Trucking Life

GREENBELT, Md. — Allen Parker, a driver for Werner Enterprises, has been named the 2021 International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA) recipient by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Parker has been with Werner Enterprises for more than 34 years and has safely driven more than 4 million accident-free miles. “Whether it’s his professional activities, like the Werner Road Team and the Truck Convoy for Special Olympics, or his community involvement through his church and singing the national anthem at public events, Allen represents Werner Enterprises and the trucking industry as a caring professional,” said Jaime Maus, vice president of safety and compliance for Werner Enterprises. CVSA recognizes the exceptional careers of professional commercial motor vehicle drivers and their commitment to public safety through the IDEA award. “My reaction upon hearing the fantastic news that I’d received the International Driver Excellence Award was to be humbled,” Parker sad. “To be acknowledged by CVSA is truly an honor.” In addition to his stellar safe-driving history, Parker also does his part for the community. He sings the national anthem before the stock car races at the Jefferson County (Nebraska) Speedway and at the start of minor league baseball games. In addition, Parker participates in the World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics. The convoy is a one-day celebration of the trucking industry, its allied partners and law enforcement, all working together to raise funds for Special Olympics. “This year, especially, the Alliance is honored to award a commercial motor vehicle driver for his safe-driving record and contributions to the community and the trucking industry,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “We, in the commercial motor vehicle enforcement community, know how important commercial drivers are to the fabric of our society. But when the pandemic hit, the public quickly realized that almost everything we need is transported by truck, driven by a truck driver, at some point within the supply chain. Nominating Mr. Parker was Werner’s way of saying thank you. And selecting and naming him as this year’s IDEA recipient is CVSA’s way of saying thank you.” To apply for the award, nominees must have at least 25 cumulative years of crash-free driving in a commercial motor vehicle, must have a clean driving record for the past three years, must have no felony convictions, must have no safety-related driving suspensions in the past three years and must have no driver violations in the past three years, excluding form and manner violations. With decades of driving experience and millions of accident-free miles driven safely on the road, Parker knows what to do to ensure he is operating safely. “To achieve the miles I have driven is great, but they come one mile at a time,” Parker said. “Focusing too far ahead or behind removes my focus from where I am now.” CVSA’s IDEA isn’t the only award Parker has received during his driving career. He has received multiple President’s Safe Driving Awards from the Nebraska Trucking Association, Werner’s Safe Driver Awards, and one, two, three and four million accident-free miles awards from his company. “My job offers opportunities to meet new people every day and see new parts of the country,” Parker said. “I enjoy being outdoors and not confined to an office with walls. The sunrise ahead of me and the sunset behind me are my only boundaries.” When he has time away from driving, Parker travels with his wife, singing Southern gospel music at churches and gospel music events. In fact, he and his wife have recorded four albums in Nashville. “We also enjoy putting miles on our motorcycle and spending time with our grandkids and great-grandkids,” added Parker. Parker will receive his award at the 2021 CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Wilmington, Delaware, this fall. He will be presented with a crystal trophy and $2,500. The nomination period for CVSA’s 2022 International Driver Excellence Award will open in September.

In what can charitably be called a most challenging year, veteran driver Scott Smith rose to the top of his profession, earning recognition as 2020 Driver of the Year by the Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA). “I was totally shocked. I never expected to win anything,” Smith said. “When they announced the annual winner, I’m like, ‘Really? Seriously? Is this for real?’” Smith, a Minnesota native and driver for BarOle Trucking of Roseville, Minnesota, received the honor during a virtual award ceremony held Feb 25. The 67 year old may not have suspected anything was up, but his wife Karol who serves as safety director for BarOle, cannot say the same. “The only person that knew was our vice president/CFO guy. And the night before, our safety director found out also,” Scott Smith said. “They were the only two that knew basically ahead of time and (Karol) was dying trying to not give it away. She was avoiding talking to me. She had to go to bed early to avoid being around me.” It’s been a long road since Smith first fell in love with big rigs when, as a child, he watched a road construction project take shape out in front of his house. “Watching the guys do construction, they dug up the whole street. They were putting in sewer and blacktopping afterwards,” he said. “All the big equipment, all the trucks. I thought, ‘Boy, that looks pretty neat,’ you know?” Despite this early fascination, Smith’s first job wasn’t behind the wheel, but rather under the hood. After high school, he took a job with 3M’s service garage and spent years working on brakes, tune-ups, exhaust and other tasks. He might be there still, had a buddy not inadvertently piqued his interest in a career change. “A friend of mine was looking for a career change and wanted to get into driving. He didn’t want to go by himself, so he talked me into going with him,” Smith said. “We went and learned driving on the weekends while we still worked our regular jobs Monday through Friday. After we completed our training, we jumped ship from our regular jobs and got into driving.” Smith completed driving school July 4, 1977, and began a love affair with the road that’s still going strong. Over the next 20 years, he would drive for a fuel oil company and Coca-Cola before buying his own truck in 1990. He eventually started driving as an owner-operator with BarOle, and by 1997 was in a company driving position. At each stop in his professional journey, he says he learned something new. “You learn a lot in the beginning,” he said. “I had never been hardly anywhere all my life, maybe northern Wisconsin on vacation. All of a sudden, you’re driving to these places out east, upstate New York all the way up Northeast Coast and places like that. “You kind of just learn as you go,” he continued. “You keep your mouth shut and your ears open. Listen to the guys that have experience, and you learn in a hurry to weed out the guys that are telling the tall tales compared to the guys that actually are giving you some useful information.” Smith must have chosen his mentors well — officials with MTA noted during his award presentation that he’d racked up 4.6 million safe miles and counting. “Driving safe is no easy task, especially when you take into consideration his daily driving conditions like congestion, driver distractions, Minnesota winters and the added challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said John Hausladen, MTA president, in a prepared statement. “Having over 4.6 million safe driving miles is an outstanding accomplishment.” As for his secret to staying out of scrapes, Smith said it all boils down to common sense and a cool head. “Just stay calm. Don’t get excited about traffic,” he said. “I mean, there’s nothing you can do about it. Some jerk cuts you off, you’re not going to be able to chase them down, and what good is it going to do if you do? I mean, you’re never going to see him again. You gotta let it go.” Still, if anyone could be forgiven for losing one’s cool, it would be truck drivers trying to get from point to point during pandemic-ravaged 2020. Smith said COVID-19 gave him some of the biggest challenges of his career. “A lot of it was the rest areas closing down for a while,” he said. “Truck stops, a lot of them, even though they’re open, you were not allowed to bring in your own mug to refill with coffee. You have to use one of theirs. Some, you weren’t allowed to go in, except some would just come to the door and you hand them the paperwork, you wait in the truck. You weren’t even allowed to go inside to use their restroom. A lot of them now, at least, have put Porta Potties at their facilities for drivers to use. “The biggest thing that I noticed with the shutdown, of course, was we kept going full bore,” Smith continued. “We didn’t really slow down. Things still were getting shipped around the country, overseas. Biggest thing was the change in traffic, the lack of it, which I’m not going to lie, was kind of nice.” Smith is equally well regarded for what he does when he’s not on the road. He’s a longtime volunteer with Boy Scouts and volunteers with MTA’s Trucks & Toys campaign, which provides toys to children in need throughout the state during the holiday season. He also enjoys judging at the Minnesota Truck Driving Championships. All in all, it’s a good life, with more good things to come, he said. “The way the trucks are now, they really are user-friendly, comfortable, and I think it’s going to continue on like that,” he said. “Sometimes I think these young guys today just don’t have a clue what we did 40, 50 years ago. But then, when I started the (older drivers) back then were probably thinking ‘Boy, you guys got some nice trucks these days.’ “The trucks are getting better, and we’ve still got good guys out there,” he said. “There’s lots of good drivers on the road.”

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — After nearly five decades of professionally driving for YRC Freight, Robert Herber has logged his 5 millionth consecutive mile without a single preventable accident. YRC recently reverted to its roots, renaming itself Yellow Corp. Herber has been involved with the freight industry for most of his life. His first taste of the industry was unloading cars at a cattle feed mill in his native Burkes County, Pennsylvania. During Herber’s 45-year career with Yellow, he has worked out of seven different terminals across the country. He currently drives a dedicated route from Jackson, Mississippi, to Jacksonville, Florida. “Throughout his career, Robert has demonstrated great dedication to the highest levels of professionalism and safety,” said Yellow CEO Darren Hawkins. “We thank Robert for continuing to be an outstanding example for Yellow and congratulate him on reaching this extraordinary milestone.” Herber credits his remarkable safety record to consistency and maintaining habitual checklists. His method is rooted in the Smith System, a set of industry-accepted safety practices. Over the years, Herber has developed his own set of requirements to meet while he drives his route. “Everyone has his or her own system that works best. The important thing is to stay consistent and make sure you are following a pattern,” Herber said. “I’m not comfortable until I’ve followed all steps of my own system; if I don’t complete steps fully the first time, I’ll pull over and double check everything. The rest is by the grace of God. I never thought I would be driving for this long.” In addition to being recognized for each million-mile safe driving milestone, Herber has participated in Maryland’s State Truck Driving Championship, even proceeding to the national championships. “Robert’s unwavering record represents Yellow’s safety focus with excellence,” said Tamara Jalving, vice president of safety for Yellow. “Drivers like Robert are what allow us to continue delivering award-winning service to our customers while keeping highways safe. We are proud to recognize his incredible achievement.” When he is not driving, Herber and his wife have enjoyed attending street rod shows everywhere from Atlanta, Georgia, to Fort Worth, Texas. They also spend their time volunteering in their hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. In 2018, Herber was selected Man of the Year by the Center Hill Community Development Club for his service to the community.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — During 2020, the Schneider Foundation worked to support nonprofits by donating more than $2 million in grants to more than 400 organizations across North America. The year also saw the launch of Schneider’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Program with grants totaling more than $75,000 going to 11 nonprofit organizations across North America. The grantees were nominated mostly by Schneider associates and will help organizations inspire dialogue and take concrete actions for change. “Guided by our core values, which include respect for all, we strive to be a positive force in the areas we work and live,” said LuEllen Oskey, director of the Schneider Foundation. “Schneider has a history of giving back, and after the struggles of this past year, we recognize that our financial contributions make an impactful difference in our local and regional communities.” The foundation seeks to support communities and organizations through a variety of initiatives, including: In-kind Donations: Schneider transports shipments for nonprofits in need of assistance; 25 in-kind loads totaled approximately $42,000 in 2020. Pay It Forward: The Schneider Foundation randomly selects 100 associates who, in turn, select a charity of their choice to receive a $100 donation. Dollars for Doers: Associates who volunteer 50 hours in their community receive a $250 donation to support the nonprofit organization of their choice, totaling $10,500 in 2020. Giving Orange: Schneider associates donate funds to help fellow associates in a time of need. In 2020, 13 associates received a total of $7,800 in assistance from the fund. United Way: Schneider is a long-time supporter of United Way. The support campaign went virtual in 2020 through activities such as electronic bingo and an online auction. The company exceeded its annual goal, raising $230,641. The COVID-19 pandemic created unique, unprecedented hardships across the nation, and the Schneider Foundation redirected part of its annual budget to support pandemic relief efforts, including: The Brown County United Way received $40,000 for pandemic relief. HSHS St. Vincent/St. Mary’s Foundation received $10,000 for personal protection equipment. Operation Community Cares (organized through Paul’s Pantry) received $10,000 to provide home delivery services of food/hygiene products. Feeding America received $10,000 to purchase bulk supplies that were distributed to individual local food pantries. In addition, the foundation made donations of $30,000 to the Greater Green Bay Back to Business Grants, and $2,500 to the De Pere Chamber for small business relief grants. “As our communities continue to work towards recovery, we will continue to leverage the Schneider Foundation and support the important work of nonprofits across the country,” said Mark Rourke, Schneider’s president and CEO. “Despite the disruptions to everyday life, our incredible associates dedicated over 5,000 hours of time to volunteering in their local communities.”

Chuck Small has reached a milestone that’s the envy of any driver’s career — one million safe miles. To put that into perspective, a million miles would take you around the world 40 times, or cover the distance between the moon and the earth three times. On average, it’s estimated it takes a driver between eight and 10 years to reach that million-mile mark. And while that’s impressive enough on the face of it, to rack up that many miles — in all kinds of weather, traffic and terrain, during the era of distracted driving — without a single incident is nothing short of astonishing. Small credits a safety-first mentality and an inborn desire to constantly improve at his craft as key elements of reaching the mark. Keeping a level head helps, too. “You’ve got to keep your cool. (When) someone does something in front of you, just kind of take a deep breath,” he said, noting that even normally even-tempered drivers can easily become riled up. “I’ve got a friend, he’s a born-again Christian, and he gets upset when he gets behind the wheel. He gets on the CB and yells at them and everything.” It’s also important to take your time. “The biggest thing is rushing, rushing around, because you’re on a time clock nowadays. Just slow down,” Small advised. “Watch your surroundings. Like backing up, you have to take your time. Your following distance, that’s another big thing. Also, you can actually feel somebody is going to come over into your lane. You can feel it by his actions.” It’s a long way from zero to a million but the events that put Small on that path began in the small town of Wareham, Massachusetts, the place he was born and still calls home. “It all started when I was a young lad. My stepfather’s father had a mill that cuts wood, and I used to visit him on the weekends,” he said. “They left the keys in all the trucks. I’d go in there and start it up and put it in gear, go forward, backward. I was fascinated with trucks.” As a young adult, Small retained that fascination. “Later, I was working for a paint company. The paint came up from Kentucky and they’d tint it to a certain color, and I delivered it to paint contractors, hospitals, colleges,” he recalled. “And this guy would come in with a cabover. It was all red, I remember, and I said, ‘Do you mind if I jump up in there and see what it’s all about?’ He said, ‘Sure.’ I sat in the seat and (thought), ‘Wow, this is nice!’” Small attended New England Tractor Trailer School and then was recruited by J.B. Hunt, based in Lowell, Arkansas, and paired with a trainer. “(He was a) very good trainer. They don’t make them like they used to, like he was,” he said. Small earned his commercial driver’s license (CDL) in 1990, and a new life on the road was born. “When I was with J.B. Hunt, I did every state except for Montana,” he said. “Back in the ’90s when the company was starting to roll, they started getting into the rail business. I think I hit every railyard in the United States.” For the past decade, Small has hauled for NAPA Transportation of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. During that time, he’s driven as part of a team, which took him as far west as Colorado. More recently however, he’s been a solo driver; his range is primarily the East Coast but has reached as far as Illinois, Florida and Georgia. Small said in all the years he’s been driving, he’s never seen anything like the conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As soon as the pandemic hit it was all go, go, go,” he said. “My wife, she has an illness; she didn’t want me home, so she said, ‘Stay out, stay out, the virus.’ I stayed out five months. Oh, yeah, I constantly ran. The only time I really stopped was for a reset. You’ve got to do your 34-hour reset and then I would just load up.” His expertise and professionalism landed him recognition as NAPA’s 2020 Driver of the Year, but it was a load delivered to a New Jersey Costco that really demonstrated the value of Small’s craft. In March of 2020, he delivered a load of toilet paper from Proctor & Gamble, one of NAPA’s biggest clients and, as reported by The Trucker, people who were standing in line, waiting for that rolled “white gold,” cheered him as he pulled to a stop. “What a feeling that was to have everybody clap. That must be what a celebrity goes through,” Small told The Trucker last spring. “It is usually, ‘Park over there and we’ll call you when we’re ready for you.’ It could be hours upon hours. I felt kind of wanted, and like I’m doing something.” Small, who’ll be 59 in July, has a lot more miles in him, and thanks to improved truck technology, he says those miles are safer and more comfortable than at any time during his driving career. “The truck itself, it’s so cushiony now. The cabover was a spring ride; you hit a pothole, your head would hit the ceiling. Oh, yeah,” he said with a chuckle. “They got all these technologies now. Like back in the day, you had to pull over to make a phone call. They called them ‘Superman booths’ at the Flying Js. And when you get up to the booth, there’s always someone in there. Now you’ve got iPhones, hands-free. “There’s so much technology to help you with your job,” he continued. “I have a lane control now; I put on the blinker to move to my right lane, and if there’s a vehicle there, it sets off a loud signal. A lot of people don’t like all these noises they have in trucks now, but I like it. It’s going to save me, save my life — save their life.”

GREENWICH, Conn. — XPO Logistics Inc., a global provider of supply chain solutions, announced that another 10 XPO less-than-truckload (LTL) drivers surpassed 3 million accident-free miles in the last six months of 2020. The following drivers received the honor: Vincent Black of Georgia; Ronald Boring of Tennessee; Craig Boyd of Tennessee; Joe Caliri of Ohio; Marty Collier of Arkansas; Charles Dangerfield of Virginia; Samuel Gleason of Pennsylvania; Dale Pritchett of Texas; Lee Redfearn of Carolina; and Michael Stirewalt of North Carolina. “We’re extremely proud of our entire LTL team and their commitment to our safety culture,” said Josephine Berisha, chief human resources officer for XPO Logistics. “The high caliber of our drivers and our investments in technology are ensuring that every mile driven for our customers is as productive as possible. We congratulate all of our million-milers for being among the best of the best.” An additional 16 XPO drivers reached 2 million accident-free miles and 125 drivers reached 1 million accident-free miles in the same period, bringing the annual number of honorees to a record 230 drivers for 2020. All are employed by the company’s North American LTL unit. These drivers collectively drove 290 million miles without an accident — that’s equivalent to 11,646 times around the world, 583 trips to the moon and back, and three trips to the sun. XPO tracks accident-free miles in its LTL network as part of the company’s comprehensive safety program, Road to Zero. On average, it takes approximately a decade of safe driving to achieve one million miles without an accident. XPO is a North American provider of LTL transportation, with a national network of 290 service centers and approximately 12,000 professional drivers.

PLOVER, Wis. — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Liz Imel as its March Member of the Month. Imel is an over-the-road (OTR) professional driver for Maverick Transportation out of North Little Rock, Ark. Imel grew up on a farm and started driving tractors when she was just 5 years old. Her neighbor was a grain hauler, and as a teenager, Imel earned money by washing his bicentennial-painted long-nose Pete every Saturday. This was the start of her love for big trucks. After working seven years in a farm repair shop, she went to work at a hardware manufacturer, where she started out on the package line and worked her way up to the machine setup. She continued to advance in the company to the position of press operator, and then assistant foreman. After 13 years with the company, she said, it closed because of foreign trade. The company’s closure marked the beginning of Imel’s professional truck driving career. As a severance, she was given money for continuing education. With her oldest daughter out of school and her youngest almost out of high school, she thought, “This is my chance!” Imel started truck driving school at a local community college, and earned her commercial driver’s license (CDL). Imel has been with Maverick Transportation as an OTR driver for more eight years. The first seven years with the company, she pulled refrigerated foods. Now, she is pulling boats and loves it. “Unloading is a great workout. I also love that I get to go all over the United States,” she said. Maverick has recognized Imel for her high level of customer service and commitment to safety by selecting her as Driver of the Month in October 2014 and again in February 2019. In 2019 she was also selected as Maverick’s Driver of the Year, which she said was a great honor. As Imel reflects back on this past year and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, she is optimistic about the image of the trucking industry. “One good thing that came out of this pandemic is that the general public has a newfound respect for professional truck drivers. I challenge every driver to maintain and keep that respect by being true professionals out there — while driving and parked!” she said. Imel also encourages women to join the trucking industry. “This is a great career if you are self-motivated and have a driven personality. If you are able to make split second decisions, are kind to others, and keep a smile on your face, this is a good career for you,” she said.

Owner-operator Lee Strebel answered a few questions about his career on the road in a recent interview with The Trucker. Q: Where do you call home? A: I live in Gulf Breeze, Florida, near Pensacola. I used to live near the Truck Stop Ministries office in Jackson, Georgia, so I leave a personal vehicle there and when I go home, I park my truck there. Q: How long have you been a truck driver? A: I just started my 46th year. I started with cabovers. There were a few Petes and Kenworths, but mostly cabovers. Q: Why did you seek a career as a truck driver? A: I read a book when I was really young (6 or 7) about trucking. I thought it was a cool job, and I always wanted to be a truck driver. I was totally fascinated by the book. Q: What do you like most about your career as a truck driver? A: I like seeing different places, meeting new people and hauling fascinating loads. In the past 12 years I have hauled some really cool stuff. We moved the Roy Rogers museum to Branson, Missouri. I hauled the set for the “Hello Dolly” musical. I picked it up at Riverwood Studios in Chicago and delivered it to Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Yes, THAT Ford’s Theatre. Q: Will you tell us a bit about being an owner-operator? A: I don’t play well with children. I like the freedom of running my own business, running when I want. As an owner-operator I have a lot more freedom in what I do. Q: What did you look for in a trucking company to lease to? A: I looked for one with a very low turnover rate. M&M American has hardly had any turnover. They never advertise for drivers; you have to be invited; then you’re heavily scrutinized. Really, really nice people. The business was really hurt by COVID. Q: How long do you spend on the road at a time? A: Usually, I spend two or three months at a time. I just don’t go home that often. When I go home, it’s for a week or week-and-a-half until I get antsy and have to go back to work. Q: What’s your advice to anyone looking to become a truck driver? A: Be quiet and listen to your trainers. Coming out of truck-driving school, you are NOT educated in trucking. Take it slow and easy, and don’t overdo your skills. If you’re making a maneuver and it looks like you’re not going to make it, don’t become a YouTube sensation. Stop and figure it out, and do it over the right way. Q: More specifically, what is your advice for anyone looking to become an owner-operator? A: Pay attention. Keep track of expenses on the truck. You may not know all the expenses, but you can find out a lot. Tires are wearing out every mile you run, so you have to plan for replacement. You have to be more attuned to maintenance than you do as a company driver. Carriers know they’re going to trade that truck at a certain interval, but you have to plan for much longer. Watch your tire pressure. It makes a huge difference in wear and in fuel mileage.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Averitt Express associates combined gave more than 5,000 hours of community service as part of the company’s Team Up Community Challenge in 2020. With 76 Averitt facilities, employees served 5,342 hours, helping 118 organizations in efforts including clothing, food and toy drives, disaster relief, mask sewing and donations, litter cleanups, and blood donations. As a result of hours served, Averitt’s executive team is matching dollars for hours with a donation of $53,420 to Averitt Cares for Kids, the company’s employee giving program. “I’m very proud of how our team stepped up to make a difference in our communities during 2020,” said Gary Sasser, Averitt’s chairman and chief executive officer. “While navigating the realities of COVID-19, our associates found unique and innovative ways to help others while at the same time keeping safety top of mind. That’s a prime example of what our team is all about, and I’m excited to see the ways our associates make a difference in the future through the Team Up Community Challenge.” Together, the Team Up Community Challenge and Averitt Cares for Kids make up Averitt Charities. The mission of Averitt Charities is to help those in need through a partnership company that gives back to the communities Averitt serves. The Team Up Community Challenge is a year-round initiative where each facility across Averitt’s network is encouraged to donate at least 40 hours of service to various charitable causes. For more information, click here.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Kids Around the Corner, a charitable foundation created by Fleet Advantage to support communities, in February donated $15,000 to Arc Broward, a South Florida organization dedicated to helping advance and enrich the lives of people with special needs and developmental disabilities. “Especially since the beginning of last year, corporations have realized how much more important of a role they play in contributing to the development of their local communities,” said Elizabeth Gomez, marketing and business development coordinator for Fleet Advantage. “We are proud to donate to such a worthy cause here in South Florida that is focused on the development of a diverse group of people, as well as contribute toward the development of programs that enrich their lives and introduce lifelong opportunities.” Fleet Advantage recognizes the importance of supporting organizations that play a vital role in the well-being of local communities. “We are so grateful for this generous donation and our relationship with Fleet Advantage,” said Dennis Haas, president and CEO of Arc Broward. “It has been a challenging year to say the least, and support from community partners like Fleet Advantage reminds us that we really are all in this together.” Arc Broward’s programs play a significant role in helping to provide opportunities to more than 1,200 children and adults. Through donations and community programs, the service helps change perspectives and enrich lives of thousands of people and families in the South Florida community.

READING, Pa. — Penske Logistics this month announced the carrier’s Class of 2020 Driver Wall of Fame inductees, as well as members of the Platinum, Gold and Silver classes, as part of the company’s Premier Driver Recognition Program. The program is open to professional Penske drivers in the U.S. and Canada. The Premier Driver Recognition Program has four levels to honor consecutive safe driving without an accident: Diamond (20 years), Platinum (15 years), Gold (10 years) and Silver (5 years). All 18 members of the 2020 Driver Wall of Fame are Diamond Class members. This is the fourth Driver Wall of Fame class. There are now 68 all-time members on display at Penske’s global headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Penske Logistics 2020 Driver Wall of Fame inductees include: Perry Bastian, Pennsylvania; Kevin Baty, Michigan; Esequiel Carmona, Texas; Saturnino Garcia, California; Gabriel Gurrola, Texas; Ronald Hayduke, Tennessee; David Hertzberg, Michigan; Randolph Jezewski, Michigan; Joseph Kilgo, Ohio; Ricky Kiper, Kansas; Robert Morgan, Maryland; Robert Morris, Ohio; James Reda, Michigan; Donald Reinert, Michigan; Gregory Sabo, Michigan; Chris Secord, Ontario, Canada; Roland Simpson, Michigan; and Mark Willoughby, Michigan. A total of 615 drivers were recognized in Penske’s 2020 Platinum, Gold and Silver classes; 19 drivers achieved Platinum status, 62 reached Gold level and 534 were recognized for achieving Silver status. “We are very proud to welcome all four classes of our Premier Driver Recognition Program,” said Marc Althen, president of Penske Logistics. While the Diamond Class is especially impressive, our Platinum, Gold and Silver classes have also achieved stellar status in their professional truck driving careers. Their continued dedication to servicing our customers safely and professionally is the benchmark for all drivers across our industry.”

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — Big G Express is planning its sixth annual Big G Motorcycle Ride to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on June 5. In partnership with the Tennessee Trucking Foundation, Big G’s fundraiser will help St. Jude continue leading the way in how the world treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. “I’m so excited about the ride,” said Tim Chelette, driver and fundraiser organizer for Big G Express. “This year, we’re going to be escorted by the Tennessee Highway Patrol from the time we leave the Big G yard all the way to Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse.” The ride, which is about 75 miles long, will start at the Big G Yard at 193 Aldi Blvd. in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and end at 850 W. Main St. in Monteagle, Tennessee. At the restaurant, all riders will be eligible for door prize drawings, and a fundraiser auction will be held. In a video address promoting the annual ride, Chelette said Big G riders and supporters raised $25,000 during last year’s ride. In five years, the fundraiser has collected $56,000 for St. Jude. Registration for the ride will begin at 7:30 a.m. June 5 (fee is $20 per motorcycle), then kickstands up at 9 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided. “Imagine the enormous good that could be done for the children at St. Jude with donations of just $1 or $5,” Chelette said. “It’s people like you who show up, who show out and like to support St. Jude —and it’s the children being treated there and their families who benefit. Because at the end of the day, zero dollars is what they pay.” To donate items for the auction, contact Chelette at 615-308-7502 or [email protected]. To make Big G Motorcycle Ride donations directly to St. Jude, click here.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Truck drivers and other employees of Averitt Express in 2020 raised more than $1 million — $1,000,001, to be exact — for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The funds donated in 2020 matched the company’s record for its largest-ever contribution in 2019, and marked the sixth consecutive year Averitt employees either matched or set a record in their donation to the hospital. The amount equals the $1,000,001 that was given by Averitt in 2019. The milestone was fueled by weekly contributions from Averitt employees as part of Averitt Cares for Kids, the company’s charitable employee-giving program. About 96% of Averitt associates participated, giving $1 per week to help St. Jude, in addition to other causes. Averitt also makes contributions to Averitt Cares for Kids in recognition of associates’ accomplishments, participation in community service projects, and life events. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital provides treatment — completely free of charge — for children who are battling cancer. “We frequently talk about ‘The Power of One’ — the idea that everyone can make a difference as we work together,” said Gary Sasser, chairman and CEO of Averitt. “That’s why we continue to add the extra dollar to our donations. I’m humbled by the giving spirit of our team, and I’m proud of the way our associates use teamwork to help those in need. This is also a great example of what St. Jude founder Danny Thomas once said: ‘I’d rather have a million people give me a dollar than one give me a million.’” Since Averitt Cares for Kids began in 1987, it has contributed close to $12 million overall to numerous charities, including more than $9 million to St. Jude. Averitt Cares for Kids completed a $1.5 million endowment to help fund the initial construction of the St. Jude Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic, where the majority of St. Jude patients are treated. Averitt associates’ most recent contribution will continue to support the innovative research and lifesaving care at St. Jude, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic.