“Chuck, you and your fellow drivers helped build this company into what it is today.” – Donna Fielding, director of safety
At J.B. Hunt, driving alongside people you trust is not just an ideal, but a core foundation for our company. This week, we were proud to celebrate a driver who not only exemplifies our passion for safety but reminds us how worthy our drivers are of the trust we put in them every time they take the wheel.
Chuck, a regional intermodal driver from Missouri, has made history by becoming the third J.B. Hunt driver to reach five million safe miles driven.
Take a look at how we celebrated this astounding accomplishment and learn more about what it takes to reach a five million milestone!
How long does it take to get five million miles as a truck driver?
Chuck began his driving career with J.B. Hunt and has been a part of our family for more than 34 years. Depending on the business unit, it takes an average of seven – 10 years of safe driving to reach one million miles, which makes Chuck’s achievement even more astounding!
In only 34 years, Chuck has celebrated five million safe miles, 31 years of consecutive safe driving awards and has been awarded more than $125,000 in safe driving bonuses.
Craig Harper, chief sustainability officer, said the work ethic that goes into being a million mile driver is difficult to match.
“I’ve told drivers for many years that I want to prove to them that I will work as hard for them as they do for me,” he said. “And I believe that, but when I start thinking of a million mile driver, a two million mile driver, I don’t know that I can truly hold that.”
Million Mile Driver Award
We never tire of celebrating our drivers, especially after such a rare accomplishment. We pulled out all the stops at Chuck’s intermodal ramp in Kansas, which included special speakers Craig Harper, chief sustainability officer, Donna Fielding, director of corporate safety and Bill Dietrich, senior vice president of intermodal operations.
Donna, who has held a CDL-A license for most of her career, knows just how much drivers like Chuck make a positive impact in the industry.
“Your hard work and your commitment to our safety culture each and every day is what keeps us moving forward,” she said. “Congratulations! We thank you and we appreciate you very much.”
Chuck got to celebrate this award alongside his wife, children and grandchildren. In addition, he will have his name engraved in our Million Mile Wall of Fame at our corporate headquarters, where he will be honored in our Million Mile celebration next year.
His passion for safety and dedication to a job well-done have earned him not only respect and recognition here at J.B. Hunt, but the respect and admiration of his family.
His son, Joshua, says that his father is someone he looks up to every day.
“This man is the definition of hard work and discipline,” he said. “He’s the hardest working man I’ve ever met, and I love him to death. This is a very amazing accomplishment and I’m very happy that I was here for it today.”
Let’s Celebrate Together
Drivers like Chuck remind us that we all need people we trust in our lane, and we believe that you can find that with J.B. Hunt! We take great pride in our drivers, and for good reason.
Our company was founded with drivers in mind, and seeing the height of their achievements reminds us of our roots and that our people are truly what keeps us moving.
If you are ready to join the ranks of our million mile drivers, we are ready to help you find your fit! Call us at 1-877-791-9458 or fill out our short form to take the first step toward driving with a company that knows we’re better together.
