five consecutive years of active membership in the Association immediately before the nomination. This year there are seven candidates, five of whom will be seated on the board.

Alternates will be elected by the membership for two-year terms. Voting is open to life members, senior members, members and retired members who are current on their dues. The five elected alternates will be seated at the spring 2019 board meeting. OOIDA members may vote online by clicking on this link.

To help you with the election process, short bios and comments from nominees are featured here in alphabetical order by last name. You can also tune into Land Line Now tonight for interviews with candidates Peters, Saunders and Smith. You also can listen to interviews with the board candidates below.

Linda Allen, 54, Spring Hill, Fla.

Linda Allen entered the trucking industry 10 years ago during the economic recession when both she and her husband lost their jobs. At the time, her husband knew how to drive a truck so they both got their CDLs, bought a truck and obtained their own authority. Linda says she knew virtually nothing about the industry or the business at that time but then she learned about OOIDA. Full bio here.

Rodney Morine, 50, Opelousas, La.

Senior OOIDA member Rodney Morine comes from a trucking family. His grandfather, his father and his uncles were all truckers. Rodney says he knew from the time he was 5 years old that he wanted to join the family trucking ranks. Full bio here.

Kristopher Peters, 41, Branson, Mo.

Senior member Kris Peters joined OOIDA in 2004 because he wanted to be part of a group actually fighting for truckers and not just taking money and paying lip service. Kris is a third-generation trucker, and his son, who recently started driving, makes the fourth generation in his family. Kris stops at OOIDA each time be passes through the area because he is proud to be part of the organization Jim Johnston founded and one that has done so much for drivers. Full bio here.

Brad Peterson, 43, Brookings, S.D.

Brad Peterson joined OOIDA seven years ago, because he wanted to belong to an organization that helps in all aspects of trucking. Brad reads Land Line religiously to stay informed on industry issues as well as follows trucking news and listens to Road Dog radio. Education is one of the keys to succeeding in trucking. Full bio here.

Stephen Saunders, 63, South Salem, N.Y.

Life member Stephen Saunders joined OOIDA in 2004 because he wanted to have a voice as a small business trucker and wanted to better keep up with changes in the trucking industry. He received his Class A license when he was 18 and has been involved in the industry for more than 40 years. Stephen currently pulls a reefer as an owner-operator with his own authority. Full bio here.

M. Carl Smith, Sr., 57, Marysville, Ohio

Carl Smith first joined OOIDA in 1983 and has been in trucking most of his adult life. Carl knew he wanted to be a truck driver at age 12 so after high school he joined the Army and learned to drive as part of his training. Carl bought his first truck in 1983 through a lease-purchase program with Riss International in Kansas City, paid off that truck and bought a new one in 1985. Full bio here.

Danny R. Schnautz, 50, Pasadena, Texas

Senior Member Danny Schnautz’s love for trucking and his passion for the industry started much earlier than most. Danny’s father was a trucker, and the truck was Danny’s first daycare. He took his first truck ride at just 2 days old, and trucking has been in his blood ever since. Full bio here.