It was like the Academy Awards and Super Bowl all rolled into one for 40 of J.B. Hunt's safest drivers recently.

Company officials, the governor's office, and a crowd of more than 250 honored the drivers for their 46 million safe miles of service with the Arkansas-based carrier.
It was the first time in the company's history that such a large group of drivers and their families were honored in such fashion. Thirty four were recognized for their 1 million safe mile achievement and six were honored for driving 2 million safe miles, milestones reached in the third and fourth quarters of last year.
The five 2-million-mile drivers honored at the ceremony were: Anthony Broussard Jr., Arlington, Texas; Albert Skarya Jr., Philippi, W.V.; Jerry Warren, Marshall, Ark.; Steve Edwards, Bloomsburg, Pa.; and Ricky Miller, Pennsville, N.J. Orville Gregory, Whitley City, Ky., was unable to attend the ceremony.
Introduced one by one, each driver was met with a cheering crowd, spotlights, television cameras, a band and screams from the University of Arkansas Razorback cheerleaders.
Lucretia Norris, the Governor's Liaison for Transportation and Local Government, read a congratulatory message from Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Each driver received a personal letter of congratulation from the governor.
The evening also featured several humorous commercials with a safety theme written and produced by MC Dan Cortez, a J.B. Hunt driver retired from a career in broadcasting and news writing.
Guest speakers included company safety and operations officials, including Kirk Thompson, president and CEO, who presented drivers with plaques honoring their safe driving achievement.
"My wife and I were proud yet humbled by the magnitude of the event," said Al Skarya, a 2-million-mile safe driving recipient. "I hope programs such as these continue in the future."
Currently J.B. Hunt has 769 1-million-mile safe drivers, 29 2-million mile safe drivers and two 3-million-mile safe drivers.