OTA–Trailmobile Service to Industry Award Presented to Vernon Erb

Vernon Erb, founder of the Erb Group of Companies, based in New Hamburg, ON was presented with the 2008 OTA-Trailmobile Service to Industry Award during a special ceremony held at the Ontario Trucking Association’s 82nd annual convention in Toronto. The award is the highest honour bestowed on a trucking executive and recognizes an individual who, by their commitment, vision, leadership and unstinting service, has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of the trucking industry in Ontario.

The selection was made by a panel of Mr. Erb’s peers, most of whom are previous winners themselves, and recognizes his role as one of the industry’s foremost providers of refrigerated transportation services and a man of deep faith, personal integrity and decency.

Vernon Erb began his career in trucking in 1956. After a short period delivering bread around Wellesley Township, he was fortunate to be hired by Don Sindall Transport in New Hamburg. After marrying Viola and a desire to be home more often, Vernon bought his first truck in 1959. Over the early years of his career he owned a dump truck, feed truck and an egg truck until 1965 when he bought his first refrigerated truck.

Vernon’s work ethic, strong faith and sense of what was right for the business saw him through many key decisions over the years. During five decades the company grew from that one truck to a fleet of more than 700 vehicles, more than 900 trailers and ten terminals in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Pennsylvania. With his wife Viola at his side and for many years as his accountant, payroll administrator and office manager the Erbs built a solid local business which began to span the continent.

One of his favourite things to do was to take his own company truck, often with Viola along for the ride, on a run. Always quiet spoken, Vernon shunned the spotlight. But, that has not prevented him from being recognized by his community and his industry many times over the years. Some of the awards Vernon has received include: 1991 Citizen of the Year Award for Community Service, Wilmot Township; 1993 Governor General’s Commemorative Medal; 2003 Colonel Robert Hardie Award of Lifetime Achievement, OTA; 2003 Induction into the Waterloo County Hall of Fame.