Bill Mayhew bought his own dump truck at the age of 18 and has been in the industry every since. As a matter of fact, almost all the men in his family are in the trucking industry.
To this Cincinnati road driver, the top three things that are most important to a driver are having a good attitude, being safety conscious, and performing as a good role model through appearance and conduct.
"Being a city driver is more than just driving a truck," according to Albany, New York city driver Scott Harris. "If you make it a more personal thing instead of just a job, you'll do better as a driver, or at anything. Just meet the people and be their friend."
"You can't give good service if you're not safe," says Salt Lake City Road Driver Alonzo Griffin. "Safety and service go together."
Two of Max Helman's favorite topics are safety and truck driving as a job. The Carlisle, Pennsylvania-domiciled road driver points out how his job differs from others in some aspects. His "shift" varies in time of day, and his tractor is his "office." However, he stresses it's a job like anyone else's, because he puts in a full day's work. It's a job where the quality approach is a must.
Andy's commitment to quality on both the personal and professional level is reflected in his 27 accident-free years of city driving. On the issue of safety, the Louisville, Kentucky city driver says, "We have to be alert at all times and expect the unexpected. We have to be defensive drivers."
The Louisville native has always felt that projecting a positive image was important. He has said numerous times that a driver's performance and attitude matter.
Dave Schmuecker came to ABF with the Carolina acquisition, having already won a place on the 1995 America's Road Team. He has driven 1.6 million miles without a chargeable accident and ticket-free, during his 14-year career.
A Nebraska native, Dave works out of the South Chicago terminal and lives in Indiana. He won the 1995 Indiana Master Driver Award from the Indiana Motor Carriers Association.
As an ABFer with direct contact with shippers, the Ellenwood, Georgia city driver has developed a sixth sense when it comes to changes in the local economy he serves. Ralph's expertise is invaluable to the company in meeting the changing requirements of customers in the Atlanta metropolitan service area.
James is living proof of how a positive attitude contributes to success. Domiciled at ABF's Little Rock, Arkansas terminal since 1974, when he joined the company as a road driver, he has driven 2.7 million miles and earned a 27-year safe driving record. The Lonoke, Arkansas native has never had a chargeable accident. His impressive record earned him a spot on the ABF Road Team and the America's Road Team in 1992.
The name John Holland is synonymous with the ABF Quality Improvement Process and trucking nationwide. One of the most powerful transportation spokesmen in the country today, the Albuquerque, New Mexico road driver has a record that includes membership on the 1990 and 1991 ABF Road Teams and the 1991 America's Road Team. His 50-year career includes more than 5.5 million safe-driving miles and numerous safety awards. He has been named New Mexico driver of the month twice.