From Roadway's Spotlight, 1st edition 2005, pp. 36-39
James Smith a linehaul driver from Greenville, South Carolina, is Roadway's 15th driver to achieve four million safe-driving miles.
With lights flashing, the two patrol cars from the South Carolina Highway Patrol guided the set of Roadway doubles through the busy Greenville, South Carolina, traffic. The truck was sparkling clean, and bore the decal, "J.R. Smith, 3 Million Plus Accident-Free Miles." The reason for the escort? To celebrate James Smith's special day-he had achieved the rare safety milestone of four million safe-driving miles . . . and that decal needed to be updated.
Following the escort through the gates of the Greenville facility, James Smith saw that a huge crowd awaited him. Family members, employees, retirees, and customers all cheered as he exited the tractor. "I had to get myself together because I had tears in my eyes," said James. "It meant a lot to see everybody standing out there for me."
After many hugs and congratulatory handshakes, Conley Edwards, Greenville's relay manager, began the presentation to James that included a special four-million-mile jacket and belt buckle, and Roadway model trucks for James' two grandsons. Scott Murray, vice president of the South Carolina Trucking Association presented James with a commendation from Governor Mark Sanford, and Lt. Don Tinsley from the South Carolina Highway Patrol spoke of the contribution James had made to safety on South Carolina's highways.
After the presentation was over, and the last photograph taken, James sat down with Spotlight to talk about his safety achievement, and his 36 years with Roadway Express.
Spotlight: Tell us how you became a truck driver.
James: I grew up on a farm driving farm equipment. Whenever I'd see a big truck, I'd say, "That's something I want to do." In high school I drove a school bus, then went to work for RC Motorline, then Sykes, then G&P.
S: How did you get a job at Roadway?
J: I was working at G&P, doing interchain from G&P to Roadway. I asked a man at Roadway if they were hiring. He gave me an application. The next day he asked if I brought the application back. I said, "Not yet," and he said if I brought it back he'd put me to work the next day.
I went to work part-time, that was in 1966. I worked on the dock for a year then worked P&D for eight years.
S: Did you like working P&D?
J: I loved working with customers--I still miss that. Getting along with people is one of the things I like to do. And back then, I was the first black man to drive a truck for Roadway in Greenville. My terminal manager told me I was going to be like Jackie Robinson or Ted Williams. So I tried to carry myself as a professional to help make the way for other drivers coming along. I wore a tie every day - just tried to look nice, be nice, and treat people nice. I had such a great time at all the places I went to. A lot of customers would ask me to come back; they would call my dispatcher and say, "We want J.R. back over here."
S: So how did you end up as a linehaul driver?
J: I wanted to make a change, and an opportunity on the road came open.
S: There are some differences between driving in the city and on the road--one is that you're alone on the road. Do you enjoy that?
J: I do. I sometimes turn off the CB and enjoy the silence. As you get older you enjoy riding by yourself.
S: How did you develop the skills to become a safe driver?
J: I was safe before I started driving a truck. When I was driving the school bus, I wanted to be safe because I had kids on the bus with me. That's when I learned to be careful out there.
S: What's the biggest challenge you face on the road?
J: When I'm in the right lane and coming up on a ramp. I signal to move over to the left, and I find that, even if there's no traffic in the far-left lane, cars just don't get over.
S: They don't share the road.
J: Right. And it's not just cars, not all trucks let you in either. There's a lot of traffic out there, and it makes it harder when people aren't courteous.
Another challenge is how little car drivers know about trucks. They don't see a truck and realize it could weigh 80,000 pounds so they pull in front of you and hit the brakes. You have to expect people to do that.
S: How to you deal with that?
J: You've got to anticipate what the next driver is going to do. I'll be driving and think, "That guy is going to come over here," and more than likely he will.
S: Do you use the Smith System?
J: I do, and it's helpful. It teaches you how to keep away from other vehicles. And always leave yourself an out. If someone gets in my space, I just fall back and always leave myself an out in any situation.
S: Tell me about your first tractor . . . the one you received when you achieved three million miles.
J: It was tractor 834665 with a Cummins engine. The terminal had it repainted and it was beautiful. I kept it clean, too.
S: And then in August of 1998 you went to the Volvo plant to get a brand new tractor, right?
J: Yes. That was great! The most exciting time of my career. The Governor of Virginia was there, and I got to meet so many great drivers from all over the company. And to tour the plant and watch them build our tractors . . . that was amazing.
S: What's it been like to drive your own tractor with your name and safety achievement on it?
J: I enjoy it. A lot of people congratulate you on your miles.
S: And you're a rolling advertisement for Roadway and for safety.
J: Yes, I think of that often. I'm glad to be advertising for Roadway because I know if Roadway makes money, then I'll make money. I'm just glad I could put the four million miles on the door to advertise for them.
S: Tell us what it was like in the weeks leading up to your four million miles.
J: I knew the day it would happen, and I was nervous about it. I felt like anything could happen, and I'd sometimes wake up in the night thinking about it. And everyone would ask me about it. "You're about to get the four million . . . how's it feel?" I would tell them, "I don't want to talk about it." But sometimes, if the breakroom was empty, I would slip over there and check out my miles on the board. But I still didn't want to talk about it!
S: You're only the 15th driver in Roadway's history to drive four million safe miles. How did you do it?
J: I didn't do it by myself. The Lord has been with me up and down the road. Odell Mason, who works security at our gate, prays with me before I leave. That's important to me.
And everybody at Roadway has supported me. From the dockworkers who load my trailers evenly, to the mechanics who fix my truck . . . we just have a super time together.
S: What does it feel like to join the other four million milers--it's really an elite group!
J: It means a lot to me because I know most of them personally. They're super nice guys, and it feels great to be part of that club. I'm going to continue to do my best to help Roadway. I'm 63 years old so I know I won't go for five million, but I'm sure glad I got four!
S: Roadway will celebrate its 75th anniversary in February of 2005. You've been with the company for 36 of those years--almost half of the time the company's been in business.
J: I'm just thankful that I've been part of this great company. Roadway has made a way for me, my wife, my kids, and my grandkids. To this day, I look forward to driving, and I'm proud to drive for Roadway.
