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