Drivers Decker, Cook Earn Top Honors at USA Truck Stars of Safety Celebration
Van Buren, AR… USA Truck, Inc., a leading capacity solutions provider headquartered in Van Buren, AR, has named Robert Decker and Claude Cook as the company’s Drivers of the Year for 2015. Decker and Miller were among a select group of company drivers and independent contractors honored for their exemplary performance during USA Truck’s Stars of Safety Celebration held February 26 at the Fort Smith (AR) Convention Center.
USA Truck presented each Driver of the Year with a grand prize. Decker received a 2017 Kenworth T680, powered by a Cummins engine, with Eaton auto-shift transmission. The tractor bears customized emblems signifying Decker as USA Truck’s Company Driver of the Year. Clark, the independent contractor winner, received an all-expenses-paid destination getaway for two.
“It’s such an honor and a pleasure to be able to recognize Robert, Claude and the very best of the best drivers in our company and in our industry,” said Billy Cartright, USA Truck’s Senior Vice President of Operations and host of the event. “This great event is for them and their families. They understand and appreciate that as professional drivers, they are responsible not only for their own safety, but for the safety of everyone around them. They are passionate about it, they live it every single day and we are fortunate to have them as part of our USA Truck family.”
Decker was USA Truck’s Company Driver of the Month for June 2015. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran who was one of four USA Truck driving team members to be presented with a military-themed tractor last September. Decker lives in Rantoul, IL and has been with USA Truck since February 2004. He serves as a trainer and is a member of USA Truck’s Mileage Mileage Milestone Club with nearly 2.8 million safe driving miles. Decker and his wife, Julie, have two daughters and a grandson, and he enjoys fishing, golf and woodworking when not on the road.
Upon receiving his trophy and the keys to the Kenworth amid a standing ovation, an emotional Decker described the news as “an absolute surprise. I had no idea that this would happen.”
Cook was USA Truck’s Independent Contractor Driver of the Month for both March and November 2015. He lives in Mize, MS and has been with USA Truck since June 2010. Cook and his wife, Danita, have two children and seven grandchildren, and he enjoys fishing in his spare time. Cook also received a standing ovation and raised his trophy, drawing laughter when he called out to Danita, “Babe, where do you want to go?”
Shannon Newton, President of the Arkansas Trucking Association, was the event’s keynote speaker.
During the festivities, USA Truck welcomed eight new inductees into the company’s Mileage Milestone Club, which brings the total membership to 101. This elite group is comprised of USA Truck driving team members who have logged 1 million or more safe miles. The company also recognized 13 drivers moving up in milestone levels, as well as its Drivers of the Month for 2015.
USA Truck is a capacity solutions provider of transportation and logistics services that include truckload, dedicated contract carriage, intermodal and brokerage spot market throughout North America.
This press release will be available to interested parties at our web site, www.usa-truck.com, in “Company News,” located under the “Resources” tab. High-resolution images from the 2016 Stars of Safety Celebration, along with other downloadable materials, will be available in “Media Resources,” located under the “Resources” tab.