UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 27 elite drivers from Tennessee are among 1,283 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.
Tennessee boasts 205 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 5,994 years of accident-free driving. Michael Jenks of Springfield is the state's senior safe driver, with 43 years of accident-free driving under his belt, tying him for third best driving record among UPS's 102,000 drivers. There are 2,166 total UPS drivers in Tennessee.
Globally, 6,486 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they've racked up 178,663 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 212,000 times.
"My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus, and for the countless lives they've saved," said Kenneth Harms, president, UPS Mid South District.
Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 50 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Santocke of Dearborn, Mich., and Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., are next in line with 44 years each of safe driving. Thirty-seven others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
UPS's 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging nearly 3 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven.
UPS invested $175 million in 2012 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called "Space and Visibility." All UPS drivers are taught safe driving methods beginning on the first day of classroom training through the company's defensive driving platform. The training continues throughout their careers.
Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established its safe driving honor program in 1928.
More information on UPS's commitment to safety is available at http://www.pressroom.ups.com/safety.
UPS (NYSE:UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
** NOTE: The following pages list local drivers by hometown and UPS center. If you're interested in interviewing or riding along with a local driver, please contact Dan McMackin at dmcmackin@ups.com.
Following is a list of Tennessee drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location | ||||||
Sam Baker | Memphis | Oakhaven Package Distribution Center | ||||||
Tracy Chandler | Selmer | Selmer | ||||||
Anthony Clayton | Lawrenceburg | Columbia | ||||||
Don Dillehay | Manchester | Tullahoma | ||||||
Stephen Eddy | White House | Nashville Hub | ||||||
David Fuller | Morristown | Bristol | ||||||
Robert Gibbons | Franklin | Whites Creek Hub | ||||||
Christopher Gunnell | Knoxville | Knoxville | ||||||
Gregory Heard | Hendersonville | Whites Creek Hub | ||||||
Michael Hickman | Unicoi | Johnson City Center | ||||||
Jerry Hill | Memphis | Oakhaven Package Distribution Center | ||||||
Benjamin Keywood | Oakland | Oakhaven Package Distribution Center | ||||||
John Laxton | Clinton | Knoxville | ||||||
Johnny Leyhew | Lascassas | Murfreesboro | ||||||
Michael Miers | Mt Juliet | Whites Creek Hub | ||||||
Freddy Morgan | Cleveland | Cleveland | ||||||
Kevin Oster | Cookeville | Cookeville Center | ||||||
Tony Peek | Mt Juliet | Nashville Hub | ||||||
James Peevyhouse | Newbern | Dyersburg | ||||||
James Prater | Clinton | Knoxville | ||||||
Ronald Prather | Selmer | Selmer | ||||||
Harold Russell | Knoxville | Knoxville | ||||||
Lisa Sewell | Sparta | Sparta | ||||||
Randall Vanns | Lavergne | Whites Creek Hub | ||||||
Terry Ward | Paris | Paris | ||||||
Donald Windham | Germantown | Oakhaven Package Distribution Center | ||||||
Greg Winton | Sparta | Sparta |
UPS
Dan McMackin, 404-828-7123
dmcmackin@ups.com