Ronnie Johnson, a driver for Witte Bros. Exchange Inc., in Troy, Mo., was awarded Missouri’s Driver of the Year from the Missouri Motor Carriers Association for 2001. Johnson has driven for Witte Bros. Exchange Inc. for more than 20 years, accumulating more than 2.4 million miles of driving. Earlier this year, he was given the keys to a new company-owned Kenworth W900L conventional tractor with an 86-inch studio sleeper and a Cummins Signature 600 engine.
Star Drivers
Star Transportation Inc. honored 19 drivers in October for their safe driving efforts. Recognized were: Rodney Peterson, 18 years; Robert Wright, 14 years; Herb Watson, nine years; Dale Dehart, seven years; Roy Bayles, seven years; Gary Brock, six years; Richard Gamble, five years; Jerry Copeland, four years; Jack Rumsey, three years; Allen Miller, three years; Larry Cross, three years; Allen Voss, two years; John Hardin, two years; Charles Fraley, two years; Jerry Humbard; one year; Robert Mott, one year; Sergey Onufriychuk, one year; James Crable, one year; and Timothy True, one year.
Million Milers
Werner Enterprises recently recognized several drivers for 1 million accident-free miles: Solo drivers were: Hugh Crawford (also a trainer) 13 years; Howard Cutler, eight years; Timothy Faatz, nine years; and Randolph Honeycutt (owner-operator), 12 years.
Team driver Bryan Shirley, who has been with the company for 11 years, has also achieved 1 million accident-free miles.
Kane on a Roll
For the seventh consecutive year, Kane Is Able Inc. received Sam’s Club Distribution Center of the Year award for 2001. Sam’s Distribution Center 8231 (Kane Distribution) in Scranton, Pa., boasts more than 2.5 million square feet. Its transportation fleet, Kane Freight Lines supports the facilities with overnight service to customers in the Northeast.
Safety Award
Decker Truck Line Inc. received a safety award in the General Commodities Division (more than 10 million miles) for its outstanding safety record in the state of Iowa for 2001-2002. Don Decker, president, accepted the award on behalf of the truck line at the Iowa Motor Truck Association’s Management Conference and Exposition.
Singled out for recognition was Jeff Gallogly, director of Decker’s fleet maintenance, who received an Outstanding Fleet Maintenance Professional Award from the IMTA.
Casey Stone
CFI Drivers of the Month
Contract Freighters Inc. recently named its August 2002 drivers of the month.
Company Driver of the Month was Casey Stone of Tulsa, Okla., who joined CFI in 1999. Company Team Driver of the Month was awarded to Chuck Snipes and Carlos Howell, who both joined the company in 1998. Snipes lives in Memphis, Tenn., and Howell lives in Batesville, Miss.
Contractor of the Month was Jim Freeman of Webb City, Mo.
Contractor Team of the Month was Donald and Cathy Mitchell of Las Vegas, who joined the company in 2000.
Winners are automatically nominated for the 2002 year-end award in their respective category.
Drivers Honored
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. recently recognized 230 of its drivers for achieving a minimum of 1 million miles of driving without a single preventable accident. The drivers, representing 39 of Old Dominion’s nationwide terminals, have collectively logged a combined total of more 270 million miles of accident-free travel. Of the drivers recognized, 201 have attained over 1 million accident-free miles, 22 logged more than 2 million miles, five logged more 3 million miles, one logged 4 million miles and one recorded more than 5 million miles.
Referral Prize
Transport America recently awarded $4,000 to driver Willie Kelly for the drivers he referred during the month of August. This reward is part of Transport America’s six-month referral rewards program running through March of 2003.
During the promotion, Transport America will award the employee or contractor who refers the most drivers hired each month with their choice of prizes. The prizes include an Xpedition Polaris 4-wheeler, $4,000 cash, or a selected vacation package of their choice.
$5,000 Winners
Maverick Transportation Inc. announced two money winners for the September portion of a special recruiting program that was held during the months of July, August, and September. Maverick drivers Greg Newman of Stilwell, Okla., and Kenneth Dietz of Mountain City, Tenn., were awarded $5,000 each.
Each Maverick driver who referred a new driver, as well as every driver who completed orientation during this time period, was eligible for the drawing. A total of six $5,000 drawings where held, two at the end of each month.
Schneider Listing
Schneider National announced that it has been ranked No. 36 in 2002 on CMP Media’s InformationWeek 500, a prestigious listing of the largest and most innovative users of information technology. Schneider National jumped to this position from the No. 56 spot in 2001 and is one of the top-ranked transportation and logistics companies on the list. n
