JACKSONVILLE, FL--Febraury 23, 2012: UPS today announced 72 elite drivers from Florida are among 1,235 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.
“I'm very proud of these men and women”
Florida boasts 307 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 8,617 years of accident-free driving. Russell Taylor of Jacksonville is Florida's senior safe driver, with 41 years of accident-free driving under his belt, tying him for sixth best safe driving record among UPS's 102,000 drivers. There are 4,324 total UPS drivers in Florida.
Globally, 5,842 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they've racked up 161,746 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 212,000 times.
The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company's history.
"I'm very proud of these men and women," said David Ruiz, president, UPS Florida District. "To go at least a quarter century without an accident is a testament to the pride they take in their work and to the training they receive. My thanks go to all of them for the countless lives they've saved."
Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS's Ohio Valley District, with 50 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Great Lakes District is next in line with 49 years of safe driving. Twenty-seven others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
This year, 16 female drivers have joined the ranks of those with more than 30 years of safe driving. This group is led by Orlando tractor-trailer driver Ginny Odom, who is credited with 37 years and more than 3 million miles 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.
UPS invested $175 million in 2011 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 the Circle of Honor in 1955.
More information on UPS's commitment to safety is available at UPS Safety.
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 UPS Blog. To get UPS news direct, visit UPS News.
Following is a list of Florida drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location | ||||
| Roberto Alfonso | Miami Springs | Hialeah | ||||
| John Ammaturo | Longwood | Longwood | ||||
| Richard Baird | West Palm Bch | Hialeah | ||||
| Harry Bissinger | Cocoa | Rockledge | ||||
| Joseph Brunozzi | Zephyrhills | Tampa | ||||
| John Burch | Miami | Hialeah | ||||
| Orion Bynes | West Palm Beach | Riviera Beach | ||||
| Bradley Cable | Monteverde | Orlando | ||||
| Hugo Caudales | Miami | Hialeah | ||||
| William Cook | Middleburg | Jacksonville | ||||
| Jeffrey Davison | Riverview | Tampa | ||||
| Ralph De Luca | Palm City | Hialeah | ||||
| Ted Doss Jr | Orange Park | Jacksonville | ||||
| Shelton Dozier | Parrish | Tampa | ||||
| Robert Eugene Eardley Jr | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| John Ehlert | Sunny Hills | Montgomery | ||||
| Ramon Estornell | Royal Palm Beach | Riviera Beach | ||||
| John Fahey | Brandon | Tampa | ||||
| Robert Fasig | Royal Palm Bch | Riviera Beach | ||||
| David Fisher | Orlando | Orlando | ||||
| Harold Franklin | Ocala | Ocala | ||||
| Bruce Gallagher | Vero Beach | Vero Beach | ||||
| Mark Goodson | Lake City | Lake City | ||||
| Russell Guy | Winter Haven | Lakeland | ||||
| Louis Hallal | Brooksville | Brooksville | ||||
| Michael Hanson | Orlando | Orlando | ||||
| Cecil Higginbotham | Orlando | Orlando | ||||
| Thomas Hudgins | Winter Haven | Lake Wales | ||||
| Arthur Huels | Navarre | Ft. Walton | ||||
| James Hurlburt | Punta Gorda | Port Charlotte | ||||
| Betty Ivins | Florida City | Miami | ||||
| Dorough Lane Jr | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| John Macphie | Winter Springs | Tampa | ||||
| William McClamma | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| Emmitt McCool | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| Neal Mihalik | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| Ronald Morin | Plantation | Hialeah | ||||
| Louis Mouser | Tarpon Springs | Clearwater | ||||
| James Nicola | St. Petersburg | Clearwater | ||||
| Steven Overhuel | Hudson | Port Richey | ||||
| Jeffrey Partington | Lake Wales | Lake Wales | ||||
| William Perdue | Babson Park | Lake Wales | ||||
| Alberto Perez | Pembroke Pines | Hialeah | ||||
| Jason Pitman | Babson Park | Lake Wales | ||||
| Douglas Poskevich | Deland | Longwood | ||||
| Kevin Powell | Dunedin | Clearwater | ||||
| Kenneth Purvis | Quincy | Tallahassee | ||||
| Emilio Quintana | Apopka | Longwood | ||||
| Boyce Rainey IV | Silver Springs | Ocala | ||||
| John Rittscher | Ft Myers | Hialeah | ||||
| Oscar Scruggs | Tallahassee | Tallahassee | ||||
| Richard Sedgeman | Titusville | Palm Bay | ||||
| Jeffrey Service | Tamarac | Deerfield Beach | ||||
| Rick Sexton | Brooksville | Brooksville | ||||
| Steve Sheets | Callahan | Jacksonville | ||||
| Nathaniel Simpkins | Winter Haven | Lake Wales | ||||
| John Sims | Callahan | Jacksonville | ||||
| Jeffrey Smith | Bradenton | Tampa | ||||
| David Smoleroff | Deland | Longwood | ||||
| Mark Stilley | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| Paul Strickland | Tallahassee | Tallahassee | ||||
| Lynn Swasey | Ormond Beach | Daytona Beach | ||||
| Thomas Taylor | Ft Myers | Ft Myers | ||||
| Charles Terry | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| Michael Tomlin | Ocoee | Orlando | ||||
| Arthur Vanarsdale | Hollywood | Hollywood | ||||
| Michael Williams | Lakeland | Lake Wales | ||||
| Jack Wilson | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | ||||
| James Wright | Orlando | Longwood | ||||
| Timothy Wright | Pompano Beach | Hialeah | ||||
| Willie Wynn | Glen Saint Mary | Jacksonville | ||||
| Randal Yerdon | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
