The Safety Management Council (SMC) of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has unveiled the five finalists for the prestigious 2023 ATA National Driver of the Year Award, a distinguished award within the industry.
“The Driver of the Year award honors professional drivers for their commitment to safety and professionalism,” said Jacob Pierce, SMC executive director. “These five candidates have all demonstrated real dedication to this industry over their careers. On behalf of ATA and the SMC, I want to congratulate them.”
Sponsored by EROAD, the ATA National Driver of the Year Award recognizes a professional truck driver for their outstanding career achievements and unwavering commitment to safety on the road. Nominees are drawn from exceptional state Drivers of the Year put forth by ATA’s state trucking associations. A panel of industry safety professionals meticulously reviews each candidate’s qualifications and accomplishments before selecting the finalists.
The finalists for this year are:
Robert Crater, nominated by the North Carolina Trucking Association, with 41 years of experience and over 2.6 million accident-free miles.
Henry Grider, nominated by the Missouri Trucking Association, boasts 43 years of driving experience, including 15 with Transland, and 1.4 million accident-free miles. Grider is a decorated Army Veteran with numerous honors.
David Wolford, nominated by the Ohio Trucking Association, possesses 20 years of experience, predominantly with Continental Express Inc., and nearly 2.5 million accident-free miles.
Timothy Burnett, nominated by the Trucking Association of New York, has 35 years of driving experience, the last 30 with Walmart Transportation Inc., and an impressive 3.9 million accident-free miles.
Jerry Joyner, nominated by the Kansas Motor Carriers Association, brings 50 years of experience, the last 33 with Walmart Transportation Inc., and an extraordinary 6 million accident-free miles.
The Safety Management Council Awards and Recognition Committee will evaluate each video submission to determine the ultimate winner. The winner will be announced at ATA’s Safety, Security, and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Phoenix scheduled for April 2024.
Source: The Trucker
