Four Inducted into NPTC/Omnitracs Driver Hall of Fame

In 35 years behind the wheel, Mike has accumulated 3,2 million miles of safe driving without a single accident or moving violation. He joined Unifi in 1979 as a yard switcher moving trailers at the company’s distribution center in Yadkinville, NC and, in 1986, he was given the chance to drive over-the-road, moving trailers between the company’s plants. After proving his ability to be a safe driver he was promoted to local truck driver. He currently works 50-55 hours per week, driving around 1,800 miles primarily in Western North Carolina, hauling textiles and general merchandise.

He has won numerous company safe driving awards in addition to being named the North Carolina Trucking Association Driver of the Month in 2011. But Mike doesn’t rest on his laurels. He finds ways to sharpen his skills by completing defensive driver training and first-aid training. Plus, he gives back to Unifi as a driver trainer.

He has delivered food and supplies to hurricane and flood victims in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina and he delivers Christmas presents and clothes to families in West Virginia for Christmas for God’s Pit Crew. He is a member of Peace Haven Baptist Church where he has served as a Deacon, the Children’s Sunday School Director, and an Assistant Sunday School Teacher. He also has volunteered in local mission projects, as a coach in both youth baseball and football and was the President of the Forbush High School Athletic Booster Club.

Mike started his driving 37 years ago and has been with KeHE for the last 26 years. He has driven a total of four million miles without a chargeable accident or a moving violation. In the 26 years, he has been with KeHE, he has racked up 2,6 million of those miles. At KeHE, he drives a tractor with trailers ranging from reefer pups up to 53′ reefer trailers accumulating about 1,900 miles/week delivering dry, refrigerated, and frozen goods from the company’s Bloomington, IN distribution center to grocery stores, health stores and independent stores in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

Mike learned to drive at the Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie, WI. His driving career began in 1984 driving straight trucks, delivering candy and cigarettes to convenience stores. In 1986, he moved up to refrigerated tractor/trailer equipment delivering beef for Winkler Meats. In 1988, he transitioned to dry vans and delivered general commodities for Rayls Bros Transfer then Thoms Proestler. Finally, in 1994, Mike began his career with Tree of Life/KeHE Distributors.

Mike participates in KeHE’s driver training programs such as distracted driving, safety outside the cab and driver engagement. In addition, he is an active Driver Trainer, working with new hires and drivers that need additional post-accident training as well as coaching warehouse employees interested in earning their CDLs.

Outside the truck, Mike has served as a Little League Baseball umpire and he now enjoys cooking.

Augie has been a professional truck driver for 43 years the last 36 of those years have been with Shaw. In his career he has accumulated 5.2 million miles of safe driving, 4.3 million for Shaw without a chargeable accident or moving violation. He works an average of 11 hours per day, driving about 150 miles per day delivering flooring out of the company’s Fontana, CA facility to customers in the San Bernardino, CA area.

Augie started driving in 1978 delivering sportswear for Roel Sportwear. Two years later, when the company went out of business, Augie went to work for Tuftex Carpet Mills hauling carpets. He left in 1985 to drive for Shaw.

When Shaw moved to electronic logs in 2004, Augie had no problem embracing the technology. Shaw has a SAFE program (Shaw Accident Free Environment) to help promote worker safety and provide regulatory knowledge that Augie participates in. He completes all required training, including monthly safety meetings and online training. He follows the required and recommended safe practices to avoid on-the-job injuries and stay in compliance with Shaw and FMCSA regulations.

Junior started his driving career in 1968 and has driven 7.4 million miles without an accident or a moving violation of any kind. Of the more than 52 years he has spent behind the wheel, 29 have been with Mohawk, where he has racked up almost half of his accident-free mileage delivering residential and commercial flooring products. Junior began his driving career at the age of 18 at Rogers Dye in the warehouse and then as a yard jockey. After earning his chauffeur license, he began driving full-time locally making deliveries.

The following year, he moved on to Advance Finishers in 1969, in a similar role. Two years later, he began driving for Wellco Carpet in Calhoun, GA where he spent 21 years in an over-the-road environment travelling the country delivering carpet and flooring products. He signed on with Aladdin Mills in 1992 which merged with Mohawk Industries. In his 28.5 years with Mohawk, Junior has touched most of the continental US and delivered on time, undamaged freight to thousands of satisfied customers. Currently, Junior runs from the company’s manufacturing facility in Calhoun, GA to San Antonio, TX each week.