NORTH CAROLINA DRIVER OF THE YEAR/DRIVERS OF THE MONTH
NCTA celebrated National Truck Driver Appreciation Week this year by honoring 13 professional drivers that are shining examples of the very best that the trucking industry has to offer. The awards were presented at a luncheon held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham. Among those in attendance were representatives of the many state and federal agencies that served as judges to select these honorees. Collectively, these 13 gentlemen account for over 40 million miles of accident-free driving.
Congratulations!
THE 2009 DRIVER OF THE YEAR
William "Chester" Lawrence
Old Dominion Freight Line
Mr. Lawrence displays professionalism by the way he safely handles his vehicle on the highway. He is an outstanding driver trainer and goes the extra mile to train other drivers. Mr. Lawrence has been a line truck driver for 51 years, has driver over 4 million miles, with 1 million miles accident-free these last 13 years. Mr. Lawrence has competed every year in the State Truck Driving Championship since 2003 and placed first in the pre-trip competition at the 2007 North Carolina Truck Driving Championship.
2008 DRIVERS OF THE MONTH
JANUARY DRIVER OF THE MONTH
George Cherry
| Hotline Express, LLC | Rocky Mount, N.C. |
| George has been a line driver with Hotline Express for 1-1/2 years and has experience driving for nearly 38 years, all accident-free. He has worked as a driver, dispatcher, and terminal manager and has earned numerous safety awards. He enjoys gardening and time with his grandson | |
FEBRUARY DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Bobby Keith Pierce
| Tyson Foods | Wilkesboro, N.C. |
| Keith is a local truck driver for Tyson Foods with whom he has been for over 22 years. He has driven nearly 2 million miles accident-free and has earned 22 safe driving awards. He is a very professional driver and Tyson Foods is fortunate that Keith chose their company as a driver. | |
MARCH DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Clarence Ned Richards
| Old Dominion Freight Line | Wilson, N.C. |
| Clarence has been a local truck driver for Old Dominion Freight Line for 31 years. He has driver over 2 million miles. He always displays a positive attitude and is willing to go out of his way to assist fellow drivers. He served our country with three tours in Vietnam from 1967 to 1971. | |
APRIL DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Allen McNeely
| ABF Freight System | Belmont, N.C. |
| Allen has been a local and a line driver for 23 years, having been with ABF Freight System for five years. He has driven over 1-1/2 million miles accident-free. He has participated in the North Carolina Truck Driving Championships for the last two years and plans to continue. Allen portrays a professional image and displays a sense of pride and enjoyment. He served in the National Guard for five years. | |
MAY DRIVER OF THE MONTH
David Choplin
| Unifi | Yadkinville, N.C. |
| David has been a line driver with Unifi for 25 years, having been a truck driver for over 27 years. He has driven over 2-1/2 million miles with 26 years accident-free. His experience and professionalism serves as an example to all other truck drivers. | |
JUNE DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Timothy Eugene Minton
| Tyson Foods | Wilkesboro, N.C. |
| Tim has been a local truck driver with Tyson Foods for 28 years and has driven nearly 1-1/2 million miles. He has earned 28 safe driving awards. Tim is always willing to go the extra mile in helping his fellow team members and sets a fine example for less experienced drivers. | |
JULY DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Russell Edwards
| Unifi | Yadkinville, N.C. |
| Russell has been a line truck driver for nearly 29 years, having been with Unifi for 10 years. He served our country in the U.S. Army and was awarded two Army Commendations medals. He has driven nearly 3 million miles, all accident-free. | |
AUGUST DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Claude B. Shiver, Jr.
| Old Dominion Freight Line | Durham, N.C. |
| Claude has been a local truck driver for over 31 years, 27 of them with Old Dominion Freight Line. He has driven nearly 1-1/2 million miles. He served our country in the U.S. Marine Corp. He shows professionalism and courtesy as a truck drive and is a shining example to all drivers. | |
SEPTEMBER DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Eddie Bledsoe
| Unifi | Yadkinville, N.C. |
| Eddie has been a line truck driver for 35 years, having been with Unifi for 26 years. He has driven over 3 million miles and is a professional and courteous driver of whom Unifi is very proud. | |
OCTOBER DRIVER OF THE MONTH
James T. Davis
| Smithfield Transportation | Tar Heel, N.C. |
| James has been a line truck driver for 36 years, having been with Smithfield Transportation for 13 years. He has driven nearly 3 million miles, all accident-free. He has received a safe driving award every year since 1996. In September 2006 he was chosen as Driver of the Month and in 2008 he received his company’s Driver of the Year award. He always volunteers to train other drivers and was instrumental in training of the EOBR system, implemented in 2008. | |
NOVEMBER DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Mike Gibson
| Unifi | Yadkinville, N.C. |
| Mike has been a line truck driver for 36 years, serving with Unifi for 21 years. He has driven over 3 million miles, always showing both professionalism and courtesy. Mike served our country in the U. S. Army. | |
DECEMBER DRIVER OF THE MONTH
Jerry Wayne Tibbs
| Cargo Transporters | Claremont, N.C. |
| Jerry has been a line truck driver for 38 years, 18 of which have been with Cargo Transporters. He has driven over 3 million miles, all accident-free. Jerry served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964, serving in Korea and received the Good Conduct Medal. | |
See last year's winners here