NPTC/Bridgestone Bandag Induct Four into Driver Hall of Fame

ARLINGTON, VA – Four truck drivers who have together logged more than 18 million miles of safe driving in nearly 170 years of service were honored by the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) and inducted into the NPTC/Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions Driver Hall of Fame during the Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held April 28-30, 2013 in Cincinnati, OH.

The drivers are from NPTC member companies and have met the minimum qualifications of 20 years, two million miles or 50,000 hours of driving without a preventable accident. Many of the drivers have far exceeded these qualifications and are known for having made significant contributions to their industry and their communities. Since its inception, 100 drivers have been installed in the Driver Hall of Fame.

This year’s Driver Hall of Fame inductees are:

Lewis Eaton, Ross Transportation Services, Inc., Wellington, OH

A professional truck driver for 52 years, Lew learned to drive by using his family’s farm equipment when he was young. He now has 5 million career miles under his belt—2 million of which he earned since he started working for Ross Transportation in 1989. He travels approximately 2,000 miles a week hauling a variety of items including milk, grain, stone, general commodities and hazardous waste in the Ohio Valley and Northeastern regions. Lew has not been involved in any preventable or non-preventable accidents and has received several safe driving awards. In addition to the one- and two-million mile awards from his company, he has also received safety awards from the National Safety Council and the Ohio Trucking Association. During his time off, he stays active within his community by serving on a committee that helps to clean highways and serves dinners to those in need as well as participating in the Ross Heart Walk each May.

Charles M. Hartley, Kraft Private Fleet, Lafayette, MN

With a career that spans 33 years, Charles has accrued almost 4 million miles without a preventable accident. He began driving in 1980 with his brothers and held several positions where he hauled produce, fish food, butter, and even aircraft support products before accepting a position with Kraft in 1995. Currently, he drives about 500 miles a day. After a few deer strikes, Charles proactively studied the causes of deer collisions and strategies to avoid them. Using this research, he wrote an article that was published in the Kraft driver newsletter to help other drivers as well. Charles stays fit by running, bicycling, and making sure to get enough rest; he also volunteers in his community with Habitat for Humanity, the Boy Scouts, and his church. While placing a priority on remaining courteous and professional behind the wheel, he also employs the Smith System of defensive driving. Charles was selected as a 2012 NPTC National Driver All-Star.

Steve Muncey, Batesville Logistics, Inc., Morrison, TN

Steve’s driving career dates back to 1972, when he began delivering chicken feed for an egg-producing business. During the past 40 years, he has driven more than 5 million miles while transporting air conditioners, electric motors, steel, and caskets. He has logged miles in each of the 48 continental states and now averages about 2,900 miles a week. Since starting with Batesville in 1988, Steve has driven 2.5 million miles with no preventable accidents. He has received several safety awards including a 2012 National Safety Council Safe Driver Award of Honor and a 1994 Fraternal Order of Police Driver and Safety Award. He has been involved in the Trucker Buddy program where he helps educate children and young adults about safely sharing the road with trucks. In 2008-2009, Steve was a member of the Tennessee Road Team and partnered with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to demonstrate safe driving around trucks to the general public in addition to assisting with truck safety checkpoints.

Kenneth E. Wasiewicz, CPC Logistics, Inc. assigned to Benjamin Moore and Company, Glenwood, NJ

After earning his driver’s license at the age of 17, Ken learned how to drive a tractor-trailer while still attending school and working at the loading docks in his hometown. His driving career spans 41 years and 4 million miles; he has hauled general freight, cars, construction equipment, concrete, and paint. Since joining Benjamin Moore as assigned by CPC Logistics in 1994, he has traveled more than two million miles—many of which were in the New York metropolitan area—with no preventable accidents. Using the knowledge he learns as a member of his company’s Accident Review Board, Ken also works as a driver trainer where he instructs new employees in both defensive driving strategies and onboard technology operations. A 2012 NPTC National Driver All-Star, he was also recognized as the 2012 New Jersey Motor Truck Association Driver of the Year. Ken has been involved in several fundraising and volunteer events for veterans, the Special Olympics, and most recently Hurricane Sandy relief.

About NPTC
Founded in 1939, the National Private Truck Council is the only national trade association exclusively representing the interests of the private truck industry and corporate/business private truck fleet management. With an actively engaged leadership team of Board representatives, member volunteers and staff, NPTC in the past decade has grown significantly to serve a rising professional class of private fleet practitioners meeting the challenges of modern corporate transportation. NPTC is the leading learning resource center, government affairs advocate, and business networking culture for America’s top private fleet and supplier member companies.  The Council produces benchmarking, best practices, and economic data reports on the private fleet market; administers the highly regarded Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) training program, and conducts some of the most successful events in the trucking industry including the Annual Conference and Trade Show, the Private Fleet Management Institute, and the National Safety Conference. For more information about the Council’s activities and programs, visit our website at nptc.org.

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