Drivers take pride in their jobs, so it's no easy feat to be an exemplary driver in the fleets that keep America moving. But these drivers use their years of experience to improve not only their skills but those of their peers. Also: Technicians are rewarded ahead of National Technician Appreciation Week.
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Love's rewards diesel technicians and mechanics with over half a million in bonuses
Love's Travel Stops recently awarded 96 Truck Care and Speedco diesel technicians and mechanics more than $520,000 in lifetime achievement bonuses for reaching career milestones in billed repair labor. These recipients are the first to receive bonus payouts as part of a new incentive program tied to light mechanical repair work on commercial trucks.
"This new incentive for our dedicated team members in our shops is like none other in the industry," said Gary Price, executive vice president for Love's. "At a time when there's high demand for skilled diesel technicians and mechanics, our light mechanical bonuses will reward our employees for their hard work, help us attract and retain top talent, and position us to provide even better service for America's professional truck drivers."
See also: Clark: Time to show love to truck technicians
Diesel technicians and mechanics are eligible for their first lifetime achievement bonus when they achieve $500,000 in billed repair labor during their time at Love's. The company awards the second bonus at the $1 million milestone. Employees who have completed the Diesel Technician Apprenticeship Program are also eligible for an annual productivity bonus tied to repair labor.
Women In Trucking Association selects Laura Duryea as its September 2023 member of the month
Duryea started in the transportation industry as a professional driver, inspired by driving the shuttle bus while attending Carnegie Mellon University. After graduating with a viola performance degree and a change of heart, she ultimately decided to attend Pittsburgh Diesel Institute, resulting in a 25-year driving career.
See also: Driver recruiter seeks to build tight-knit fleet
The last two driving years were spent as a team driver at Boyle Transportation before transitioning to the Manager of Recruiting, Retention, and Driver Development for five years. She has been the Director of Driver Recruitment and Professional Growth since July 2023 and believes her 25-year driving career brings a unique perspective to the position.
In 2022, Duryea was named a member of the newly established Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB) of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The mission of this advisory board is to support women pursuing careers in trucking, expand scholarship opportunities for women in the trucking industry, and enhance trucking training, mentorship, education, and outreach programs for women. She was also recently named as a mentor in the Women in Motion Mentor Program with the American Trucking Association.
See also: FMCSA appoints Women of Trucking Advisory Board inaugural members
Outside of her career in the transportation industry, Duryea is also a member of the Savannah Professional Women for Good, which supports local non-profit organizations in her community. She was also the secretary of the Dover Volunteer Fire Department for 10 years and ran LaDa Farms, an organic farm that supplied organic produce to local natural food stores for 15 years.
Duryea is a passionate member of WIT and its mission: "Women are collaborative by nature, and when we come together for a cause, we can change the world and this industry."
Trucking's grand champion shares his experience
"It was overwhelming. I didn't imagine that this would ever happen," Wilson said. "This was my 14th competition, 14th nationals appearance. I never could get up on stage, and then this time I got up on stage and then won my class and grand champion."
Wilson told FleetOwner in an interview that he tries to set an example for other drivers, whether demonstrating driving prowess at trucking competitions or setting a high standard with his safety record.
Driver embraces role as industry ambassador
It's a role for which he's well suited, said Jerry Curl, G&D Trucking/Hoffman director of operations.
"He's always willing to reach out to others and help them improve," Curl said. "He brings out the best in people."
But for Tolliver, sharing NTTC's mission of safety with the public is just another way to serve his community. "I like to share my knowledge because when I started in this industry, somebody had to teach me," he said. "So I feel like I can pay forward what the old timers taught me, be a mentor, and give back to tank truckers."
Read a Q&A with Tolliver at Bulk Transporter, one of FleetOwner's sister sites.
Highway Angel saves driver from overturned pickup truck
Day was driving on Interstate 75 in London, Kentucky. He was traveling in the right lane while a pickup truck hauling a camper trailer was traveling in the left traffic lane. The driver in the pickup lost control of his vehicle, crossed two lanes of traffic, ran off the roadway, and flipped his truck and camper four times.
"He lost control of his truck and his camper and turned his truck and camper over in front of the semi that I was driving," Day said. "I did everything I could do to avoid hitting him—thank God I didn't hit him."
Day pulled over, called 911, and assisted the injured driver out of the vehicle, who seemed confused and dazed. The crashed vehicle had propane tanks leaking, so Day was focused on removing him from the vehicle and getting him somewhere safe. The London Police Department arrived at the scene and cleanup crews took care of the leaking propane.
"The severity of the accident is what made me stop," said Day, who has been driving a truck for 13 years. "That's what we're supposed to do as humans, right?"
