CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 62 elite drivers from North Carolina are among 1,445 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.
North Carolina boasts 357 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 10,051 years of accident-free driving. David Herndon of Charlotte is the state's senior safest driver, with 42 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 3,165 total UPS drivers in North Carolina.
Globally, 7,878 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they've racked up more than 221,000 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers. That's enough miles to travel to Mars and back 36 times.
"My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus, and for the countless lives they've saved," said Dwayne Meeks, president, UPS South Atlantic District.
Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 52 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 46 years of safe driving. Sixty-two others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
UPS's 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and delivering more than 4 billion packages safely.
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 table lists local drivers by hometown and UPS center. If you're interested in interviewing a local driver, please contact Dan McMackin at dmcmackin@ups.com. Visit pressroom.ups.com for multimedia assets.
Following is a list of North Carolina drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location |
| Banks, Douglas | Creedmore | Durham Center |
| Barbee, Jamie | Elon | Greensboro Hub |
| Brown, William | Wendell | Raleigh |
| Bumgarner, Jeffrey | Millers Creek | Winston Salem Building |
| Byrd Jr, James | Huntersville | Charlotte Hub |
| Calloway, Todd | Asheville | Asheville |
| Capps, Eddie | Whispering Pines | Southern Pines Center |
| Childers Jr, Olin | Rockwell | Kannapolis |
| Cline, Larry | Hickory | Hickory Center |
| Cremedy Jr, Willie | Winston Salem | High Point |
| Dasen, Dale | Youngsville | Raleigh |
| Dix, Linwood | Graham | Greensboro Hub |
| Earp, Edward | Spring Hope | Raleigh |
| Emerick, Mark | Holly Springs | Raleigh |
| Emery, Barry | Clayton | Raleigh |
| Evans, Earl | Raleigh | Raleigh |
| Fullwood, Kenneth | Raleigh | Raleigh |
| Furmage, Alton | Sanford | Southern Pines Center |
| Gibson, Kenneth | Greensboro | Greensboro Hub |
| Glenn, Michael | Greensboro | Greensboro Hub |
| Goins, Michael | Monroe | Monroe |
| Gosnell, Jeffery | Candler | Asheville |
| Hadlock, Lee | Pleasant Garden | Greensboro Hub |
| Hankins, Mark | Concord | Charlotte Hub |
| Harper, Stewart | Durham | Durham Center |
| Hart, Douglas | Carrboro | Chapel Hill |
| Heath, William | Kinston | Havelock |
| Heaton, David | Kings Mountain | Shelby |
| Hoffman, Rickey | Connelly Springs | Lenoir |
| Hughes Jr, Lynwood | Oxford | Durham Center |
| Humphrey, James | Lumberton | Lumberton Center |
| Ingle, Jeffrey | Burlington | Greensboro Hub |
| Kennedy, Douglas | Pink Hill | Kinston Center |
| Kilby, Eugene | Candler | Asheville |
| Lane, Glen | Statesville | Statesville |
| Loy, Kevin | Burlington | Greensboro Hub |
| Maye, Harry Marlon | Granite Falls | Lenoir |
| Midgett, Danuel | Manteo | Manteo |
| Miller, Johnny | Lexington | Greensboro Hub |
| Miller, Larry | Wilmington | Wilmington Center |
| Moore, Danny | Winston Salem | Winston Salem Building |
| Mull, Eddie | Hickory | Hickory Center |
| Organ Jr, Arthur | Knightdale | Raleigh |
| Peak, Thomas | Asheville | Asheville |
| Pulley, Harold | Durham | Raleigh |
| Reaves, William | Knightdale | Durham Center |
| Robinson, Darren | Butner | Durham Center |
| Rudisill, Martin | Burlington | Greensboro Hub |
| Simmons, Vincent | Raleigh | Raleigh |
| Smith Jr, Floyd | Fayetteville | Raleigh |
| Smith, Alexus | Durham | Durham Center |
| Smith, William | Spring Hope | Rocky Mount |
| Sparks, Jeffrey | Mt Olive | Goldsboro Center |
| Stilley, Douglas | Rocky Mount | Rocky Mount |
| Sustar, Timothy | China Grove | Charlotte Hub |
| Triplett, Scott | Lenoir | Lenoir |
| Vestal, Terry | Boonville | Winston Salem Building |
| Webb, Don | Wake Forest | Raleigh |
| Wesson, Ben | Angier | Raleigh |
| Williams, Joseph | Greensboro | Greensboro Hub |
| Williams, Randall | High Point | Greensboro Hub |
| Wilson, Ricky | Greensboro | Greensboro Hub |