UPS honors magnificent seven Canucks

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — UPS today announced that seven Canadians are among the 1,122 drivers inducted into its 2011 “Circle of Honor,” an elite group drivers who have steered clear of accidents for 25 years or more.

The Canadian drivers are Steven Lattimore, of Kingston, Ont., Myles Ling, of Kingston, Robert Kerr of Windsor, Ont., Gary Ethier of Brantford, Ont., Gerald Peacock of Barrie, David Gracie of Kitchener, and Karl Peter, of London, Ont.

The number of inductees is the largest for any single year in the company’s history — up 21 percent from last year – bringing the total number to 5,248.

All told, these drivers have logged more than eight billion klicks around the world and more than 147,244 years of safe driving through their careers.

“I congratulate the drivers — and the seven Canadians specifically — who have achieved such an exemplary safety record over the course of 25 years,” said UPS Canada President Mike Tierney. “I also want to commend UPS for placing such a high priority on public safety and the safety of its employees.”

Last year, UPS implemented a ban within its organization on text and e-mail messaging while behind the wheel, a proven cause of traffic crashes, the company says.

“Our training and our drivers’ attention to details such as avoiding distractions while driving all play a part in their remarkable record,” said Debbie Gehricke, UPS’s corporate health and safety manager. “The Circle of Honor is a testament to the daily dedication that our drivers display in keeping the roads a safe place for everyone.”

This year, 14 female drivers have joined the ranks of those with more than 30 years of safe driving. This group is led by Orlando tractor-trailer driver Ginny Odom, who is credited with 36 years and close to five million kilometres without an accident.

UPS’s 102,000 drivers worldwide are among the safest on the roads, logging close to five billion kilometres per year with less than one accident per one and a half million kilometres driven. 


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