US Foodservice put 54 of its drivers and warehouse selectors to the test recently with a series of trials at the firm’s third annual National Driving Competition in San Antonio TX.
Representing the best of US Foodservice’s 12,000 drivers and warehouse selectors from around the nation, competitors squared off in four categories to test their ability to safely navigate an obstacle course. Tractor-trailer drivers, “pup” tractor-trailer drivers, forklift material handlers, and pallet jack handlers also demonstrated industry and safety knowledge through a written exam.
Winners of the 2009 competition were honored during a banquet at the Empire Theater. First-place winners included:
•Tractor-trailer—Steve Berwald of Watertown MN and US Foodservice’s Minneapolis division.
•Pup tractor-trailer—Kevin Merritt of Thayne WY and US Foodservice’s Salt Lake City division.
•Forklift material handler—Clint Wood of Roy UT and US Foodservice’s Salt Lake City division.
•Pallet jack handler—Victor Orozco of Omaha NE and US Foodservice’s Omaha division.
First-place winners each received a $2,000 prize.
Second through fifth places were also recognized in each category. Those winners, in that order, were:
•Tractor-trailer—Clifford Manning of Columbia SC, Chris Kriwer of Pasadena MD, Todd Baker of Lakeland FL, and Cluett Wallace of Deerfield Beach FL.
•Pup tractor-trailer—Daniel Ryan of Las Vegas NV, Rendon Morris of Lake City SC, Dewayne Allen of Maryville TN, and Mike Williams of Lakeland FL.
•Forklift material handler—Jim Barbeau of Somersworth NH, Brian Snead of Valrico FL, Jim Haugen of Grand Forks ND, and Jerome Reeves of Charlotte NC.
•Pallet jack handler—Kenneth Simmons of Willard UT, Ron Hall of Streator IL, Kiron Griffon of Jonesboro GA, and Eric Wright of Columbia SC.
