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Truck drivers traditionally, and rather facetiously, refer to speeding tickets as "driving awards".
So you can understand why Special Rigs for Special Kids event organiser Greg Inch frowned instead of smiled when he heard he was being given one recently.
Fortunately, it was a "good" driving award, he said.
Mr Inch won the VTNZ Outstanding Contribution to Road Transport award at the 2018 New Zealand Road Transport Industry Awards in Dunedin on Wednesday night, for his work establishing and running the annual Special Rigs for Special Kids event in Dunedin.
The event gives children with special needs an opportunity to ride in a truck.
It provides the children and their families with a fun day out and attracts up to 200 trucks each year.
"Special Rigs for Special Kids really is a fantastic community event and it is fitting that the industry recognises Greg's hard work and the impact his event has for hundreds of Otago families, through this award," Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley said.
Mr Inch was both stunned and delighted by the award.
"To be recognised by the transport industry like that, it's pretty big."
Despite the win, he reiterated he did not run the Special Rigs event for recognition or reward.
"It's for the kids. I do it for the smile on the kids' faces.
"For some kids, it's bigger than Christmas. I've had principals, teachers and kids tell me that. They look forward to it so much. It's the highlight of their year.
"And even for the drivers, it's a big event for them too. They get to give something back to their community."
Other awards: Teletrac Navman Industry Innovation Award: Sysdoc and Fonterra. ERoad Outstanding Contribution to Health and Safety Award: Safe Business Solutions. Outstanding Contribution to Training Award: Derek Nees (TIL Freight). Castrol Truck Driver Hero Award: Phil Newton (Fonterra).
