ICSA Team

Safety Consultant

Dennis Phillips

Dennis Phillips is an Ohio native who joined the U.S. Army right after he graduated from high school. In the Army, he served as a combat medic overseas and upon returning to the United States, was assigned to the ambulance and ER sections at Moncreif Army Hospital at Ft. Jackson in S.C.

Dennis acquired his CDL in 1993 and became an OTR driver for a dedicated fleet serving Ford and GM. In 2003, he decided to move west for the warm weather, where he became an OTR driver and then a local driver for Knight Transportation, working out of its Las Vegas terminal.

After Dennis served as a driver for about three years, Knight promoted him to Terminal Safety Director and ultimately to Regional Safety Director, where he oversaw safety compliance for the company’s west coast operations, spending many days on the road reviewing terminal safety and compliance and helping each service center maintain a solid DOT record. In the process of doing this work, Dennis became OSHA-certified in workplace safety, drug and alcohol collection, and became a Smith System trainer.

In his role as an ICSA safety consultant, Dennis brings these certifications, along with his experience both as an OTR and a local driver, to assist ICSA members in achieving good safety records.

To contact Dennis for any safety questions, reach out to: dennis.phillips@safecarriers.org

Director of Operations

Shawn Nelson

Prior to joining a large trucking company’s corporate claims office, Shawn Nelson was in private law practice for nearly 20 years. He was involved very early in establishing ICSA, including doing much of the groundwork that led to ICSA’s incorporation as a non-profit in November 2019.

He joined the ICSA team in 2020 and was named Director of Operations in 2021. Shawn works closely with ICSA’s safety and insurance programs and provides expertise in managing ICSA’s insurance authorizations in the 47 states where the organization operates. He also plays a key role in assisting ICSA’s executive director to ensure ICSA’s compliance with non-profit regulations and in its government relations efforts.

Shawn is also involved in key industry organizations, including the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, American Trucking Associations, where he represents ICSA on the Safety Policy Committee, and the Truckload Carriers Association, where he serves on the Safety and Security Committee.

Staff Accountant

Anna Perez

Anna joined ICSA as a staff accountant in 2021. She is a seasoned financial expert with over 15 years of experience in various industries.

Anna holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field. Her academic foundation, coupled with years of practical experience, equips her with a deep understanding of financial analysis, reporting and compliance.

At ICSA, Anna is responsible for maintaining financial records, preparing financial statements for the Board of Directors, and working with ICSA's event recorder vendors to ensure their billing is correct.

Safety Contributor

Mike Hitchcock

Mike Hitchcock has an extensive, life-long background as a driver, mechanic and independent owner/operator. He spent 23 years at Knight Transportation, where he was promoted to Regional Safety Director, and ultimately to Senior Director of Safety for Knight/Swift. Mike also served as Director of Recruiting and Driver Development before joining ICSA in January 2021. His safety successes at Knight Transportation led to the company’s premier safety award – the Hitchcock Award –being named after him.

Although recently retired from ICSA, Mike continues to serve as a member of ICSA's Board of Directors, lending his expertise to ICSA’s safety training and education efforts. He is the author of Coaching Corner, a featured column in ICSA’s monthly newsletter, Landing Gear, and has developed much of this material into a model safety plan that is available to ICSA members at no cost.

Commercial Enforcement Contributor

Scot Montgomery

Capt. Scot Montgomery (retired) spent seven years of his distinguished enforcement career overseeing Wyoming's commercial vehicle enforcement program and the state's ports of entry as well as managing its MCSAP grant activities. During his time at Wyoming Highway Patrol, Scot worked mostly with small fleets helping them to understand and comply with truck safety requirements and regulations. This experience, along with his involvement with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), allows Scot to bring enforcement insights to ICSA's safety education and training programs. Scot is also a member of ICSA's Board of Directors.