OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 22 elite drivers from Oklahoma are among 1,235 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.
Oklahoma boasts 91 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 2,524 years of accident-free driving. Raymond Buxton of Stillwater is Oklahoma’s senior safe driver, with 36 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 788 total UPS drivers in Oklahoma.
Globally, 5,842 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 161,746 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 212,000 times.
The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company’s history.
“I’m very proud of these men and women,” said Habib Pourfakhrai, president, UPS Red River District. “To go at least a quarter century without an accident is a testament to the pride they take in their work and to the training they receive. My thanks go to all of them for the countless lives they’ve saved.”
Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS’s Ohio Valley District, with 50 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Great Lakes District is next in line with 49 years of safe driving. Twenty-seven others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
UPS’s 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven.
UPS invested $175 million in 2011 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 the Circle of Honor in 1955.
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 404-828-4188 or dmcmackin@ups.com.
Following is a list of Oklahoma drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location | ||||
Thomas Allard | Vinita | Okc Hub | ||||
James Bandy | Enid | Enid | ||||
Mark Blair | Sapulpa | Tulsa | ||||
David Clark | Catoosa | Tulsa | ||||
Russell Cobb | Newkirk | Ponca City | ||||
Leslie Edwards | Stillwater | Stillwater | ||||
Ronald Ferguson | Tulsa | Tulsa | ||||
Gary Griswold | Lawton | Lawton | ||||
Donald Harness | Tulsa | Tulsa | ||||
Bradley Hayes | Vinita | Vinita | ||||
Steve Jacks | Edmond | Oklahoma City | ||||
Tracy Kramer | Tulsa | Tulsa | ||||
Carl Lowrance | Sayre | Clinton | ||||
David Martin | Blair | Altus | ||||
Terry Moore | Fort Gibson | Muskogee | ||||
Troy Richardson | Sapulpa | Tulsa | ||||
David Spicer | Stillwater | Stillwater | ||||
Donald Taylor | Choctaw | Oklahoma City | ||||
Ricky Valadez | Blanchard | Oklahoma City | ||||
Cindy Vendetti | Enid | Enid | ||||
Stephen Weems | Altus | Altus | ||||
Earl White | Edmond | Okc Hub |