Three Selected Professional Truck Drivers Represent 128 Years and
Nearly 12 Million Miles of Safe, Professional Driving Experience
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ryder
System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in commercial
fleet management, dedicated
transportation, and supply
chain solutions, recognized the tradition of driver excellence by
presenting its 43rd Annual Driver of the Year Award to three
professionals who, combined, have 128 years and nearly 12 million miles
of safe, professional driving experience.
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Mike Mitchell, Driver of the Year winner for Ryder SCS. (Photo: Business Wire)
The Driver of the Year Award – one of the Company’s longest
running and most prestigious recognition programs – honors
drivers who have demonstrated exemplary safety performance, customer
service, and citizenship throughout their careers. Honorees are selected
after a rigorous review process by a committee that includes Ryder
customers, executives, safety experts, and professional drivers. The top
awards this year were presented to a driver employed by one of Ryder’s
Fleet Management Solutions (FMS) customers, and two drivers employed by
Ryder – one for Supply Chain Solutions (SCS), and another for
Ryder Dedicated Transportation Solutions (DTS). Recipients are inducted
into the Ryder “Driver Hall of Fame” and presented with a cash prize and
a specially designed ring and watch.
Mike Mitchell is the Driver of the Year winner for Ryder SCS.
Ryder SCS drivers are responsible for delivering customer product in a
timely and efficient manner. Mr. Mitchell is a driver for Ryder’s Ford
account, based in Melvindale, Mich. He has driven 2 million preventable-
collision-free miles during his 25 years with Ryder and a total of 3.3
million miles over the course of his impressive 35-year professional
driving career. Mr. Mitchell also gives back to his community by
volunteering as an assistant high school and little league baseball
coach and by mentoring children through a local golf program.
Tom Brunke is the Driver of the Year winner for Ryder DTS. Ryder
DTS drivers are responsible for operating specialized equipment,
managing unique product handling, running complex routes, and meeting
rigorous service level requirements. The drivers have a special
responsibility when they represent Ryder customers, as they often wear
uniforms with Ryder customer logos and drive vehicles emblazoned with
customer brands. Mr. Brunke drives for Do it Best Corp., an
international home improvement co-op with a distribution center in
Sikeston, Mo. He has been with Ryder for 17 years, and has driven over
4.5 million miles during his 48-year professional driving career. His
strong commitment to safety and professionalism has helped him earn
numerous safety awards and accolades. In addition to being an
outstanding driver, Mr. Brunke also volunteers at his local church,
where he is currently a church elder and has served as a Sunday school
teacher and superintendent. He helps his community by assisting the
elderly, mowing yards, and dressing up as Santa Claus to visit veterans’
homes, nursing homes and various other local groups. Mr. Brunke is also
a Vietnam veteran, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Sam Stevens is the Driver of the Year winner for Ryder FMS. Mr.
Stevens drives for the E.J. Pope & Son, Inc. dba Pope Transport Co.
account based in Mount Olive, NC. He has been employed by E.J. Pope &
Son for 25 years, and has driven 4 million collision-free miles over his
45-year professional driving career. This is an incredible
accomplishment considering he hauls petroleum to locations that have
extensive loading requirements. Mr. Stevens is a driver trainer for E.J.
Pope & Son and one of their most accomplished drivers. He also finds
time to volunteer as a firefighter, teach Sunday school, sing in his
church’s choir, and participate in various other community activities.
Mr. Stevens is a military veteran who proudly served in the U.S. Marine
Corps.
“Professional drivers are the backbone of our business and essential to
the flow of commerce across the continent,” said Robert Sanchez, Ryder
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Without our drivers, we, as
consumers, would not have such easy access to the typical items we use
on a regular basis. Ryder continues to host its Driver of the Year
awards year after year because of outstanding drivers like Mike, Tom,
and Sam, whose commitment to safety and customer service is unwavering
and who are a true testament to what it means to be a leader.”
To learn about how to become a professional driver for Ryder, visit www.ryder.jobs
or www.drive4ryder.com.
About Ryder
Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial fleet management, dedicated
transportation, and supply chain solutions company. Ryder’s stock
(NYSE:R) is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the
Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Ryder has been named among FORTUNE’s
World’s Most Admired Companies, and has been recognized for its
industry-leading practices in third-party logistics,
environmentally-friendly fleet and supply chain solutions, and
world-class safety and security programs. The Company is a proud member
of the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program, supporting
national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts. For more
information, visit www.ryder.com,
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Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements
and information included in this news release are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are
subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly,
these forward-looking statements should be evaluated with consideration
given to the many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results and events to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements including those risks set forth in our
periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New
risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for management
to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks
on our business. Accordingly, we undertake no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160330005114/en/
Source: Ryder System, Inc.