JD Smith & Sons “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship

J.D. Smith and Sons Limited is pleased to sponsor an annual scholarship which recognizes one university student each year who demonstrates a commitment to his/her community, school, or other volunteer undertaking through exemplary leadership qualities.

J.D. Smith and Sons is proud of its history as an innovative leader in the road transportation and logistics industry, both from operational and industry leadership perspectives. Founded in 1919, J.D. Smith and Sons started as a family 2-truck operation, and grew significantly under the leadership of the founder’s son, Doug Smith, who was the company’s president for 40 years. By the time Doug retired in 1994, the company had grown to a fleet size of 100 power units.

Doug’s greatest contributions may have been the direct result of his natural leadership abilities. In 1963, Doug was one of a handful of visionaries who helped to establish the Industrial Cartage Association (now the Toronto Trucking Association) to fill the role of representing cartage companies and the industry for the benefit and betterment of both. Doug also served as the chairman of the Ontario Trucking Association from 1985 to 1987. His contribution to the Ontario Trucking Industry was recognized in 1982, when he was awarded the Trailmobile Service to Industry Award. Regarded as the highest honour, the award recognizes an individual who by his/her commitment, vision, leadership and unflagging service, has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of the road transport industry.

J.D. Smith’s leadership tradition continues through its third-generation president Scott Smith, who has continued to represent the trucking industry through the Toronto Trucking Association (President, 1996 – 1998), the Ontario Trucking Association (Chairman,2004 – 2006), the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and the OTA Education Foundation Inc. Scott’s brother, Brian Smith, served as President of the Toronto Trucking Association (2008 – 2010). Under their current-day leadership, Scott and Brian have expanded J.D. Smith and Sons into an integrated third-party distribution and logistic services provider, which includes a network of modern warehousing facilities and an extensive fleet of trucks, tractors, and trailers, all coordinated by state of the art IT systems.

This scholarship is awarded in the memory of Doug Smith, to an Ontario university student who is the son or daughter of a parent employed in the trucking industry. Doug’s contributions to the trucking industry, a product of his vision and leadership, will live forever.

The scholarship recipients will be selected by the OTA Education Foundation Selection Committee. The maximum scholarship amount is $1,500.

Note: Only scholarship winners will be notified. Scholarship funds will be advanced to the recipient’s post-secondary institution and will be credited to the account identified by the student number provided in the online application.