DES MOINES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 12 elite drivers from Iowa are among 1,519 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.
Iowa boasts 72 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 2,049 years of accident-free driving. Cleo Underwood of Des Moines is the state’s senior safe driver, with 38 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 976 total UPS drivers in Iowa.
Globally, 7,221 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up over 198,000 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers. That’s enough miles to travel to Mars and back 19 times.
”My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus, and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Jerry Mattes, president, UPS West Region.
Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 51 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of the Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 45 years of safe driving. Forty others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
UPS’s 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging nearly 3 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven.
UPS invested $175 million in 2013 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called “Space and Visibility.” All UPS drivers are taught safe driving methods beginning on the first day of classroom training through the company’s defensive driving platform. The training continues throughout their careers.
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 its safe driving honor program in 1928.
More information on UPS’s commitment to safety is available at http://www.pressroom.ups.com/safety.
A complete list by state of new Circle of Honor inductees, infographic and a logo can be found at www.upsprmedia.com/circleofhonor2014.zip.
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 is a list of 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 dmcmackin@ups.com.
Following is a list of Iowa drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location | ||
| John Burkett | Altoona | Des Moines | ||
| Don Coe Jr. | Des Moines | Des Moines | ||
| Randall Creek | Agency | Ottumwa | ||
| Terry Eifler | Ankeny | Des Moines | ||
| Daniel Michel | Ankeny | Des Moines | ||
| Steve Miller | Cedar Falls | Waterloo | ||
| Perry Miller | Sioux City | Sioux City | ||
| Rodney Petersen | Bondurant | Des Moines | ||
| Danny Petersen | Stanton | Davenport | ||
| Jeffrey Shelangoski | Davenport | Davenport | ||
| Jeffrey Steinhoff | Griswold | Omaha, NE | ||
| Steven Thul | Dubuque | Dubuque |
