MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R), a leader in commercial fleet management and supply chain solutions, recognized the tradition of driver excellence by presenting its 42nd Annual Driver of the Year Award to three professionals who, combined, have 92 years and nearly seven million miles of safe, professional driving experience.
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’s Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) and Ryder Dedicated businesses. Recipients are inducted into the Ryder “Driver Hall of Fame” and presented with a trip aboard a five-day Caribbean cruise, a cash award, and a specially designed ring and watch.
Arthur Crowell 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. Crowell drives for Ryder customer Bimbo Bakeries USA’s fleet, based in Meridian, Miss. He has driven nearly 700,000 collision-free miles during his six years with Ryder and a total of 2.4 million collision-free miles over the course of his impressive 34-year professional driving career. Mr. Crowell’s talent and commitment to safety are evident through his multiple safe driving awards.
Danny Daniels is the Driver of the Year winner for Ryder Dedicated. Ryder Dedicated 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. Daniels drives for the Alro Steel account based in Dayton, Ohio. He has worked for Ryder for 25 years, and during his 31-year professional driving career, he has driven more than 2.7 million miles. His strong commitment to safety, including 20 years of preventable collision-free driving, has helped him earn the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) 2015 “Driver of the Year” Award and numerous Ryder “Driver of the Month” awards.
Craig Thornburg is the Driver of the Year winner for Ryder FMS. He drives for Veritiv Corporation (NYSE: VRTV), a Ryder customer, in Downey, Calif. Mr. Thornburg has been employed by Veritiv or its predecessor companies for more than 18 years and has driven 1.1 million collision-free miles over his 27-year professional driving career. Never missing a day of work, Craig is extremely dedicated, reliable, and responsible. His thirst for knowledge coupled with his reputation for hard work has gained positive attention from his customers who strongly rely on him to get the job done right.
“Professional truck drivers are the backbone of commerce, delivering the products businesses and consumers need when and where they want them,” said Robert Sanchez, Ryder Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The top drivers we honor this year are true leaders and examples of what it means to be committed to safety and customer service. We thank them for their tremendous hard work, dedication, and work ethic that all contribute to making Ryder and our customers ever better.”
The three drivers were honored at an awards ceremony held yesterday at Ryder Headquarters in Miami. Ryder Chairman and CEO Robert Sanchez, accompanied by key Ryder executives and the drivers’ local managers, personally congratulated the honorees.
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 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, and follow us on our Online Newsroom, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
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.
