Traveling has
always been a big part of DSR Darryl Einsele’s life, even from an early age.
“When I was a
kid we went on a lot of family trips, like camping or traveling in a motor home,”
said Darryl. “I never liked to sleep when we were driving. Even if it was late,
I always wanted to sit up front next to my dad and watch the road. I just liked
traveling, so I kind of always knew I wanted to be a truck driver.”
Darryl worked
at a gas station as a teen, and got his chauffeur’s license at age 18 so he
could drive the station’s tow truck. When a brother-in-law at a trucking
company mentioned that they were looking for drivers, Darryl knew it was the
right career move for him.
When asked
what the biggest challenge is to maintaining a safe driving record, Darryl
mentioned that it is frequently watching out for other motorists.
“Cars often cut
in front of me, than slam on their brakes,” he said. “It’s also not unusual to
be passed by someone going 100 mph now — it’s crazy. People need to be more
careful and give truck drivers their space.”
The best part
of the job for Darryl is the peace and quiet that comes from driving.
“I like being
alone out there on the road and listening to the radio,” said Darryl. “It
really gives you time to think.”
As for
reaching two million miles, Darryl does think it is an impressive
accomplishment.
“I often get
questions from people about my jacket I wear for reaching one million miles,”
he said. “People are amazed to think I drove that many miles. I guess they’ll be
even more impressed with my jacket for reaching two!”
Darryl hopes
to someday trade in that jacket for one commemorating an even bigger milestone
— three million miles.
“I’m still
young, I’ve got more than 20 years to go before I retire, so I’m really looking
forward to hitting three million miles,” he said.
A resident of
Litchfield Park, Ariz.,
Darryl is based out of Con-way Freight’s Phoenix
service center. He and his wife, Beverly, have five
children: Ryan, 24; Kelly, 24; Derek; 21; Stacy, 21; and Ken, 19. In his free
time, Darryl enjoys working on old cars.
While an
early job on a Krispy Kreme sales route may have been “sweet,” DSR Bill
Jeffries decided to trade in the perks of free donuts to be a professional LTL
driver.
“Becoming a driver was a good move for me and my family,” said Bill.
“It’s definitely a better job, with better pay and opportunities.”
Bill says he
likes the freedom that comes with a career spent on the open road.
“I’m
on my own most of the time, which I
like,” he said. “I also like that I’m not stuck in an office, or with a foreman
standing over me. I know what the job is and I just do it.”
Bill thinks
the public should be more aware of trucks, and how to safely share the road.
“I have to be very alert when I’m driving,” said Bill. “Most people don’t
understand how a large truck operates, and they take it for granted that you
can just stop or get out of their way. I think they just need to be a little
more educated about sharing the road with trucks.”
When asked
how he feels about reaching two million miles, Bill answered, “It’s an accomplishment,
that’s for sure. I’m proud of everyone that has reached two million miles. I
feel fortunate to have driven this many miles with Con-way Freight without an
accident. I think some of it is luck, but it’s also skill, training and just
paying attention to what you’re doing.”
A resident of
Seymour, Tenn.,
Bill is based out of Con-way Freight’s Knoxville
service center. He has been married for 43 years to
his wife, Elizabeth, and has three children: Charles, Susan and Thomas; and
four grandchildren: Anthony, 18; Sarah, 12; Gannett, 10; and Caleb, five
months. His hobbies include sailing.
While he
hasn’t driven professionally his whole career, working around vehicles has always
been a way of life for Con-way Freight DSR Bobby Parker.
“My first job
was actually as a car salesman,” said Bobby. “I worked for my father until he
eventually went out of business, and that’s when I started driving a truck.”
One of the
biggest challenges Bobby encounters on the road is other motorists, who he says
can sometimes be less than courteous.
“A lot of
people are in such a hurry, and they’re in a rush to pass you, so I just let
them go,” said Bobby. “I also see people cutting over suddenly across multiple
lanes of traffic to take an exit. That’s one reason why you always need to be
alert, since you never know what the other driver is going to do.”
When asked
how he feels about reaching the milestone of two million accident-free miles,
Bobby credited his achievement to proper rest and staying alert at all times.
He added,
“Reaching two million miles took a long time, and I’m proud to have reached
it.”
A resident of Memphis, Tenn., Bobby is based out of Con-way Freight’s Memphis service center. He has been married for 33 years to his wife, Teresa, and
has two children: Robert III and Tandi; and one stepson: Robert. Parker also
has six grandchildren: Brittney, 13; Tyler, 8; Dillon, 8; Emily, 7; Clohe, 4;
and Finley, 3. In his spare time, he enjoys riding motorcycles, horseback
riding, waterskiing and bowling.
The trucking
industry is where Con-way Freight DSR Billy Nutt has spent his entire career.
Billy got his start working in an office at a trucking company when he was 19,
and he has held various positions in the field until becoming a professional
driver in 1992.
“I like the
calm and quiet after you get your trailer hooked up and are ready to go out on
the road,” said Billy. “At that point, all I have to be concerned about is
watching the other people on the road, and staying safe. It’s very peaceful.”
Like many
professional drivers, Billy cites driver distraction as a major problem on America’s
highways today.
“Too many
people are using cell phones, laptops or even watching TV when they should be
keeping their eyes on the road,” said Billy. “As a professional driver, it’s my
job to be alert at all times, so I’m constantly watching traffic both near me
and as far as I can see ahead. I wish more motorists would do the same.”
Asked what
else he thinks motorists should know about being safer drivers, Billy replied,
“They should be more aware of the differences between trucks and motor
vehicles. When we put our brakes on, it takes longer to stop than it does for a
smaller vehicle, so they should be aware of that and always give truck drivers
enough room and time to react.”
Billy credits
his remarkable safe driving record to proper preparation.
“I always do
a thorough pre-trip inspection to make sure everything is in good working
order, and I also make sure I get my rest,” said Billy. “Reaching two million
miles is definitely a milestone and something I looked forward to. I hope to
reach three million someday.”
A resident of Cordova, Tenn., Billy is based out of Con-way Freight’s Memphis service center. He has been married for 43 years to his wife, Brenda, and
has two children: Stephanie and MeLisa; and six grandchildren: Zack, 17; Maria,
15; Chandler,
13; Carly, 11; Christian, 8; and John-Matthew, 8. His hobbies include fishing.
While many
Con-way Freight drivers tried out other job options prior to deciding to pursue
a professional driving career, DSR Rudy De La Cruz’s former career definitely
sets him apart — Rudy used to box professionally.
After nine
years of boxing and the birth of his first child, Rudy decided to pursue a career
a little more suited to life as a family man. He started out working on the
dock at a company where one of his brothers worked before transitioning to
driving, which he has now done for 28 years.
When asked
what he likes best about driving, Rudy replied, “Driving really gives me a lot
of time to think, to have fun with the beauty of life and to listen to some
good music. It’s pretty peaceful and tranquil inside the truck, which I like.”
He credits
his accident-free driving record to always being aware of his surroundings.
“You need to
pay attention to other vehicles and be able to anticipate what is going to
happen in front of you in the next two to three seconds so you can react,” he
said. “Motorists have so many distractions today, primarily electronic, so you
can’t predict what someone is going to do, which is why you always need to be
aware.”
Asked how he
gets ready to get behind the wheel, Rudy answered, “I prepare for the whole day
— or in my case night, since that’s when I drive — and for the entire trip. I
study the weather patterns so I know what to expect and focus on the big
picture, so I can see what’s in front of me. That’s what works for me.”
A resident of
La Puente, Calif.,
Rudy is based out of Con-way Freight’s Los
Angeles service center. He has been married for 33
years to his wife, Beatrice, and has two children: Victoria, 33; and Rudy Jr.,
31; and three grandchildren: Jazlyn, 13; Adriana, 8; and Michael, 7. His
hobbies include hunting, camping, boating and fishing.
While
professional driving wasn’t Thomas Hayes’ first job, it was always something he
had in the back of his mind that he wanted to try someday.
“When I was a
kid, I remember watching the trucks out the window of my parents’ car,” said
Thomas. “I was the kid who would try to get the drivers to honk their horns at
me, and I always thought about driving as a good career choice.”
After a
four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force, Thomas began his career as a
professional driver in 1969. While driving may not be new to him, the recognition
that comes from reaching two million miles of accident-free driving certainly
is.
“I feel like
I’m running for President, with all the attention I’m suddenly getting,” said
Thomas, laughing. “It feels great, that’s a lot of miles and a lot of years. I
hadn’t really thought about it until about a month before I reached two million
miles, but it’s definitely a good feeling.”
Thomas
credits being aware of his surroundings and always staying alert with maintaining
an accident-free driving record, and wishes other motorists would be more conscientious
when driving.
“Unfortunately,
people don’t always pay attention to the road,” said Thomas. “I once saw a man
reading a newspaper, with a meal on the armrest. He was eating and reading with
the newspaper fully open in front of him while driving!”
When asked
what he likes best about his job, Thomas replied, “The feeling of freedom when
you’re out on the road — you don’t even really feel like it’s a job.”
A resident of Richmond,
Va., Thomas is based out of Con-way Freight’s Richmond service center. He
and his wife, Beverly, have three children: Kenyetta, Marviss and Leandrea;
five grandchildren: Kiara, 19; Marquise, 17; Kiana, 15; Marcus, 13; and
Makayla, 5; and one great-grandchild: Kaniyah, 17 months. Thomas is a member of
the Prince Hall Masons. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing.
While he
started out as a welder, J.B. Ross found himself drawn to a career as a
professional driver after working for his brother-in-law’s moving company. That
eventually led to a job at Con-way Freight.
“I like
working at Con-way Freight because it’s a good, stable company, and they’ve
always been good to me,” said J.B.
When asked
what he likes most about driving, after more than 20 years behind the wheel, he
answered, “I just like being outside, and it’s something different every day.
You may be running the same route, but there’s always something new so it never
gets boring.”
One of the
biggest challenges J.B. faces on the road is distracted motorists.
“Nowadays
people are always on their cell phones or computers,” said J.B. “I see several
people a day with laptops on the steering wheel instead of paying attention to
what they’re doing. I once even saw a guy driving with his knees, with a
sandwich in one hand and a cell phone in the other.”
J.B. says
staying alert at all times is what has kept him accident-free for 21 years.
“I always try
to stay aware of everything around me, and constantly check my mirrors,” said
J.B. “You’ve got to really pay attention to what you — and the other drivers —
are doing at all times.”
Asked what
tips he would share with motorists to help them be safer, he answered, “Always
turn your lights on in bad weather, and pay attention to what’s ahead of you as
far as you can see.”
While he is proud of reaching the milestone of two
million miles, it is not something J.B. had set as a goal for himself.
“I feel good about it, but I’d never really thought
about it before, it’s just part of the job,” he answered.
J.B. is a resident of Martinsville, Ind.,
and has two children, Thomas and Sonja, and six grandchildren: Jacinda, Nicole,
Blake, Harley, Chris and Destiney. He was previously
honored by the Indiana Motor Truck Association with a Master Truck Driver
Award.
A new baby is
what helped put DSR Lloyd Rogers on the path to becoming a professional truck
driver.
“I had been a
merchant marine for more than six years, but in 1986 when my daughter was born
I knew I needed to find a job that kept me closer to home,” said Lloyd.
His
father-in-law had joined the Con-way Freight team in 1983, and had encouraged
Lloyd to consider professional driving as a career. Lloyd says it took him
three years and a new baby, but he eventually decided to try it – and liked it
so much that he has now been driving for more than two decades.
Lloyd credits
making sleep a top priority with reaching the two-million-mile mark.
“The most
important thing is making sure I get a lot of rest,” said Lloyd. “I always make
sure I’m getting six to eight hours of sleep, no buts about it.”
Like many
drivers, Lloyd says motorists rushing can be one of the biggest challenges to
maintaining an accident-free record. He says thinking ahead and planning for
the unexpected helps him stay safe.
“I always
leave myself an out,” says Lloyd. “You can never second-guess somebody else,
but always having a plan and staying alert has carried me this far.”
When asked
why he has stayed with Con-way Freight his whole professional driving career,
Lloyd had nothing but praise for the company.
“Since I
first came to the company, I loved it and the way it operated,” said Lloyd. “I
don’t know how other people do it, but I go home after a good hard day and
think about the job I did that night and what I could have done to make the
company even better and safer so I can work on that for the next night.”
A resident of
Sacramento, Calif.,
Lloyd is based out of Con-way Freight’s Sacramento
service center. His hobbies include tennis, fishing, hunting, camping and
boating.
DSR
Steven Ruesken got his start in the trucking industry as a loader back in 1978.
“Part of my job was to drive semis and load them
with bulk flour, and that’s what got me into driving,” said Steven. “Back in
1987, I had a good friend tell me Con-way Freight was opening a terminal, so I
applied and was the fourth driver they hired in Effingham.”
Steven says the key to reaching a milestone such as
two million miles of accident-free driving is to be alert and prepared to drive
both offensively and defensively at all times.
When asked what he thinks motorists can do to help
prevent accidents, he replied, “They should pay attention when a truck driver
is using their turn signals. That’s the truck driver’s biggest problems; people
do not respect our signals.”
During his free time, Steven still spends a lot of
time driving — practicing for the Illinois State Truck Driving Championships.
“I have a good friend named Wayne Coverdale from the
Con-way Freight Fort Wayne service center that talked me into competing in the truck
driving championships, and now that I’m in it, I can’t get out of it,” joked
Steven. “I like them because you get to meet so many new people, and see people
you’ve met at past competitions. It’s like a family get together — you relax,
tell jokes, get to know each other, and we really keep in touch.”
Steven is based out of Con-way Freight’s Salem, Ill., service
center and is a resident of Effingham,
Ill. His route takes him from Salem to Springfield,
Mo. He and his wife, Rita, have
two children: Kollin, 12; and Kory, deceased. Outside of work, Steven enjoys
raising farm animals.
While Davie
Metzger always had a fascination with trucks, he took a while to find his way
to a career as a professional driver.
“As a kid I was
always impressed with trucks; I would see these guys driving the big trucks and
I thought how cool that would be, but I never thought it was something I would actually
do,” said Davie.
“When I got out of the Air Force, I got a job with a holding company as a residential
engineer, and became chief industrial engineer. During that time I started
driving part-time for my stepfather’s oil company. I did that about 15 months,
liked it, and decided to make driving my full-time career.”
One thing
that Davie
thinks could help reduce accidents on the road is increased education of the
driving public on how to safely share the road with trucks.
“A lot of
people out on the road have forgotten what it takes to drive a car or a truck,”
said Davie.
“People need to pay more attention, put their phones and their books and
newspapers down. When you’re driving to and from your job, you should make
driving a part of your job, and pay
attention to what you’re doing.”
Davie is a big believer in educating the
public about the “No-Zones,” the blind spots in which cars
"disappear" from the view of the truck or bus driver.
“Con-way
Freight often takes part in events, where we go out to the public and set up
cars around a truck and invite people to get up and sit in the truck’s driver
seat,” said Davie. “Every time, they’re just amazed to look in the mirrors and
realize they can’t see the cars at all.”
When asked
how he has managed to drive for so long without an accident, Davie credits being attentive and alert at
all times.
“I’m always paying
attention to my driving and my surroundings,” said Davie. “I try to be active, checking my
mirrors and gauges and thinking about how I would respond if something were to
happen.”
“Two million
miles is quite a milestone, not many people can make it,” he said. “You are
truly a professional if you can make it that far. About a month before I
reached two million miles, I got a little nervous, but I just got out there and
did what I’ve been trained to do and what I’ve trained others to do and that’s just
to pay attention, get your rest and do your job very professionally.”
Davie is
based out of Con-way Freight’s St. Louis service
center and is a resident of Bethalto,
Ill. He has been married for 26
years to his wife, Susan, and has four children: Matthew, Amanda, Davie John
and Anna; and three grandchildren: Rachel, Brady and Hayden. He is a member of
the American Legion, and his hobbies include bowling, landscaping, hunting and
riding all-terrain vehicles with his grandchildren.
The ability
to always pay attention to his surroundings, including not only the vehicles immediately
around him, but also off in the distance, is what DSR Jack Walker credits with helping
him achieve two million accident-free miles.
“I spend a
lot more time looking at what’s ahead of me rather than close by me; it gives
me a lot more time to react,” said Jack. “I prepare for what’s coming up so I
can adapt to the situation. I also don’t follow vehicles closely and if a
vehicle is beside me, I let them pass me and I just stay in my comfort zone.”
Jack has
worked for Con-way Freight for 24 years and has been driving professionally for
three decades. He says it is the freedom of the open road that appeals to him.
“I like the
peace of mind of being out here and nobody else being with me,” said Jack. “For
example, I can listen to what ever radio station I want. It’s just me in the
cab.”
When asked
what advice he would give motorists to help them safely share the road with
trucks, Jack answered, “You have to give trucks a lot of distance. Unless you
have driven a truck, you don’t understand how much reaction time is needed.
They can’t stop on a dime.”
Professional
drivers certainly see their fair share of odd things while driving. When asked
what the strangest thing is that he ever saw, Jack replied, “During the Indy
500 weekend, I actually saw a guy in the back of a pickup truck ‘skiing’ on the
heels of his tennis shoes, holding on to the tailgate, with the vehicle moving
at 65 mph. You could actually see the smoke coming off his shoes. It was
ridiculous; I don’t know how he didn’t fall off.”
Jack is based
out of Con-way Freight’s Louisville, Ky., service center and is a resident of Henryville, Ind.
He has been married for 29 years to his wife, Patricia, and has three children:
Lacey, 26; James, 21; and Jack 19; and two grandchildren: Lauren 8; and Andre,
three months. His hobbies include hunting, boating and riding his
Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
A career in
the military led DSR Mary Kile to a life as a professional truck driver.
“When I
joined the U.S. Marine Corps, I didn’t even know if they had women in the
military,” said Mary. “I also didn’t know they had different jobs; I thought everyone
ran around with a rifle all day. When they asked me what I wanted to do I
didn’t know, so they reeled off different jobs and working in the motor
transport pool just sounded fun. I enjoyed learning about the different types
of engines and how they operate. When I got out of the military, I saw that
truck drivers made pretty good money, so decided to do it for a little while. I
got hired by Con-way Freight in 1989 and they pay very well so I just sort of
stayed here.”
As someone
who has been driving professionally for more than two decades, Mary has seen a
lot of changes. Two of the biggest are an increase in traffic, as well as the
number of distracted motorists.
“You need to
have very good defensive driving skills and constantly stay alert because it
seems like today everyone has a cell phone and is either talking or worse, text
messaging, while driving,” said Mary. “There are more cars on the road, and more
people not paying attention. You need to be very aware at all times.”
Mary credits
reaching two million miles of accident-free driving to a few different factors,
including her fellow drivers.
“I think your
coworkers definitely help — we help each other by chatting on the CB radio. I
don’t think I am necessarily a better driver than anyone else. It’s little bit
of luck and some skill, like driving defensively. I try to lessen the risk by
paying attention. When I drive, I’m always watching the traffic way in front of
me, not just two or three cars, but as far as I can see so I’m always ready. If
I see someone braking, I just brake; I don’t wait to see what it is. You always
need to pay attention and figure out the worst possible scenario so you can be
ready.”
Mary is based
out of Con-way Freight’s Sapulpa, Okla., service center and is a resident of Broken Arrow, Okla.
She is only the second female driver in Con-way Freight history to reach the
two-million-mile mark. Her hobbies include golf and home repair.
DSR David
Frayser always knew he would pursue a career as a professional driver.
“My dad was an
LTL driver,” said David. “I did a few other little jobs early on but knew I
wanted to begin driving right out of school. It was something I always wanted
to do.”
David began
his career as a professional driver 27 years ago, and joined the Con-way
Freight team in 1988. He says his favorite part about driving is the fact that he
is out on the road and not cooped up in an office all day.
He reached
the milestone of two million miles of accident-free driving on May 2. When
asked how he was able to drive more than 20 years without an accident, David
credits his fellow drivers.
“I work with
a great bunch of drivers,” said David. “We all look out for each other, and help
each other out.”
He also
mentions that driving defensively is key — keeping a safe distance from others
and paying attention to what other motorists are doing.
What does
David think motorists should do to help cut down on accidents?
“Be aware of
others on the road, and show courtesy to other drivers,” he replied. “Pay
attention to trucks and our signals and give us the time and room we need to
pass.”
Drivers see
their fair share of strange things on the highways. When asked about the oddest
thing he has ever seen, David replied, “A kid skateboarding down the interstate
in the left lane in the middle of the night. It scared the daylights out of
me!”
Asked to sum
up his thoughts on achieving the milestone of two million miles, David again
cites his fellow drivers as the key to his success.
“I would like
to thank all of the drivers I have run with over the years,” he said. “They
helped keep me awake and focused and hopefully I have done the same for them.”
David is
based out of Con-way Freight’s Salem, Ill., service center and lives in Whittington, Ill.,
with his wife of 28 years, Karen. He has two daughters: Shannon, 9, and Toni,
7. In his free time, David enjoys camping, boating and spending time with his
family.
DSR Joe Wiley
has been driving professionally practically since he got his driver’s license.
“It was a
long time ago, back when I would go down south to visit my grandparents,” said
Joe. “My grandfather worked in the fields and the man he worked for needed
someone to drive the truck that hauled grain, and he was willing to teach me. I
was probably 18 or 19 at the time.”
Joe moved on
to a job working in a factory, but soon discovered that working inside all day
wasn’t for him.
“I didn’t
like being cooped up all day,” said Joe. “With driving, I get to see different
places and different people, which I enjoy.”
While he
started out driving his own truck, Joe decided he wanted the stability of
working for a trucking company rather than continuing to work on his own,
ultimately selecting Con-way Freight. He began working for the company in 1988
and reached two million miles of accident-free driving on April 11, 2009.
“I like
working for a company that I am devoted to,” said Joe. “I feel like if you do a
good job, then good things come back to you, and that is how it is at Con-way
Freight.”
When asked
about what he thought were his biggest challenges to reaching this safety
milestone, Joe cited road rage and driver distraction.
“People are
not paying attention to their surroundings, and too many are multi-tasking. I see
people texting, and reading newspapers and books. It really throws their alertness
off, and it only takes seconds to get into an accident,” said Joe. “For me to
reach two million miles took being aware of the equipment I run with, and not
being aggressive while driving. If someone wants to pass me, I just slow down
and let them go. I like to be polite both at work and in my personal life. Besides,
if you are an aggressive driver you will never reach one or two million miles,
you will make a mistake somewhere.”
Joe is based out of Con-way Freight’s Gary,
Ind., service center and lives in Ford Heights, Ill.,
with his wife, Mary Nel. He has seven children and five grandchildren and
enjoys operating his ham radio in his free time.
DSR Tim Lee
started out working on oil rigs, but in the back of his mind he knew that
working as a professional truck driver was something he eventually wanted to
pursue. When the oil industry began to slow down in the 1980s, Tim, who had
been driving part-time, decided to switch to a full-time career as a driver.
Tim began
working for Con-way Freight in 1989 and has now driven professionally for
almost three decades. He is based out of the Birmingham,
Ala., service center, and typically drives 580
miles a night on his linehaul route to Knoxville,
Tenn.
When asked what
he enjoys most about his job, Tim said, “Just being on the open road, getting
out and meeting new people. I like that I am working partly outside and that I
am not cooped up inside all day.”
Tim says that
the biggest problems he sees on the road are motorists who are distracted and
impatient.
“You see
people doing things like driving while eating and talking on a cell phone,”
said Tim. “They just need to pay attention to driving. Also, a lot of people
are in such a hurry that they go way too fast. I think one of the biggest
causes of accidents is people who get frustrated because they are in a hurry
and then drive too fast.”
Tim lives in Odenville, Ala.,
with his wife, Karen, and two children: Kristopher, 11, and Octavia, 6. He
enjoys yard work and fishing in his spare time.
He is modest
when asked about his impressive achievement.
“It does take
some work to get to two million miles,” said Tim. “But really I just focus on
going to work, trying to be safe and coming home to my family.”
Working as a
professional truck driver was something DSR John Ressler always knew he wanted
to pursue. His father was a driver, and John knew it was a job he could work
hard at and make a good living to take care of his family.
He began
driving 30 years ago, and joined the Con-way Freight family in 1987. John is
based out of the Pittsburgh service center,
located in North Huntingdon, Pa., and drives
linehaul to Columbus, Ohio. He has been accident-free for the
entire 22 years — a pretty impressive accomplishment.
John says the
biggest challenge he faces maintaining a safe driving record is staying alert.
He credits his achievement with being persistent. Asked what he thinks other
motorists should be doing to keep everyone safe, John said, “Give trucks some
room, be sure to allow room for error when driving and, most importantly of
all, put down your cell phones!”
What’s the
strangest thing he has seen in all of his years of driving? “A woman trying to
put on a pair of pants while driving, instead of stopping on the side of the
road. I don’t know what she was thinking!” he said.
Previous to
reaching two million miles of accident-free driving on Jan. 24, 2009, John received
safety awards commemorating reaching five, 10, 15 and 20 years of safe driving.
And, of course, he also received an award for reaching his first million miles.
John lives in
Irwin, Pa.,
with his wife of 29 years, Teresa. They have three children: Anna, 29; Kelly,
18; and Jonathan, 15. He is also the proud grandfather to two grandsons, ages
11 and 2. In his free time he enjoys riding ATV quads.
Reflecting on
his most recent achievement, John said, “After years of good attendance and
honest, hard work, it is a nice reward to receive in front of my coworkers.”
An enjoyment
of driving is what drew DSR Ronnie Long to his job as a professional truck
driver — a career that spans almost three decades.
Ronnie
started out in the construction business before turning to a career as a
professional driver in 1980.
“I was
hauling material for a construction company, which is how I got into driving,”
said Ronnie. “Driving seemed more stable, and I didn’t have to worry about
getting laid off in the winter.”
He joined the
Con-way Freight team in 1987 and his current route is driving linehaul from Louisville, Ky., to Knoxville, Tenn.
Ronnie says he
thinks the biggest challenge to maintaining a safe driving record is often the other
motorists on the road. He credits staying alert with helping him achieve two
million miles of accident-free driving.
Motorists can
help prevent accidents, according to Ronnie.
“Give trucks
more space and pay attention to the road,” he said. “Also, try to stay out of
our blind spots and don’t talk on your cell phone, put on makeup, shave or read
while you’re driving.”
What does
Ronnie like best about receiving his safe driving award?
“The
satisfaction of achieving two million miles. I am proud of what I’ve
accomplished, even though I didn’t set out to do it. I just came to work every
day.”
When DSR Rick Suchy became a professional truck driver 30
years ago, he got into the business because he wanted a change, and it was a
good way to earn a paycheck. Since then, he’s racked up a lot of miles — two
million, accident-free, to be exact.
After all those years on the road, Suchy has some ideas on
how motorists can keep the roads safe.
“Show common courtesy and use common sense,” he said.
Suchy explained that he sees a lot of road rage, and wishes
people would drive less aggressively and not cut off other vehicles.
On reaching two million miles, Suchy feels both fortunate
and proud.
“Hitting two million accident-free miles is a great
achievement,” he said. “I feel lucky to have driven that far with no
accidents.”
Over the course of those miles, Suchy said he has seen
motorists do some strange things.
DSR Jim Slaaen’s history with Con-way Freight stretches back more than 25 years — Jim
was one of the original employees hired when Con-way Freight was founded back
in 1983. However, Jim’s career as a professional driver stretches back even
further, to 1974. You could say Jim is in it for the long-haul!
Like many of his fellow drivers, Jim got into trucking because his father also worked as a
professional driver. “My dad showed me the ropes,” said Jim. “I just grew up
around trucking. My dad was in the business for more than 30 years. I did try
other jobs before I got into trucking, but they just weren’t for me. I knew I
didn’t want to spend the rest of my life working in a factory, and everything
about trucking seemed like it would be right for me. So, I tried it out, and
30-plus years later, here I am.”
Jim says the biggest challenges to maintaining his safe driving record are weather
conditions and the increased number of vehicles on the road. Well, that and
motorist inattention. “There are so many more cars on the road these days, and
so many of the people are doing everything but focus on driving, like talking
on their cell phones, drinking coffee or using GPS devices.”
Jim credits driving defensively with keeping him accident-free.
“As a professional driver, I know what my equipment is capable of, and how to adjust
to the weather conditions. You just always need to be aware, and pay attention
to what the other drivers are doing.”
When asked how he has been able to reach two million miles of safe driving, Jim replied,
“I am just trying to do my job, and to do it safely.”
Driver Sales Representative
Ken Truman had one main goal in mind when he decided to become a professional
driver — to find the company that would be the right fit for him. After working
for a few years at a couple of different trucking firms, he heard about Con-way
Freight. The good pay and benefits offered by Con-way appealed to Ken because
he knew it would allow him to provide a good living for his family.
A resident of Gray, Ga.,
Ken has been driving professionally for 25 years, the past 20 with Con-way
Freight. On Jan. 3, 2009, Ken achieved the ultimate measure of safe driving —
reaching two million accident-free miles. He previously hit the
one-million-mile mark on Jan. 15, 2000.
Ken credits his safety
record to his ability to drive defensively, and anticipate what other drivers
might do. What tips would he share with motorists to help them safely share the
roads with trucks?
“Don’t tailgate and please
try to pass on the left,” he said. “Also, don’t travel in our blind spots.”
In 25 years as a driver, Ken
says he’s seen other motorists do some crazy things.
“One stopped in the right
lane on the interstate and backed up to get off an exit ramp — right in front
of me!” he said.
When he is not driving, Ken
enjoys fishing and riding motorcycles. He has been married for 28 years to his
wife, Dorothy, and they have three children: Christopher, 26; Melissa, 24; and
Jonathan, 17.
For Benjamin Dixon, a driver sales representative at NKX in Knoxville, Tenn., it was never a question of if he would become a professional driver, but when. Dixon has truck driving in his blood. His father was a driver who took Dixon on the road with him, and he first got behind the wheel at age 6. All of his jobs have revolved around the trucking industry in one way or another, either working in the back of a truck or driving one.
Dixon has driven professionally for 32 years (the past 21 for Con-way Freight) and has reached the impressive milestone of driving two million miles accident-free. He began this remarkable stretch of safe driving on Jan. 18, 1988, his first day at Con-way, and reached his two-millionth mile on January 3, 2009.
He credits his impressive safety record to being attentive to not only his own driving, but that of the drivers he shares the road with. “You just have got to pay attention, that’s the main thing,” says Dixon. “Just pay attention and try to be aware of what’s around you.”
One of the bigger challenges Dixon has noticed while driving over the past decade has been an increase both in drivers on the road and aggressive driving. Dixon recommends, “Drive more defensively and pay attention as much as you can to the other drivers on the road, there seems to be more of them and they seem to be a lot more aggressive.” He also suggests that motorists keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them to allow for better reaction time, and not to cut in front of trucks.
When asked what he enjoys most about driving, Dixon replied, “The freedom of not being penned up inside and being out on the road. I like the idea that I don’t have to go inside a building with no windows and once you’re gone you are kind of your own boss because nobody can drive the truck but you.”
As a long-time Con-way Freight employee, Dixon says he stays at Con-way because, “I like the benefits and the pay, they’ve always treated me with respect and they’ve been real good to me. Driving for Con-way has been great for my family and my future.”
A resident of Seymour, Tenn., Dixon’s route takes him from Knoxville to Roanoke, Va. He has been married for 21 years to his wife, Debra, and has three children: Bethany, 34; Brittany, 31; and Mariah, 13. He also has three grandchildren: Mitch, 15; Kaeli, 14; and Mia, 3. His hobbies include woodworking and collecting coins.
