To celebrate the modern-day achievements of African Americans in the trucking industry, Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) has selected four drivers who exemplify excellence in trucking. They were selected because of their professionalism and dedication to their jobs, commitment to safety and continuous efforts to move America forward every day.
The drivers are being featured on TMAF’s blog and social media pages throughout the month of February as well as on The Trucker.com. The stories highlight the drivers’ accomplishments and safety records and share the personal story of each driver. This is the third of four features in the series.
Moving America forward: Joe Pryor is spreading kindness through trucking
Joe Pryor has been a professional truck driver for 19 years. Originally from Pittsburg, also known as the “Steel City,” Pryor’s early career was as a fireman. As a firefighter, Pryor learned to drive trucks.
After retiring as a firefighter, Pryor joined the trucking industry and has been driving for Jet Express, Inc. since he moved to Dayton, Ohio in 2001.
Pryor is passionate about his job and enjoys working for Jet Express. During an interview with TMAF, Pryor said the trucking industry is an exciting one and one that has been good to him. Pryor describes his job as a truck driver as fun. When asked what he loves most about trucking, Pryor said one of the reasons is that you get to meet a lot of different people, such as customers, while driving a truck. Drivers also get to see different parts of a city or state.
While on the road, Pryor is safety oriented, and strives to be one of the most courteous drivers on the nation’s highways. Pryor told TMAF that patience is critical to the job. Pryor is always willing to lend a helping hand to those who need it and goes above and beyond to help other drivers in the industry. Pryor said, “If I can help someone, I’m going to.”
At Jet Express, Pryor works with new hires as a trainer and handles their road tests. When giving advice to new drivers, Pryor highlights the importance of patience and kindness while on the road and on the job. Pryor also tells drivers to prioritize safety: that includes always scanning the road, paying attention and remaining alert. During inclement weather, such as rain or snow, Pryor tells drivers to take their time and be careful. New hires know if they have any questions, they can always call him.
When describing the industry, Pryor said, “Trucking is what keeps this world going…truck drivers deliver everything you rely on.” Pryor also discussed the great job opportunities available within the industry. “There’s a lot of demand for drivers,” he added. “Freight keeps coming and coming.”
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
