The Truckload Carriers Association announced that its Past Chairmen’s Award was awarded to Rocque Dameo, president of Dameo Trucking Inc., of Bridgewater, N.J. The presentation ceremony took place this week during the association’s Annual Awards Banquet, held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego.
The Past Chairmen’s award, TCA’s highest honor, is given to recognize industry leaders who make a significant contribution to the business community, the industry and TCA. Contrary to the title of the award, the awardee does not have to be a past chairman of the association.
Dameo studied at Syracuse University and in 1957 graduated with a degree in transportation (now logistics). He became president of his family’s trucking business in 1965 and has held leadership positions with many different trucking organizations over the course of his lengthy career.
In the 1960s, Dameo was a board member of the Contract Carriers Conference and was on the team that promulgated the merger of the CCC with the Common Carrier Conference – Irregular Route (CCC-IR). This new entity became the Interstate Carriers Conference and then the Interstate Truckload Carriers Conference before finally changing its name to the Truckload Carriers Association in 1997. Dameo served TCA and its predecessors in many capacities, including executive board member, board member and Truckload Academy board member. He chaired the Small Carrier Management Panel several times.
In Dameo’s home state of New Jersey, his company has been a member of the New Jersey Motor Truck Association for more than 50 years. His personal involvement has included serving as both secretary and treasurer. He is a past member of NJMTA’s executive committee and board of directors and is the current vice president representing NJMTA to the American Trucking Associations, a position he has held since 1977.
As a member of ATA, Dameo served as chairman of the Insurance Task Force during the 1980’s insurance crisis and was chairman of the Small Carriers Advisory Committee for four years. He is now a board member for the Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference after serving as secretary for four years. He also served on the Few Committee that planned the reorganization of ATA in 1985.
Outside of the trucking industry, Dameo has been involved in local and county affairs for many years. He was a long-time member and president of the Rotary Club of Somerville, as well as an active member of the Somerset County Parks Commission, where he served as its president and as a commissioner for the past 30 years. He currently serves as the chairman of the Somerset County Parks Foundation. He also sits on the board of the Franklin Advisory Committee to the Whitman School of Business at Syracuse University.
Dameo was a founding member of the 200 Club of Somerset County, a citizens’ organization dedicated to assisting the widows and children of county police, fire and rescue personnel who are killed in the line of duty. He is a founding member of the Bridgewater, New Jersey, Operation Cooperation, an organization that facilitates police and business working together to solve local problems. He is also a board member of the Somerset County Crime Stoppers, an organization that promotes positive action from the community in deterring crime and helping to bring lawbreakers to justice.
Dameo is a commercial instrument-rated pilot with more than 6,000 hours of logged flight time. He earned his National Ski Patrol appointment in 1970 and served as a volunteer in New Jersey and Vermont for 22 years. He is now a Life Member.
“TCA owes a debt of gratitude to Rocque Dameo for his influence during our early years when the organization was in its infancy,” says John Kaburick, outgoing chairman of TCA and the president of Earl L. Henderson Trucking Co. of Salem, Ill. “He clearly loves the trucking industry and has worked tirelessly to ensure its success on many levels. We can think of no better person to receive TCA’s highest honor.”
