UPS Honors Tennessee Drivers for 25 Years of Safe Driving


MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that 44 elite drivers from Tennessee are among 1,582 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.  

Tennessee boasts 333 Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 8,315 years of accident-free driving. Michael Matlock of Strawberry Plains is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 42 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 2,583 total UPS drivers in Tennessee. 

Globally, 10,504 UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 257,221 years and nearly 14 billion safe miles during their careers. That’s enough miles to travel to the moon and back almost 29,000 times.

“My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Charlene Thomas, president, UPS Mid-South District. “Their attention to detail has kept them safe and has helped improve public safety.”

Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 55 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 49 years of safe driving. One hundred twenty six others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.

UPS’s 127,000 small package drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and delivering nearly 5 billion packages annually. 

Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established its safe driving honor program in 1928

** NOTE: The following pages list local drivers by hometown and UPS center.  If you’re interested in interviewing a local driver, please contact UPS Public Relations at pr@ups.com. Visit pressroom.ups.com for multimedia assets.

Following is a list of Tennessee drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.

DriverHometownUPS Work Location
Allen,  ReginaldColliervilleMemphis
Amos,  EddieMemphisMemphis
Armstrong,  TerryMt JulietNashville
Arnold,  MichaelBristolBristol, VA
Barstad,  ClayCookevilleCookeville
Bradford,  GregorySmithvilleCookeville
Brown Willoughby,  MaryNewbernDyersburg
Cameron Jr,  DavidKnoxvilleKnoxville
Cardwell Jr,  JohnKnoxvilleKnoxville
Caughorn,  DavidKnoxvilleKnoxville
Cofer,  RogerHarrisonChattanooga
Curtis,  TimothyHendersonvilleNashville
Dennis,  DavidGainesboroCookeville
Dunham,  JerryHermitageFranklin
Eldridge,  DavidHendersonvilleNashville
Fawver,  ScottyKnoxvilleKnoxville
Ford,  JeffreyKnoxvilleKnoxville
Francis,  AnthonyBellsJackson
Gibson,  RodneyCordovaMemphis
Gorman,  RandyPowellKnoxville
Haley,  KennethClintonKnoxville
Hammons,  RandyArlingtonMemphis
Harty,  RichardBartlettMemphis
Holmes,  CharleyLavergneNashville
Hurst,  JamesKnoxvilleKnoxville
Jones,  KevinMemphisMemphis
Lewis,  JerrySpringfieldNashville
Long,  MontyDyersburgMemphis
McEwen,  PatrickTrentonTrenton
McRary,  JamesKnoxvilleKnoxville
Nelson,  LavernKnoxvilleKnoxville
Poole,  DavidHendersonvilleNashville
Poore,  BrianBristolJohnson City
Porter,  RandyLakelandMemphis
Powell,  GregorySomervilleMemphis
Rector,  SteveHarrisonChattanooga
Reed,  MichaelDonelsonNashville
Riley,  MartyAlgoodCookeville
Skelley,  NorrisCookevilleCookeville
Smith,  BarryMillingtonMemphis
Statzer,  Kevin W.BristolBristol, VA
Stringer,  JeffMartinParis
Umbarger,  ZaneManchesterTullahoma
Wilburn,  KevinSpringfieldNashville

UPS Public Relations 
pr@ups.com