ROGER KASA/PLAINSMAN The lifetime achievement award given by the 18-Wheel Truck Promotions at the annual Wheel Jam V was presented to NTA, Ltd., Sunday on the State Fairgrounds in Huron. The employees of NTA, Ltd., are, front, from left, Mark Robish, Scott Adams, Dave Barnes, Brandon Van Zee and Ernie Scheinert; second row, Diane Carter, Cindy Neuharth, Barb Deschepper, Susan Warren and Lawrence Bonebrake; and in back, Rich Barnes, Harry Rounds, Pat Arbuthnot, Gene Arbuthnot, Roger Barnes and Dave Van Zee.

NTA, Ltd., a local trucking firm, has been transporting merchandise to various points throughout the country for several years.

The original company business was built by Bill Payne. Gene Arbuthnot and Dave Van Zee went into partnership with Payne for a time before buying him out in 1994. Most of their contracted hauling is done for Dakota Provisions, Jack Links of Alpena and Barti Metal of Huron and Davisco Foods of Lake Norden.

They have a payroll of 33 people including office personnel, drivers and shop workers. For all their work in the trucking business, NTA was awarded a lifetime achievement award presented Sunday at Wheel Jam V by Steve Besch.

A native of Corsica, Van Zee and his wife, Marlys, have three children. They are Lori (Mike) Nelson of Denver, Colo.; Ashton, who attends St. Cloud State University; and Brandon of Rapid City, who attends Western Dakota Vocational School.

Van Zee moved to Huron in 1973 and was a truck driver and dispatcher for PTI.

Gene and Pat Arbuthnot have five children: Mark (Linda) Arbuthnot of Butler, Mo.; Davie (Sue) Arbuthnot of Madison, Neb.; Becki (Mike) Manchester of Boliber, Mo.; Shelly (Steve) Braley of Brookings; and Richard (Alisia) Arbuthnot of Madisonville, La. They moved to Huron in 1978 and he managed the shop at PTI before buying the business.

Dave and Gene became partners with Bill Payne from 1985 to 1994 when they bought him out.

Pat Arbuthnot said the company currently owns 17 trucks and leases 25. The trucks travel 4 million miles annually and have a payroll of $5 million to include office, shop drivers and leased drivers.

Rich Barnes, who is an employee at NTA and a member of the 18-Wheel Truck Operations, said the award goes annually to someone actively involved in the trucking business.

What does the award mean to them?

“It’s kind of a boost for the business,” Pat Arbuthnot said. “It’s testimony of what we bring into the community each year.”

Dave Van Zee said the company’s success “can be attributed to having good employees and good help over the years.”

The award was presented to Gene and Pat Arbuthnot and Dave and Marlys Van Zee at Sunday’s final event of Wheel Jam V.

This is the fourth year the award has been presented. Other award winners are former State Sen. Charlie Flowers of Iroquois; Rich Hiles of Wolsey and Cliff Parkhurst of Huron.