KLLM Inc., provided transportation for more than 12,000 teddy bears for children who lost parents during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Twelve-year-old Amy Dykman of Brandon, Miss., collected the teddy bears as part of her “Amy’s Bears Care – And So Do We” initiative that began in September with a goal of 6,000 donated bears. KLLM drivers Max Coody and Rudy Brown hauled the bears from Brandon to Demarest, N.J., where they were distributed to children in New York City and Washington, D.C.
KLLM also supplied trailers to the American Red Cross in the nation’s capital for use in food service and to provide relief to workers at the Pentagon following the attacks.
September Honoree
Paschall Truck Lines announced Timothy Douglas of El Paso, Texas, as its Driver of the Month for September 2001. Douglas, who served overseas in the U.S. military before becoming a trucker, also has received Paschall’s 300,000 Safe Mile Driving Award. He has been with the company for five years.
Top Driver
The California Trucking Association named Manuel Travao of Modesto as its 2001 Driver of the Year.
Travao, 73, has logged more than 5 million accident-free miles in the past 52 years. “My experience is, if it gets foggy, count telephone poles,” Travao says. “If you can see and count three, that’s OK. If you can only see two, you better slow down.”
Travao drives a 1987 Peterbilt for Tiger Lines Inc.-Lodi Truck Services. He says he spends 15 to 20 minutes each day inspecting his truck before climbing behind the wheel. “It’s your life,” Travao says about the importance of pretrip inspections.
CTA presented Travao with a special belt buckle and plaque for his achievements.
Relocation Company Relocates
Graebel Orlando Movers Inc. has relocated to a new 170,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility. The company provides household goods and commercial relocation services. Graebel Orlando is a division of Graebel Companies, Inc., which includes Graebel Van Lines and Graebel Movers International.
Accident-Free
Several Werner Enterprises drivers recently reached safe-mile milestones in their trucking career at Werner Enterprises: solo driver Ron Witty, 2 million accident-free miles; team driver Katherine Von Magnus, 1 million accident-free miles; solo driver Ervin Smith, 1 million accident-free miles; and solo driver James Wold, 1 million accident-free miles.
Safety Bonuses
Contract Freighters Inc., based in Joplin, Mo., announced a safety bonus for owner-operators and company drivers of 1 cent per mile for dispatched miles during the bonus period.
To be eligible, full-time CFI drivers must not be involved in a preventable accident during the bonus period, which runs from the beginning of this year through Nov. 30. Bonus checks are issued mid-December of each year. For following years, the bonus period runs from Dec. 1 through Nov. 30.
Van Operator of the Year
United Van Lines named William Van Slooten, a driver for subsidiary Safeway Moving Systems, as its Van Operator of the Year. Van Slooten, who lives in Quinlan, Texas, received a cash award, a plaque, a ring and a specially designed jacket in recognition of the accomplishment.
Pay Increase
National Carriers Inc. increased its compensation package for new owner-operators to 83 cents per mile, loaded or empty, on the 48-state refrigerated lease. The increase took effect Jan. 1.
CFI Drivers of the Month
Contract Freighters Inc. recently honored its October 2001 drivers of the month.
Company Driver of the Month was Fred Robbins of Altus, Okla., who joined CFI five years ago. Company Team of the Month was Don and Elaine Malcom of Sheldon, Mo. Don has been with CFI seven years; Elaine has been with CFI three years. Contractor of the Month was Claude Winters of Enid, Okla., who joined CFI five years ago. Contractor Team of the Month was Cliff and David DeGroff. The father/son team joined CFI two years ago and they both live in Uvalde, Texas.
