A great guy still going

Overdrive Trucker of the Year for 2005, Ted Chapman (pictured), made it into print again — this time for his adoration of the Peterbilt trucks he has driven in his more than 7 million accident-free miles and 50 of the 70 years the company has been in business.

Chapman, along with owner-operators Ronald Colvin, Steve Cudeck and Anthony Goolesby, are featured in the summer issue of the company’s newsletter, “First Class,” celebrating the truck maker’s 70th anniversary.

When then 65 year-old Chapman was featured as our Trucker of the Year, he told Overdrive Editor Linda Longton that he credited his award to “a lifetime of hard work, savvy business practices and a never-ending desire to succeed.” A coal miner’s son and Kentucky native, Chapman’s career includes making more than a million dollars and service on Peterbilt’s Council of Class advisory board.

“I love what I do,” Chapman told the newsletter staff. “When I walk out to that big Peterbilt of mine, I have but one desire and that’s to be better [at driving and serving customers] than I was yesterday.” Find Overdrive‘s 2005 feature on Chapman here. –Lucinda Coulter