Kottke Trucking Inc has awarded veteran driver Jeff Bass the designation of Duane and Connie Kottke Distinguished Driver of the Year.
In its third year, the Distinguished Driver of the Year award created by Kottke Trucking’s Driver Board is named after the company’s second-generation visionaries: Duane and Connie Kottke.
Bass has been with Kottke Trucking since July 13, 2004. He was named the 2016 second quarter Jim Doering Award of Excellence winner, which qualified him for the Duane and Connie Kottke Distinguished Driver of the Year. Doering was Kottke Trucking’s first longtime driver and stayed with the company for more than 35 years. The quarterly awards are named in his memory.
When Bass was nominated for the quarterly award, his nomination form read: “Jeff has made the transition to e-logs look very effortless. He knows what needs to be done and plans ahead to get it done. Jeff is very knowledgeable of his equipment and he knows how to repair on the road if necessary. He is very easy to work with and has a great sense of humor. Jeff is very dedicated to his job and is not afraid to help any other driver when needed. Jeff has many of the same qualities as Jim Doering had and is very deserving of this award.”
Bass’ fellow nominees for the Duane and Connie Kottke Distinguished Driver of the Year award are the other quarterly winners of the Jim Doering Award of Excellence: first quarter winner James Rogalski, third quarter winner Peter Ngeru and fourth quarter winner Mike Rapacz.
Previous winners of the Duane and Connie Kottke Distinguished Driver of the Year Award are Tom Erickson and Rick Pautzke.
Kottke Trucking, based in Buffalo Lake MN, provides refrigerated, dry freight and dedicated services. The motor carrier operates 100 tractor-trailers, primarily in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, South, southeastern and southwestern United States, as well as to West and East Coast states on a dedicated contract basis. In business since 1938, the third-generation interstate hauler employs 170 drivers and 30 support staff.
