UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 55 elite drivers from Florida are among 1,122 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.
Florida boasts 263 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 7,452 years of accident-free driving. Russell Taylor of Jacksonville is Florida's senior safe driver, with 40 years of accident-free driving under his belt, tying him for sixth best safe driving record among UPS's 102,000 drivers.
Globally, 5,248 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they've racked up 147,244 years and more than 5 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 188,000 times.
The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company's history.
"UPS puts a premium on safe-driving methods and training, and these drivers represent the best of the industry," said David Ruiz, president and chief operating officer, UPS Florida District. "I'm very proud of these men and women. To go at least a quarter-of-a-century without an accident is a testament to the effectiveness of that training and to the pride our people take in their jobs."
Nationally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS's Ohio Valley District, with 49 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Great Lakes District is next in line with 48 years of safe driving. Twenty-five others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
This year, 14 female drivers have joined the ranks of those with more than 30 years of safe driving. This group is led by Orlando tractor-trailer driver Ginny Odom, who is credited with 36 years and more than 3 million miles 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. There are 4,538 total UPS drivers in Florida.
UPS invested $53 million in 2010 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called "Space and Visibility." New UPS tractor-trailer drivers receive 80 hours of classroom and on-the-road training and UPS package car drivers receive 20 hours of classroom and on-the-road defensive driving training before operating equipment. Package car drivers also complete three safety ride evaluations during their first 22 days on the job.
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 www.pressroom.ups/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 Florida drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Â | ||||
| Driver | Â | Hometown | Â | UPS Work Location |
| Chris Ahrens | Â | Holiday | Â | Port Richey Center |
| Dennis Archambault | Â | Dover | Â | Lake Wales Center |
| Wayne Baker | Â | Orlando | Â | Orlando Hub |
| Patrick Barrett | Â | Largo | Â | Tampa |
| Kevin Blackett | Â | Palm Bay | Â | Melbourne |
| Robert Blaser | Â | Winter Haven | Â | Lakeland Center |
| Charles Boone | Â | Homestead | Â | Hialeah |
| Michael Bristol | Â | Saint Petersburg | Â | St Pete |
| Stephen Brown | Â | Mims | Â | Orlando East |
| Charles Cooper | Â | Dover | Â | Lakeland Center |
| William Demeritt Jr | Â | Jacksonville | Â | Jacksonville |
| Alan Dennis | Â | Boynton | Â | Hialeah |
| Robert Donnelly | Â | Tallahassee | Â | Tallahassee Center |
| Danny Douglas | Â | New Port Richey | Â | Port Richey Center |
| Edward Fitzgerald | Â | Boca Raton | Â | Hialeah |
| Jackie Foley | Â | Port Charlotte | Â | Port Charlotte |
| William Frand | Â | Pembroke Pines | Â | Hialeah |
| John Garden | Â | Tallahassee | Â | Tallahassee Center |
| Robert Giambagno | Â | Jupiter | Â | Hialeah |
| Graham Givens | Â | Tallahassee | Â | Tallahassee Center |
| Ronald Gravley | Â | Jacksonville | Â | Jacksonville |
| Lon Hawkins | Â | Middleburg | Â | Jacksonville |
| William Hazard | Â | Ormond Beach | Â | Daytona Center |
| Thomas Hill | Â | Pompano Bch | Â | Ft. Lauderdale South |
| Daryl Jones | Â | Monticello | Â | Tallahassee Center |
| Richard Jones | Â | Jacksonville | Â | Jacksonville |
| Rickey Josey | Â | Jacksonville | Â | Jacksonville |
| Kevin Kickliter | Â | Land O Lakes | Â | Bayside Center |
| Phillip Koruschak | Â | Haines City | Â | Lake Wales Center |
| Glen Kresge | Â | Sunrise | Â | Hialeah |
| Edward Kurcin Jr | Â | Palm Coast | Â | Daytona Center |
| Joseph Lingafelt | Â | Lake Mary | Â | Altamonte |
| Bruce Macneel | Â | Tampa | Â | Northeast |
| Jay Marques | Â | Davie | Â | Hialeah |
| Timothy Martin | Â | Apopka | Â | Altamonte |
| Ronald McCormick | Â | Gainesville | Â | Gainesville Center |
| Gustavo Melo | Â | Miami | Â | Hialeah |
| Vincent Murray | Â | Seminole | Â | Largo |
| Harold Muse | Â | Pembroke Pines | Â | Hialeah |
| Raymond Nader Jr | Â | Jacksonville Bch | Â | Jacksonville Metro |
| David Norris | Â | Pensacola | Â | Pensacola Center |
| Billy Parker | Â | Jacksonville | Â | Jacksonville |
| John Pearson | Â | Davie | Â | Hialeah |
| Kenneth Pierson | Â | Starke | Â | Gainesville Center |
| Allen Pylant | Â | Altamonte Spgs | Â | Colonial |
| John Riddle | Â | West Palm Beach | Â | Jupiter |
| Carlos Rivera | Â | North Miami Bch | Â | Miami |
| Carlos Rodriguez | Â | Hialeah | Â | Hialeah |
| Timothy Roper | Â | Saint Petersburg | Â | St Pete |
| John Russell III | Â | Tampa | Â | Bayside Center |
| William Taylor | Â | Largo | Â | Tampa |
| Douglas Weaver | Â | Palm Harbor | Â | Palm Harbor |
| Charles Woodard | Â | Port Orange | Â | Daytona Center |
| Robert Wright | Â | Seminole | Â | Largo |
| Eric Zuehisdorff | Â | Wellington | Â | Hialeah |
Contacts:
UPS
Dan McMackin, 404-828-4188
