West Side Transport has honored Will Parrish from Yadkinville, N.C., as its 2009 Driver of the Year, based on his outstanding achievement in driven miles, fuel management, service and professionalism.

"We are pleased to honor Will and our Drivers of the Month as they exemplify our mission by providing total quality service to our customers," said Don Vogt, president and CEO.

Parrish, selected from 12 Drivers of the Month for 2009, received a check and an engraved sculpture during the awards ceremony. He also gets the chance to participate in the Iowa Motor Carriers Championship next year.

"They announced my name and it dumbfounded me that I was even in the running," Parrish said. When asked why he thought he'd been selected, he continued, "It's doing a job in a professional manner, meeting the deliveries, picking up appointments on time, turning in paperwork on time - just knowing your job and doing your job in a professional manner."

Criteria for selection of the monthly awards includes excellent fuel management, no preventable accidents, no service failures in the last 12 months, no log violations in the last three months, no DOT out of service in the last 12 months, attitude and professionalism.

West Side Transport is a 35-year-old dry-van carrier operating a fleet of 400 late model power units and 1,400 dry-van trailers throughout the U.S.