Fast Trucking has earned an honour from the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce for its efforts to support its employees and the community.
The chamber announced Thursday that the Carnduff-based company would be receiving an Award of Merit at this year’s Achievement in Business Excellence Awards (ABEX) later this fall.
In a news release, the Sask. Chamber noted that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 ABEX Awards will be shifting from its traditional celebration of Saskatchewan business success to recognizing businesses and individuals who have become Saskatchewan’s everyday heroes.
Fast Trucking Service has been providing service to the oil and gas sector for more than 60 years, and has worked in other sectors, too. The business has been a big part of the southeast region as well.
Earlier this year, the company received widespread acclaim. When the oil prices sank to the record minimums and the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Saskatchewan, Fast Trucking had to lay off many employees.
With millions of people going on unemployment at the same time, Fast Trucking wanted to make sure that their employees would have at least some help before government support kicked in.
The company purchased $50,000 in co-op gift cards for the employees who were laid off, and president Dennis Day wrote a letter to each employee from his family.
Since then some employees were able to come back.
In an email to the Mercury, the chamber said it received over 200 nominations this year from all around the province for businesses and individuals who went above and beyond when the COVID-19 pandemic peaked here in Saskatchewan.
Fast Trucking’s story was nominated a number of times, and it really resonated with the independent judging committee.
This year’s awards will be taking place virtually on Nov. 14 and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is encouraging nominees, recipients and the public to host viewing parties in accordance with Saskatchewan Health Authority guidelines. In honour of the chamber’s 100th anniversary, the theme of this year’s awards is Roaring Twenties and viewers at home are encouraged to host 1920’s-themed viewing parties of their own.
