Landstar System, a worldwide, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions and specialized transportation logistics services, paid tribute to the best and safest of its owner-operators at the 2nd Annual Landstar BCO All-Star Celebration event held in their honor earlier this month.
The event featured an awards program during which Landstar inducted nine business capacity owners (BCOs) as Landstar Roadstars and honored 125 BCOs for driving one million consecutive miles without a preventable accident, eight BCOs as new two million miler safe drivers and two BCOs as three million mile safe drivers. To top off the celebration of this elite group of BCOs, Landstar presented its second truck giveaway of 2013. The truck in this giveaway, sponsored by Comdata, was exclusively reserved for a Landstar Roadstar or million miler.
BCO is Landstar’s term for the independent contractors who provide the company with transportation capacity under exclusive lease arrangements. This select group of BCOs was recognized during the three-day event held in Orlando, FL, July 1–3, for their outstanding safety records and professionalism behind the wheel.
Collectively, these 135 BCOs who make up the million miler class of 2012 have safely driven a total of 147 million miles – a distance that would cover the 4 million miles of public roads in the U.S. nearly 37 times. On average, it takes a truck operator 10 years to travel a million miles. This distance would take the typical driver of a passenger vehicle 67 years – around the time of their 83rd birthday – to complete.
“Landstar Million Milers dedicate themselves to making the roads safer for us all. They are true professionals who deserve to be honored in a special way,” said Landstar chairman, president and CEO Henry Gerkens. “We are especially proud to recognize the company’s two new three million mile safe drivers, Art Trezise and Jimmy Wingfield.”
Of the 753 total number of active Landstar million mile safe drivers, nine earned the distinction of becoming Landstar Roadstars. Roadstars are chosen for their consistently high levels of safety, productivity and excellent customer service. Each has also been previously recognized as a Landstar million mile safe driver. The addition of this class raised the total number of active Landstar Roadstars to 190 BCOs who have received this honor since the company began presenting the award in 1990.
“These select professionals are the best of the best,” said Gerkens. “Roadstars epitomize professionalism behind the wheel. Their outstanding productivity and safety records raise the bar for the entire industry and we are proud to showcase them as Landstar’s best.”
In addition, the company presented its Landstar BCO Lifetime Achievement Award to husband and wife team drivers, Harold and Helen Eanes. The award, only the second ever given out, is the highest level of recognition Landstar BCOs can earn.
The Eanes, who have been married for 51 years, have been working together as team drivers since 1985 and are both Roadstars. The Eanes received an additional honor during the All-Star event when they were presented with the “Million Mile Award for Safety Excellence” by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association.
“These two are a rare breed. Over the years they have been partners both on and off the road to great success,” said Gerkens. “In addition to being Roadstars, Harold is a three million mile safe driver and Helen is a two million miler. I can’t think of two better candidates for which to bestow this high honor.”
The awards ceremony also showcased the Landstar All-Star Truck Giveaway. Each Landstar million miler and Roadstar automatically received one entry. Those attending the Landstar BCO All-Star Celebration received an additional entry. The list of entrants was narrowed to five during the events the second morning. That evening, one lucky BCO selected the winning truck keys from the five sets available. This year’s winner – Mike Edwards of Grover Hill, OH – is a member of the newest class of Landstar million mile safe drivers.
The Class of 2012 Landstar Roadstars inducted this year:
Bill Asberry, Gainesville, NY; Chuck Browder, Tabor City, NC; John Certain, Hendersonville, TN; Jim Heilig, Antioch, IL; Randy Ladd, Jackson, GA; Roger Miller, Greeneville, TN; Randy Nelson, Robbins, NC; Ray Price, Cookeville, TN; and Gerald Workman, Sarnia, ON.
The Class of 2012 Landstar million mile safe drivers inducted this year include:
Three million mile safe drivers
Art Trezise, Springhill, FL; and Jimmy Wingfield, Fresno, CA.
Two million mile safe drivers
Felix Arnone, Grand Bay, Al; Max Asman, Hollywood, FL; Damon Davis, Watertown, NY; Bert Edinger, Tully, NY; James Parker, Escondido, CA; Lee Scott, Hooper, UT; Earl Weeks, Opp, AL; and Craig Williams, Columbia, MO.
One million mile safe drivers
Daniel Alkire, Laredo, TX; Ward Allen, Adrian, MI; Joe Arnone, Theodore, AL; Joe Aumiller, Milroy, PA; Doug Austin, Verona, NY; Gary Baldwin, Jacksonville, FL; Bill Ballantyne, Douglas, GA; Dennis Black, San Diego, CA; John Broadis, Appleton, WI; Dennis Burrow, Bakersfield, CA; James Burton, Pittsburg, TX; Billy Cartledge, Columbia, SC; Jose Cespedes, Grand Isle, NY; Don Chafins, Bellville, OH; Charles Cherosky, North Fort Meyers, FL; George Cherveny, Jr., Olympia, WA; Connie Christy, Southside, WV; Bradley Cole, Madoc, ON; Michael Cook, Prineville, OR; Terry Cooper, Cambridge, OH; Morris Crawford, Austin, TX; Rick Curtis, Columbus, OH; Wayne DeLong, Delta, AL; Douglas Diaz, Downey, CA; Charles Dobbins, Attalla, AL; Conrad Dorn, San Antonio, TX; David Dotterweich, Shreveport, LA; Cornelius Driedger, Fritch, TX; Michael Edwards, Grover Hill, OH; Trent Eggleston, Manchester, TN; James Ellis, Belton, MO; Robert Fleig, Lake Villa, IL; Steve Flener, Cadiz, KY; Gary Frederick, Sebring, FL; Clyde Friesland, Columbus, OH; John Fuller, Monroe, WI; Edward Gonzalez, San Benito, TX; Terry Goulet, Bennett, CO; Kathy Harmon, Eleanor, WV; Eddie Harrison, Anderson, SC; Bill Hatcher, Powhatan, VA; Richard Henderson, Garland, TX; John Highley, Park Hill, MO; Mark Hillyard, Tallmadge, OH; Sherman Hopkins, Hardy, VA; Clif Horton, Eclectic, AL; Timothy Horton, Mabank, TX; Rick Huff, Goshen, IN; Michael Hufford, Piqua, OH; Howard Jennings, Canyon, MN; Ed Kent, Camden, NY; Steve Knauff, Alliance, OH; Danny Knox, Texarkana, AR; Ron Knutsen, Lake City, FL; Bret Law, Aztec, NM; Daniel Limoli, Wells, ME; David Livingston, Orange Grove, TX; Dan Lizotte, Austin, TX; Juan Loredo, Laredo, TX; David Lucier, Belleview, FL; Jerzy Maksimowski, Glendale, AZ; Robert Martin, Orangeburg, SC; Ned McAllister, Phelps, NY; Bobby McCandless, Houston, TX, Garald McCullough, South Bend, IN; Garland McGee, Ramsey, IL; Robert McIntosh, Belvidere, IL; Robert Mednick, North Las Vegas, NV; Jesus Mendoza, El Paso, TX; Melvin Mercer, Alba, MO; John Miller, Kingston, TN; James Moore, Pueblo, CO; William Moore, Springfield, ON; Lucas Morales, Laredo, TX; Richard Naus, Muskogee, OK; Maurice Nichols, De Kalb, TX; Francis Oberholtzer, Hopkinsville, KY; Richard Oglesby, Roanoke, AL; Brian Ormsby, Schuyler Falls, NY; Danny Page, Owenton, KY; Bobby Pavlick, Garden City, LA; Ron Phinney, St. Johns, MI; Jerry Pickett Jr., South Holland, IL; Edgar Pierce, Brownsboro, TX; Jim Pyell, Kingston Springs, TN; Brian Quane, Niagara Falls, ON; Mukhtar Raghe, Milwaukee, WI; Charles Rice, Wichita, KS; Shane Rickman, Lewisville, TX; Raymond Riley, Kellyville, OK; Larry Roat, Moore, OK; Joann Robinson, Melbourne, FL; Richard Ryan, Houghton Lake, MI; Willie Seals, Stockbridge, GA; Art Sedgwick, Farmington, MO; John Selhorst, Columbus Grove, OH; Steve Shaw, St. George, UT; Greg Simmons, Hastings, FL; Michael Smith, Koshkonong, MO; Jim Sorrells, Cleveland, GA; Mark St.Clair, Galesburg, IL; Sharon Stutts, Tucson, AZ; Jeff Tinnel, Floyd, VA; Michael Treaster, Wakeman, OH; Gabor Vadasz, New Kingstown, PA; Lawny Vaughn, East Canton, OH; Raul Vazquez, Eagle Pass, TX; Ken Vincent, Goldendale, WA; Greg Vorce, Austin, TX; Dan Wallwork, Burnt River, ON; Doyle Ward, Lancaster, MO; Jay Warren, Walshville, IL; Jeff Warta, Warsaw, MO; Matt Weidner, Springfield, MO; Harry Weimer, Lonaconing, MD; Wesley Westphal, Berrien Springs, MI; Gareth Whitehead, Opa Locka, FL; Robert Whittley, Holly Hill, FL; Robert Wiatowski, Paris, ON; Thomas Wike, Taylorsville, NC; Donald Wood, Lake City, FL; John York, Nashville, TN; Ronnie Young, Christiansburg, VA; Jose Zamarripa, Eagle Pass, TX; and Davor Zecevic, Nashville, TN.
