2010
Melvin KrohnDSR, NCH
While working in a car factory in Wisconsin, Con-way Freight DSR Melvin Krohn had always admired the drivers of the flatbed trucks that delivered the parts. In 1973, when he became a professional truck driver, he finally got the chance to get behind the wheel himself.
“I really envied the independence that those drivers had,” said Melvin. “I’ve always loved driving and now I get paid to do it. There are so many great things to see out on the road. Even though I am on a schedule, I have enough freedom to stop as long as my shipments are delivered on time.”
Melvin advises younger truck drivers to always act like a professional while on the clock — this will help them avoid preventable accidents.
“You have to remember that you are representing both yourself and your company,” he said. “I consider myself a pilot on the ground. I have to share the road with a lot of other drivers. It’s my job to rise above distractions. I am responsible for the 80,000 pounds that I am pulling behind me.”
He credits putting safety above all else with his ability to achieve two million miles of safe driving.
“I am always trying to learn from my experiences and trying to improve as a driver,” Melvin said. You can’t rush and be safe at the same time — they are complete opposites.
A resident of Huntersville, N.C., Melvin is based out of Con-way Freight’s Charlotte, N.C., service center. He has the distinction of being a Day-One Employee at Con-way Freight’s Charlotte, N.C., location, which opened on April 1, 1987. Melvin has been married for 26 years to his wife, Donna, and has one daughter, Kathryn. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking and doing yard work.
