JONESBORO, AR - August 16, 2001 - Mike James, a professional driver for Roadway Express, Inc., has logged one million miles, the equivalent of circling the earth's equator 40 times, without a preventable accident. James has received a door emblem, emblazoned with his accomplishment, to be used on his pickup and delivery tractor for the remainder of his career at Roadway.
James, 50, is a pickup and delivery driver for the Company's Jonesboro facility. A member of Local 667 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, he has been with Roadway for more than fourteen years, starting his career with Roadway at Blytheville, AR. At Jonesboro, he becomes the third active driver to attain one million miles accident free.
James resides in Hornersville, MO, with his wife, Penny, and has one daughter and one grandson. He is active in Hornersville Baptist Church.
"With individual employee performance such as exists in Jonesboro, I am confident that this dedication can make our vision to become the "Safest Transportation Company in North America" a reality," stated President and Chief Operating Officer for Roadway, James Staley. "This success is testimony to the pride and commitment our engaged workforce has while serving our customers and working safely."
Founded in 1930, Roadway Express has had 1,472 active drivers reach the 1 million mile mark, 300 have driven 2 million accident-free miles and, 36 drivers have extended their records to 3 million miles, a feat the takes at least thirty years. Six drivers in Roadway's history, Leon Minter, Luke Cline, Ron Martin, Glen Phillips, Alvin Wilkinson and B. J. McMillan attained 4 million miles without preventable accident.
"We are all very proud of Mike's exemplary professional success," said John H. Smith, Terminal Manager of Roadway's Jonesboro facility. "It is a clear indication of the commitment to improving highway safety and putting to use the extensive defensive driving training that our company provides our drivers."
