JACKSON, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced nine elite drivers from Mississippi are among 1,122 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.
Mississippi boasts 75 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 2,131 years of accident-free driving. Merriel Torrey of Utica is Mississippi’s senior safe driver, with 38 years of accident-free driving under his belt.
Globally, 5,248 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 147,244 years and more than 5 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 188,000 times.
The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company’s history.
“UPS puts a premium on safe-driving methods and training, and these drivers represent the best of the industry,” said Kenneth Harms, president and chief operating officer, UPS Mid South District. “I’m very proud of these men and women. To go at least a quarter-of-a-century without an accident is a testament to the effectiveness of that training and to the pride our people take in their jobs.”
Nationally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS’s Ohio Valley District, with 49 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Great Lakes District is next in line with 48 years of safe driving. Twenty-five others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
UPS’s 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven. There are 715 total UPS drivers in Mississippi.
UPS invested $53 million in 2010 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called “Space and Visibility.” New UPS tractor-trailer drivers receive 80 hours of classroom and on-the-road training and UPS package car drivers receive 20 hours of classroom and on-the-road defensive driving training before operating equipment. Package car drivers also complete three safety ride evaluations during their first 22 days on the job.
Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established the Circle of Honor in 1955.
More information on UPS’s commitment to safety is available at www.pressroom.ups/safety.
UPS (NYSE:UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
** NOTE: The following pages list local drivers by hometown and UPS center. If you’re interested in interviewing or riding along with a local driver, please contact Dan McMackin at 404-828-4188 or dmcmackin@ups.com.
Following is a list of Mississippi drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location | ||
| Lonnie Arinder | Terry | Jackson | ||
| Ricky Burk | Brandon | Jackson - Metro | ||
| Ernest Davis | Jackson | Jackson - Metro | ||
| Barry Ellis | Walnut Grove | Jackson | ||
| Dennis Greenleaf | Greenwood | Kosciusko | ||
| Rodger Hopkins | Vicksburg | Vicksburg | ||
| Elisha Stuckett | Greenville | Greenville | ||
| James Thompson | Brandon | Jackson | ||
| Paul Woods | Kosciusko | Kosciusko | ||