UPS Honors South Dakota Drivers for 25 Years of Safe Driving

UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced four elite drivers from South Dakota are among 928 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.

South Dakota boasts 30 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 874 years of accident-free driving. Richard Schneider of Dell Rapids is South Dakota’s senior safe driver, with 35 years of accident-free driving under his belt.

Globally, 4,793 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 136,091 years and more than 5 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 212,000 times.

The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company’s history.

"UPS puts a premium on safe-driving methods and training, and these drivers represent the best of the industry,” said Cheryl Stice, vice president and chief operating officer, UPS Prairie Mountain District. "I’m very proud of these men and women. To go at least a quarter-of-a-century without an accident is a testament to the effectiveness of that training and to the pride our people take in their jobs.”

Nationally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS’s Kentucky District, with 48 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Michigan District is next in line with 47 years of safe driving. Fifteen 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 3.3 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven. There are 273 total UPS drivers in South Dakota.

UPS invested $52 million in 2009 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called "Space and Visibility.” New UPS tractor-trailer drivers receive 80 hours of classroom and on-the-road training and UPS package car drivers receive 20 hours of classroom and on-the-road defensive driving training before operating equipment. Package car drivers also complete three safety ride evaluations during their first 22 days on the job.

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 the Circle of Honor in 1955.

More information on UPS’s commitment to safety is available at www.pressroom.ups/safety.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services. With more than a century of experience in transportation and logistics, UPS is a leading global trade expert equipped with a broad portfolio of solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at www.blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

** NOTE: The following pages list local drivers by hometown and UPS center. If you’re interested in interviewing or riding along with a local driver, please contact Dan McMackin at 404-828-4188 or dmcmackin@ups.com.