Scoring awards from Truck Writers of North America? Sweet.

The Truck Writers of North America Communication Awards is now in its 11th year of recognizing excellence in trucking industry journalism.

The awards dinner takes place every year at MATS. This year, the TWNA Communication Awards program generated 97 entries, ranging from newspaper and magazine articles to covers and layouts to press events. Only 70 scored high enough to earn an award. Only a select few scored division “bests.”

It’s a tough peer-judged competition, and when you see some of the other entries it’s always humbling. The trucking press is an extraordinary group -- remarkable in fact. Some of the writing, the art, the video we saw showcased last night was impressive. It makes you appreciate it when your entry is good enough to be recognized.

The Best of Division Awards are the biggies and Best of Radio went to Host Mark Reddig, Senior Engineer/Producer Barry Spillman and Second Sound Engineer James Fetzer for a segment on Glenn Childress, “Driver of Presidents.”

A second Best of Division award went to LL Editor-in-chief Sandi Soendker who was awarded Best of Internet for a blog that took her to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery to participate in a Wreaths Across America ceremony.

Kudos to Today’s Trucking – the excellent Canadian magazine that won the Best of the Best. 

Here’s a list of awards won this year by OOIDA media.

Gold Awards

Land Line Magazine – How flow can you go? – Paul Abelson

Land Line Magazine – Pork Chop Diaries – Land Line Staff

Land Line Magazine – The way we were – Greg Grisolano

Land Line Magazine – When Johnny came trucking home – Bill Hudgins

landlinemag.com – WAA: Glad I did that – Sandi Soendker

“Land Line Now” – Glenn Childress – driver for presidents – Mark H. Reddig, Barry Spillman and James Fetzer

“Land Line Now” – Truckers survive disastrous storm – Patsy Terrell and Barry Spillman

Silver Award

Land Line Magazine – June 2012 Issue – Land Line Staff

Bronze Awards

Land Line Magazine – Layover at Lucas – Sandi Soendker

Land Line Magazine – The big squeeze – David Tanner and Sandi Soendker

Land Line Magazine – What’s your clearance, Clarence? – David Tanner

“Land Line Now” – Election Preview Special – Mark H. Reddig and Barry Spillman

“Land Line Now” – Truckers share memories of Dale Sommers – Mark H. Reddig & Barry Spillman

MATS – It just got real

It's real, we're here, and I'm revved up. I stashed piles of pre-trip paraphernalia all around the house: batteries, chargers, last year’s badge holder, socks, the pedometer that will surely track my mileage around the convention center, ibuprofen, those Dr. Scholl foot massagers to put in my shoes, a few more batteries, my laptop, iPad, iPhone, emergency chargers, cameras, lenses, favorite pen, last year's parking pass. Oh my favorite "must have" was a set of Chicago Bears cheek decals to share with a friend who lost a bet on a Chicago vs. Green Bay game. Yep, he's bringing some for me, too –although green and yellow are really not my best colors. I'm sure someone will snap a picture ... stay tuned.

Of course the weather can be just about anything and already is ... a little snow, a lot of wind and the need for gloves, hats and long johns. Seriously. But MATS is not a place to be weak. 

The show doesn't even open ’til Thursday, but the parking lots are full of vendors setting up. Along with the rest of the trucking press, we're here for Media Day where we get a chance to hear from OEMs and industry specialists about last year’s results, this year’s goals and expectations and product introductions.

And there's more. Don't miss this year's collections of shiny show trucks parked behind the West Wing. At last count, they were fast approaching 100. New ones, refurbished old ones, and some stuff that's just off the hook different. The light show is tonight. There will be enough lumens to power a medium-sized city.

I need more hours in my day. Gonna throw pages out of my MATS logbook and keep running. Woo-hoo!