TCA and Randall-Reilly Announce 2011 Company Driver of the Year is John Moeller
Roehl Transport driver receives grand prize of a Cummins-powered Ram truck
Kissimmee, Florida:
Last night, during the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) Annual Convention at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida, TCA and partner Randall-Reilly Business Media & Information Company (Randall-Reilly) announced that John Moeller of Marshfield, Wisconsin, is the grand prizewinner of the prestigious 2011 Company Driver of the Year competition. Moeller drives for Roehl Transport Inc., also of Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Sponsored by Cummins Inc. and Ram, the Company Driver of the Year contest recognizes and pays tribute to the top company drivers in the United States and Canada who provide reliable and safe truck transportation in moving the nation’s goods. Moeller was selected based on his ability to operate in a safe manner on the public highways, efforts to enhance the public image of the trucking industry, and positive contributions to his community.
Moeller has been a truck driver for 31 years, all of them with Roehl Transport Inc. He has driven more than 4.1 million accident-free miles and was the first Roehl driver to reach such a milestone. He has been selected as the Roehl Driver of the Year several times and has earned numerous company awards for outstanding performance. In addition, he has been a member of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association’s President’s Safe Driving Club for several years.
Moeller describes himself as having a “strong sense of dedication” to his job as a driver. Always safety-conscious, his primary goal is to protect others with whom he shares the road. He frequently helps newer drivers by answering their questions, showing them the proper ways to do things, and passing on the values of respect and courtesy that he believes are critical to the success of any professional driver.
“John is the standard bearer for what it means to be a professional driver,” said John Spiros, vice president of safety and claims management for Roehl Transport Inc. “John’s service to our industry enhances the image of trucking in a profound way. His performance charts the course for all drivers, and all trucking professionals, to follow.”
As the 2011 Company Driver of the Year, Moeller has won a Cummins-powered Ram truck. In addition, he was flown to TCA’s convention, where he was awarded a plaque and the keys to the pick-up truck in front of hundreds of the industry’s top leaders.
To be eligible for the contest, Moeller had to meet certain criteria. At a minimum, he had to prove he has driven one million consecutive, accident-free miles. His operating information, work history, and safety record were closely examined by the contest judges. He also had to write two personal statements: One outlining why he should be a candidate for the grand prize and another describing what makes him a good “trucking citizen.” Based on these materials, Moeller was selected as the 2011 grand prizewinner.
“I was pleased to play a role in recognizing this particular truck driver. He is clearly a tremendous asset to his family, company, and community,” said Gary Salisbury, TCA’s 2011-12 chairman and the president and CEO of Fikes Truck Line, Inc., of Hope, Arkansas.
Jeff Mason, senior vice president of trucking for Randall-Reilly, said, “I read somewhere that driving four million, accident-free miles is equivalent to safely traveling from the earth to the moon and back eight times, or driving around the world almost 161 times! I’d say that definitely puts him in Driver of the Year status.”
Two other truck drivers were honored along with Moeller in the 2011 competition. James Coles of Hillsburgh, Ontario, who drives for MacKinnon Transport, Inc., of Guelph, Ontario, and Ronald Round of Enfield, Maine, who drives for Pottle’s Transportation, Inc., of Bangor, Maine, received Honorable Mentions. Coles has driven more than 1.5 million accident-free miles over a 32-year career, while Round has driven 1.3 million accident-free miles over a 21-year career.