Safety is a top priority in the trucking industry for everyone from truck drivers to fleet managers and beyond. Read more about how the industry is focused on safety in this week’s Five Good Things.
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Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for helping unconscious, trapped driver on fire under his crashed vehicle
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver William Mitchell of Alto, Georgia, a TCA Highway Angel. Mitchell stopped to help a pickup truck driver who was unconscious and on fire and trapped under his vehicle after crashing into a tanker truck. Mitchell drives for Penske Logistics out of Reading, Pennsylvania.
On October 16, in Jefferson, Georgia, Mitchell was waiting at a red light on a divided highway when he witnessed a collision between a pickup truck and a tanker truck.
“I guess he hit him right in the fuel tank,” Mitchell said. “It was an instant fireball. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a car accident that had an explosion like that other than in a movie.”
After the explosion, Mitchell parked his vehicle and ran to the pickup truck to check on the driver. Mitchell saw the driver had been ejected and was underneath the truck, on fire. The truck was also on fire. He ran to his truck, grabbed his fire extinguisher, and returned and extinguished the fire.
“By then, two other gentlemen had come and helped me get the driver a couple feet from the truck,” Mitchell said. They tried, to no avail, to extinguish the fire near the tanker truck.
“It was just everywhere; there was just no point in trying that,” he said.
The tanker had rolled over during the crash, and its driver managed to crawl out of the cab and get out of harm’s way. While the injured pickup truck driver was listed in stable condition, the driver of the tanker truck walked away with no injuries.
“I’m a very compassionate person, I guess,” Mitchell said. “I’m always in the mindset of ‘what would I want somebody to do for me?’ I surely would want somebody to save me and not leave me there.”
XPO recognizes 246 drivers for reaching one million or more accident-free miles
XPO recently announced that 246 of its professional truck drivers achieved million-mile safe driving milestones in 2024. Collectively, they have driven over 308 million consecutive accident-free miles, equivalent to roughly 12,379 trips around the Earth.
Of the 246 drivers, 199 reached one million consecutive accident-free miles, while 35 surpassed two million miles. Additionally, XPO celebrated nine drivers for achieving three million consecutive accident-free miles, including the 100th driver in company history to accomplish this feat.
XPO recognized three drivers for reaching four million consecutive accident-free miles last year: Dale Williams of Knoxville, Tennessee; Doug Phelps of Clearfield, Pennsylvania; and Darrell Thompson of Indianapolis, Indiana. Four million miles is the equivalent of driving to the moon and back over eight times. Dale, Doug, and Darrell have a combined 116 years of accident-free driving at XPO.
“I want to congratulate our 246 drivers who reached one million or more consecutive accident-free miles last year,” XPO CEO Mario Harik said. "I am grateful for everything they do to serve our customers and keep our roads safe, and I look forward to recognizing many more drivers in the coming year.”
Love's Travel Stops donates $47,000 to the NATSO Foundation
The NATSO Foundation recently announced that Love’s Travel Stops donated $47,000 to advance the NATSO Foundation’s program of work, which includes the NATSO Foundation’s Roadside Service Technicians Safety Initiative.
Love’s Travel Stops’ annual donation to the NATSO Foundation began in 2021 when it contributed $123,000 to kickstart the NATSO Foundation’s Roadside Service Technicians Safety Initiative.
“Improving roadside working conditions and protecting our team members and professional drivers is a top priority for Love’s,” Jenny Love Meyer, EVP and chief culture officer, said. “We are proud to support the NATSO Foundation again this year. Our NATSO Foundation major gift is a way to honor our employees, customers, and the communities Love’s locations support.”
The NATSO Foundation’s Roadside Service Technicians Safety Initiative aims to reduce accidents involving disabled trucks and roadside assistance personnel. Today, the Roadside Service Technicians Safety Initiative includes educational tools, including a training video, best practice advice, and interactive training. The program includes a partnership with HAAS Alert to offer a discount on their service. Without Love’s Travel Stops’ 2021 major gift donation, the program would not be possible.
See also: CarriersEdge announces 2025 Best Fleets to Drive For
Advantage Truck Group and Worcester Railers partner on Trades & Tech Night to connect students with careers
Nearly 200 students from high schools across Massachusetts and the SkillsUSA Massachusetts network participated in the recent Trades & Tech Night career fair hosted by the Worcester Railers in partnership with Advantage Truck Group.
Held at the DCU Center before a Railers hockey game, the event allowed students to explore career options and meet with about 20 organizations within the skilled trades, including Advantage Truck Group and other businesses offering internships, paid apprenticeships, and full-time job opportunities in industries ranging from transportation and the building trades to manufacturing, lab sciences, and more.
“The ongoing need for skilled professionals is a challenge for the heavy-duty truck business and other skilled industries, and making students aware of these career opportunities is critical to solving this issue,” Kevin Holmes, president and CEO of Advantage Truck Group, said.
Kenworth dealer Will Bruser selected as 2025 Truck Dealer of the Year
Will Bruser, owner and CEO of Truckworx Kenworth in Birmingham, Alabama, was named the 2025 Truck Dealer of the Year at the ATD Show 2025 in New Orleans. The national award recognizes commercial truck dealers for business performance, industry leadership, and service to their community.
“I’d like to thank my parents for teaching me at a very young age that it is always better to serve than receive,” Bruser said in accepting the award. “I would like to thank our amazing 600-plus employees back home; our wonderful customers; and our OEMs Kenworth, Hino, and Isuzu.”
Bruser began his work at Truckworx in 2004. He was named president in 2013 and bought the business in 2021. Under his leadership, the company has grown to 21 locations and over 600 employees across Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida panhandle.
“Let’s all not forget that without a truck, America stops,” Bruser said. “In 2025, let’s keep America rolling.”
Bruser was selected from six nominated commercial truck dealers, including:
- Michael Burroughs, VP of Burroughs Diesel Inc. in Laurel, Mississippi
- Mike Clark, CEO of Dobbs Peterbilt in Memphis, Tennessee
- Shawn Trimble Craig, CEO and named dealer successor of Southwest International Trucks in Dallas, Texas
- Jeff Speno, president and dealer principal of Mission Valley Ford in San Jose, California
- Mark Bergey, CEO of Bergey Family Corporation in Souderton, Pennsylvania, was recognized as the award finalist
The nominees were selected by state, metro, and national dealer association leaders. A panel of judges from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business evaluated the nominees and selected the winner.
