Meet the Judges of the 2024 Shell Rotella SuperRigs Truck Show

Mike Gaffin

Mike Gaffin, also known as "The Boston Trucker" on YouTube https://youtube.com/@TheBostonTrucker, is a 2nd generation trucker. Mike has been trucking for over 30 years. Mike spent 20 years trucking in all 48 states before his kids were born and he's been working local for the past 15 years hauling aggregates and heavy equipment around the Boston area.

In the 90's, Mike competed in all the national truck shows earning many trophies and making lots of friends along the way. Mike even competed at the 1997 Super Rigs show in Ontario, California so he knows what it takes first hand to be a competitor. Mike still competes in local shows with the W900L Kenworth he drives daily for A.Cardillo & Sons.

Mike lives by the moto "Every day is a truck show!", so if you see Mike coming down the road, put your sun glasses on and give him a wave!

Eric Harley

Eric Harley’s radio career began over 30 years ago in his home town of Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1996, he gained national exposure as host on the Pure Gold Oldies format for ABC Radio Networks. Shortly thereafter, he came aboard to co-host The Midnight Trucking Radio Network with Bill Mack as the show launched nationally. Gary McNamara joined Eric on MTRN in the summer of 2005 and in 2012, the broadcast duo took the reins of Red Eye Radio, creating an overnight program that is now heard on more than 250 stations.

Growing up as the son of a military veteran (Eric’s father served in two foreign wars), Eric has a deep affection for those who serve. He is a strong supporter of organizations like The Coalition To Salute America’s Heroes and others. Trucking runs in Eric's family as his grandfather was a trucker after serving in World War II and his father became a truck driver after retiring from the military. As a result of his family history and many years of talking to truckers on his radio program, Eric is a proud advocate for the trucking industry. In his down time, he is a dedicated husband and father, who enjoys nothing more than spending time with his family.

Jami Jones

Jami Jones, always wanted to be an accountant. Until she went to college for accounting. Deciding that wasn’t quite exciting enough, she grabbed a camera over a summer break and conned the editor of a local newspaper into hiring her. He tried to send her on her way, more than once, but finally relented.

After years as a sports reporter/editor and photographer, Jami worked her way through school and dabbled in a variety of mainstream journalism jobs covering a variety of news. Some assignments were cool (not everyone gets to cover a high-speed chase while actually riding along with the police in the chase), some not-so-cool (landfill cleanups).

It never crossed her mind that trucking journalism was a thing – until it actually crossed her mind and she took a job as a business editor for a trucking newspaper in 2000. The rest, is trucking journalism history.

Jami fell in love with the industry. The men and women are fascinating. The job intriguing. The government oversight unrelenting. The fact she grew up helping her brother work on vehicles on the farm in Arkansas added to the appeal. She simply loved the big trucks.

An opportunity to join Land Line came in 2004 and she jumped at the chance. Ready to put her wicked devotion, tireless advocacy and hard-hitting research to work bettering the lives of the men and women who actually get the job done day in and day out – she knew it was going to be like coming home.

With 15 plus years in trucking journalism under her belt, you can bet that whether judging SuperRigs or researching hard-hitting analyses, she covers trucking from lug nuts to legislation – always with straight talk and always with the trucker in mind.

Doug Morris, SuperRigs Contest Operations Consultant

Douglas Morris is currently the Director of Safety and Security Operations for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). OOIDA is an international association that represents over 154,000 small business trucking professionals who transport everything from Agriculture products to Hazardous Materials.

Mr. Morris has over 28 years of transportation safety and security experience. Prior to joining OOIDA Mr. Morris was employed with the Maryland State Police having duty assignments as the Assistant Commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and as Commander of the Transportation Security Section and Transportation Safety Division.

During his tenure with the Maryland State Police Mr. Morris received two Superintendent’s Commendations for exemplary performance and numerous other awards. Mr. Morris has received over 500 hours of advanced training in the handling and transportation of hazardous materials to include chemical, radiological and biological substances.

Mr. Morris continues to be active in the law enforcement community and is currently the President of the Maryland Troopers Association Lodge 13, he is also a member of the National Troopers Coalition and Maryland Law Enforcement Officers respectively.

Mr. Morris is currently the Chairman of the Department of Homeland Security’s Highway and Motor Carrier Sector Coordinating Council and is also the Secretary for the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security and Cross Sector Council. The Council represents the sixteen critical infrastructure sectors.