For many transportation professionals, trucking freight isn�t their only concern when on the road. Every now and then, a trucker takes time out of their day (and delivery deadlines) to help another individual experiencing an emergency crisis on the highway.

Each year, Goodyear recognizes the top transportation professionals who�ve put their needs second to help others on the road. These truckers are known as the Highway Heroes.

Initiated in 1983, the North American Highway Hero Award program�s goal is to raise public awareness about �the responsible elements in the trucking industry.� To do so, they conduct a nationwide search to find truckers exemplifying heroic behavior or �outstanding acts of humanitarianism.�

On Feb. 17, Goodyear announced that they�ve finalized the 2011 nominations for the 28^th Annual Highway Hero Awards. Congratulations to the following finalists:

Jaime Avitia, Stagecoach Cartage

Jaime helped save an individual who crashed his pickup truck by administering CPR and controlling blood loss from a head wound while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Tilden Curl, Tecco Trucking

Tilden witnessed a vehicle crash on top of railroad tracks and was able to pull the unconscious driver out of the vehicle just seconds before a train collided with the car.

Bill Howard, Howard Transportation

When a driver fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed into his rig, Bill saved the driver�s life by tying a shirt to her nearly severed arm, which controlled blood loss until additional help arrived.

David Nelson, Werner Enterprises

After a woman crashed into a road sign and flagged David down for help, he successfully performed CPR on her unconscious, unbreathing seven-year-old daughter (who already had a heart condition), ultimately saving her life.

At Getloaded, we�d like to thank the finalists for their selfless acts of heroism that saved lives while on the road and say good luck on becoming the official 2011 Highway Hero.