Ryder System Inc. has presented its annual “Driver of the Year” awards to three professionals who, combined, have driven 12 million collision-free miles with more than 116 years of professional driving experience.

One of the company’s most prestigious recognition programs, the “Driver of the Year” award honors those drivers who have demonstrated exemplary safety performance, customer service and citizenship throughout their careers. The top awards this year were presented to two drivers employed by Ryder and a customer-employed driver for one of Ryder’s Fleet Management Solutions accounts. Each recipient will receive a five-day, four-night cruise to the Bahamas with a guest, a trophy, ring and watch, and will be inducted into the Ryder “Driver Hall of Fame.”
James L. Maxson was named 2005 Driver of the Year for Ryder’s U.S. Supply Chain Solutions Automotive business segment. Maxson has been a Ryder employee for 12 years where he has logged more than 3 million preventable collision-free miles without injury.
Stanley Taylor was named 2005 Driver of the Year for Ryder’s U.S. Supply Chain Solutions High-Tech and Consumer Industries. He has driven nearly 4 million collision- and injury-free miles since he began driving professionally for Ryder more than 18 years ago.
Dwane Handy was named Ryder’s Fleet Management Solutions 2005 Driver of the Year. Handy has been an employee of EMCO Enterprises, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Andersen Corp. in Des Moines, Iowa, for 41 years. He has achieved 5 million injury- and violation-free miles in his more than 44 years as a professional driver.
The three drivers, accompanied by family members and business associates, were honored at a recent luncheon banquet held in their honor near Ryder’s headquarters in Miami. Ryder Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Greg Swienton, accompanied by several key Ryder executives and the drivers’ local managers, was on hand to personally congratulate the honorees.
For more information about Ryder, visit www.ryder.com.