Fikes Truck Line Awards New Trailer to Winning Contractor:

Contest Part of Annual Fall Festival

 

Hot Springs , Arkansas … Saturday, October 1, 2005 , marked the 15 th Annual Fikes Fall Festival. Over a thousand individuals were invited to the festival hosted by Fikes Truck Line. Originally planned for Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs , Arkansas , Fikes relocated the event to the Garland Country Fairgrounds to accommodate the needs of families who are being temporarily housed at Camp Couchdale in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Fikes’ Annual Fall Festival serves as the company’s premier contractor, vendor and employee appreciation event celebrating the people connected with Fikes. The day is fashioned into a family carnival with former truck-driver-turned-singer Leland Martin crooning out tunes alongside his American Made Band one of the day’s highlights. A horseshoe tournament, numerous door prizes, the trailer give-away, and voting for the annual “Pride and Polish” winner for the most beautifully maintained cab were popular highlights, according to Britani Chambless, executive assistant at Fikes. Families were treated to grilled food and goodies, kiddy carnival rides, bingo, and a vendor trucking industry Expo.

Ron Mermis, a special representative of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), made a surprise appearance and brought with him a NASCAR simulator. Ron had been driving through Arkansas when he heard about the festival on The Dave Nemo Show on XM Radio. He arrived at the gate, saying he has always heard good things about Fikes and offering to allow picnic guests the opportunity to experience the simulator in exchange for the opportunity to meet Dave Nemo.

Fikes Truck Line is headquartered in Hope , Arkansas with terminals in Colorado , Kentucky , and Texas and sales offices in Tennessee and Oklahoma . “We strive to maintain a welcoming family atmosphere that ties together people working on the road and at locations across the country,” says Gary Salisbury, senior vice president and COO. “Our company tagline ‘connecting people with purpose’ helps to communicate that goal.”

This year’s flatbed drawing winner was Tino Reyes, a resident of Breckenridge , Texas . Reyes has been with Fikes for almost fifteen years and also has three brothers with trucks leased to Fikes. Ironically, two of the four Reyes brothers have won the flatbed trailer in previous years. “This is an annual contest sponsored by Twin City Trailer of Texarkana, Arkansas, where Fikes contractors earn one chance towards the trailer for each new recruit they brought into the Fikes family this year, and one

chance for each five years of service with the company,” says Max Campbell, director of recruiting and contractor services. Dave Nemo was on hand to draw the lucky winner’s name.

Other awards given out at the fall festival included:

• Top Contractor Recruiter awarded to both Darren Arnold of Beattyville, Kentucky and Dale Thompson of Mineola , Texas ;
• 15 years of service awarded to John Rochell of Strong, Arkansas and Dale Fisk of Lockesburg , Arkansas ; and
• 10 year service rings awarded to Charles Fowler of Hope , Arkansas , Steve Davis of Byhalia , Mississippi , Walter Davis of Fort White , Florida , and Mickey Beaty of Benton, Arkansas.

Jim Smith, who purchased Fikes Truck Line in 1981, will commemorate his 25 th year ownership in April 2006. For more information on Fikes Truck Line, visit their website at www.fikes.com or call 1-800-643-6611.