Chuck Pearson, Jr. Retains Grand Champion Title at 2006 Professional Freight Handlers Competition
2006 Grand Champion Chuck Pearson
with wife Krista.
Chuck Pearson, a freight handling professional/driver account specialist from Valdosta, Georgia, was named Grand Champion at the Roadway 5th Annual Professional Freight Handlers Competition (PFHC). The event was held April 23 - 25 in Akron, Ohio. Chuck was also named Grand Champion at the 2005 competition.
Inspired by the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships, Roadway created PFHC as a way to recognize its safe and skilled freight handling professionals. The competition consisted of four challenges: a pre-trip inspection, written examination, personal interview, and driving/freight handling course. Twenty-four Roadway employees competed this year.
A 17-year employee, Chuck Pearson has been injury-free for 15 years, is a member of his facility's IPI Council, and was named employee of the quarter in 1999.
Randy DeVault, a driver account specialist from Augusta, Maine, received second place. Robbie Jarman, a freight handling professional from Meridian, Mississippi, received third place.
Team Roadway 2006
Steve May, a freight handling professional/driver account specialist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received the award for the highest pre-trip inspection score.
Employees from around the company competed in local run-offs to earn their way to the national competition. To be eligible, employees had to be certified to operate forklifts and have an injury- and accident-free safety record for one year prior to the event.
