Driver of the Month Awards

2020 Drivers of the Month / Driver of the Year

FTA members and their drivers are used to gathering together in a ballroom, music blasting and crowds cheering as the Truck Driving Championships competitors celebrate their work and pride in the industry. On the same evening, drivers are recognized for their work through Safety Management Council Awards. Unfortunately, it was not to be this year. Instead, the safety awards were announced during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, a (socialdistanced) social media campaign and companies were mailed certificates to present. The 2020 Driver of the Year, Sal Gonzalez, enjoyed a special treat: an award presentation at the Linder Lakeland International Airport, surrounded by his loved ones, colleagues and personally congratulated by Donald Trump, Jr. So, while the awards tradition may have detoured a little for 2020, we celebrate the following Drivers of the Month and Year: DRIVER OF THE YEAR JANUARY Salvador Gonzalez has spent more than 36 years as a commercial motor vehicle driver, averaging 25,000 miles a year in his 4-axle. He has spent eight years with UPS Freight, with 1.6 million total safe miles driven. Sal is no stranger to awards: he won second place in the 4-axle class at FTA’s 2019 Truck Driving Championships; first place in 4-axle for the Safety Drive for a Cure; and multiple local terminal Driver of the Month awards. More significant, perhaps, is his community service work. He volunteers feeding the homeless through Ocala Neighbor to Neighbor; drives the truck during the month of April for Pinwheels for Prevention; and participates in “Touch a Truck” events for youth and educating teen drivers at Share the Road events, as a Florida Road Team member. Sal’s service manager says that Sal always leads by example and is responsible for changing the safety culture in the Ocala facility. He is known for his “positive, contagious attitude and readily volunteers for extra work including weekends.” Sal believes safety is more important than ever, during the pandemic,

because truck drivers are more vital than ever. Sal believes that safety should always start at the top, and leadership should lead by example. He also wrote that being named as FTA Driver of the Year would be his biggest accomplishment of his career, but wouldn’t change who he is, “a safe professional driver who strives to do the right thing every time, the first time, and keep myself and all others around me as safe as possible, as well as represent my company and the industry the best I can—making my family and company proud along the way.” FEBRUARY Joseph Barrington averages 120,000 miles a year for Carroll Fulmer Logistics Corporation out of Groveland. He has worked for Carroll Fulmer for nine years, with 33 total years on the road, and 2.5 million safe driving miles. Joseph is committed to keeping up with current safety processes and procedures and has completed several NATMI and PROTREAD courses. Joseph is a Mason and Shriner in Tampa and always looks forward to driving his HarleyDavidson in Toys for Tots for the U.S. Marine Corps. MARCH Larry Clark averages 156,000 miles a year driving his doubles for UPS out of Jacksonville. He has been a member of the UPS family since 1977 and was a Certified Driver Trainer. His leadership roles go beyond his “day job,” however: he is the President of his Homeowner’s Association; Youth Director and Head Coach for Pop Warner Pee Wee Football; Drill Instructor of the Safety Patrol; and Deacon, Youth Director and Song Director for his local church. He has logged five million safe driving miles and credits his success to a strong mindset. APRIL Donald White works out the Tampa terminal for Florida Rock & Tank Lines in his 5-axle tanker. He has been driving for FRTL, logging 800,000 miles for the company, for nine years, with 21 total years as a professional driver. Don loves to drive and “is always upbeat and clearly having fun.” He was shocked to have been nominated for a Driver of the Month award, but FRTL doing so proved his love for the industry and his pride for being one of “the awesome group of drivers in Florida.” MAY Linzel Carty is a 32-year veteran driver and has logged 600,000 miles during his time at Dillon Logistics. In 2019, he was awarded the Driver of the Year at Dillon and received a certificate for safe driving by the American Trucking Associations in 1990. Linzel is dedicated to his community and is a licensed marriage counselor and licensed minister and pastor. His manager credits his success to his morning routines and high safety standards: always pointing out concerns to other drivers and being the first to find and correct any issues with equipment. JUNE Edward Chavez drives a 5-axle tanker for Florida Rock & Tanks Lines out of its White Springs terminal. Averaging 90,000 miles a year, he has been a professional driver for 13 years, with eight at FRTL. Safety Supervisor Patrick Tornwall called him a “giver”: in his personal life he is an active member of the Common Ground Christian Church, serving as a board member, where he provides food and services to the homeless community. Edward serves as a Certified Driver Trainer in the Chemical Division and “is relentless in his pursuit of personal excellence.” Most important for Edward is to not just “talk the talk, but walk the walk” and demonstrates his commitment by proving his concern for driving safely. JULY Steve Sheets has spent 34 years driving entirely for UPS, averaging 100,000 miles a year out of the

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Jacksonville terminal. Steve is called “a shining example in his department: what drivers look at and aspire to be — his career, his outlook on the profession and safety, and his overall kindheartedness.” He always looks at the “big picture” when he is on the road and “aims high and keeps his eyes moving.” AUGUST Brian Winchel has logged almost three million safe driving miles in his 31 years in the industry, with 23 years at Florida Rock & Tank Lines. He has amassed several safe driving awards at FRTL as well as additional certifications such as Certified Driver Trainer; HM126 Hazmat Training; Pump Driver Certification; Eastern Aviation Jet Fuel Certification; and NSC DDC Refresher. Brian spends his free time dedicated to the children of his community and volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America; Girl Scouts Project Graduation; as a little league baseball coach and booster; and working with the high school band. His wife Sue notes that “he is always looking for ways to help out other people, but rarely accepts or wants any recognition or reward for his efforts.” SEPTEMBER Mark Stilley, from Jacksonville, drives approximately 98,000 miles a year for UPS, with 46 years under his belt with the company. He has logged 3.3 million safe driving miles with no preventable or non-preventable accidents in his career. He is known as “one of the patriarchs” of the UPS family, a “gentle giant,” and is committed to safety for all of the 500 drivers at the company. He is committed to maintaining a positive image of the trucking industry and always reminds his fellow drivers to anticipate what other motorists are going to do on the road and be aware of unfavorable weather conditions and ensures equipment is in top working condition. OCTOBER Thorkell Ragnarsson is based at the Lake Wales terminal for Oakley Transport. He drives his 3-axle truck an average of 130,000 miles a year, logging a total of 39 years as a professional commercial truck driver and seven years at Oakley. He prides himself on consistent work habits for keeping him safe for his 3.5 million safe driving miles; mitigating risks by maintaining his equipment by thorough pre-trip inspections every morning. Thorkell credits his company, FTA and One Team Florida “for all working as one team with one vision and one goal”: safety. NOVEMBER Dale Prevatt has been with Florida Rock & Tank Lines for seven years and has been a professional truck driver for 33 years. Dale has spent his life dedicated to the trucking industry and his country: he has received multiple distinguished service awards, including a Bronze Star for his nine years of active duty in the Army. Dale has been deployed overseas to conflict areas including Desert Storm; Operation Enduring Freedom; and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has served as a dedicated leader during hurricanes by providing fuel to first responders and communities in distress. DECEMBER Dave Harris, a former Army Infantry Paratrooper, has spent 34 years behind the wheel and has been driving for FedEx Ground for four years. He has logged three million safe driving miles in total, averaging 100,000 miles a year. Dave is currently writing a book, after having penned articles about being successful in the trucking industry. When he is not driving, he can be found educating and coaching his fellow drivers. He credits the support of the industry: dispatchers, managers, safety personnel, mechanics, loaders and enforcement officers, for being able to safely and effectively do his job.