New Mexico's
Top Drivers - 2009
Driver of the Year (2008)
Raymond Gonzales,
Navajo Transportation
Jim Wilcox Sr. Award (2009)
for outstanding achievement in safety
John Owens,
Wilbanks Trucking, Artesia, NM
2009 Drivers of the Month
The New Mexico Truck Driver of the Month is determined monthly by the NM Safety Management Council and announced at the SMC monthly meeting. Here are the 2009 champion drivers so far. Please forward all drivers of the month nominations to liz@swtruckins.com or fax to 505 822-9966.
| Month - 2009 | Driver | Motor Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| January | John Ormelas | Fortune Transportation |
| February | Jeffrey Scott | Fortune Transportation |
| March | George Carter | Fortune Transportation |
| April | Kelvin Holly | ABF Freight System |
| May | Roy Daniels | LRC Trucking |
| June | Oracio Hernandez | Fortune Transportation |
| July | Bruce Gossett | Fortune Transportation |
| August | Gerald Miller | ABF Freight Systems |
| September | Acario Franco | Navajo Transportation |
| October | Ray Fauver | Fortune Transportation |
| November | Edward Benavides | SCS/UPS |
| December | David Ramirez | OPT/UPT |
The Jim Wilcox Award History:
the Jim Wilcox Award is given to an individual who has shown outstanding qualities while representing the industry throughout the year.
| Award Year | Driver | Motor Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | John Owens | Wilbanks Trucking |
| 2008 | Gary Trujillo | Groendyke Transport |
| 2007 | Marv Caton | Fedex Freight West |
| 2006 | Randy Archer | ABF |
About Jim Wilcox:
Jim Wilcox, city pickup and delivery driver at the Yellow service center
in Farmington, N.M., has earned plenty of accolades during his career.
Recently, Wilcox received perhaps his most significant recognition of all when
the American Trucking Associations (ATA) selected him as its 2006
National Truck Driver of the Year.
Wilcox earned the honor in competition with drivers from throughout the nation,
who were nominated by their respective state trucking association. Only state
drivers of the year are eligible for the national crown, considered one of the
most prestigious in the industry.
Wilcox has maintained a spotless safety record throughout his 28-year career,
including 23 years at Yellow. In 2004, he earned a Two Million Miler award in
recognition of driving 20 consecutive years without a preventable accident.
Wilcox has also been a spokesman for the trucking industry and highway safety
as a captain on America's Road Team, which consists of 10 driving professionals,
whom the ATA chooses to make personal appearances at a variety of community and
industry events.
Wilcox was named to the team in 1990 and served an 18-month
term.
Participation in state and national truck driving championships is another
area where Wilcox excels. He has competed in 20 state contests, winning
his class eight times, and he has volunteered at the state and national
level when not competing.
Wilcox was named to the first Yellow Road Team in 2004 and will remain
on the 2006 team as a trainer. He also is a former Yellow driver of
the year, and received the company's first Professional Excellence
award in 2004.
In addition to providing superior customer service daily, Wilcox has volunteered
his personal time on several occasions to assist with charitable shipments. He's
received a long list of accolades from fellow employees, customers and law enforcement
officials for his professionalism and commitment to excellence.
"We're thrilled that Jim has received this prestigious recognition," says
James Welch, president and CEO of Yellow Transportation. "There's really
very little he hasn't accomplished during his career. He's truly one of the best
in the industry, and we're proud to have him on our team." Bio
courtesy of Yellow Transportation.