‘Man of action’

Marten driver Phil Johnson drives through the good and bad with a determined spirit

Phil Johnson

Expecting the unexpected has been a mantra for Marten driver Phil Johnson for the near 30 years he’s driven, and abiding by it has resulted in quite a few accolades, including several driver of the year awards and nominations, 3 million safe miles and a Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel award, which he was given for saving a man’s life when he happened upon a car crash in Destin, Fla.

He’s also a self-proclaimed man of action, and “I’ve always looked at it that way,” he says, “I’m not a standby-er.” The Jackson, Ga., resident has more than one story to back it up, too. In addition to his Highway Angel actions, he saved a baby from a car in Michigan in which the mother was doing drugs in a parking lot.

When it comes to driving, though, “it’s all about anticipation,” Johnson says. “You have to anticipate what the other person’s going to do before they do it and not let folks get under your skin.”

The driving vet has run a dedicated load from Atlanta to Indianapolis for about 15 years hauling refrigerated goods to Kroger. He started driving when he joined the Marines in 1975, where he was offered the chance to haul jet fuel in Beaufort, S.C., then tactical equipment in Okinawa, Japan.

After leaving the service, he did landscape work briefly before going to driving school in Savannah, Ga. He had a few short stints with other carriers, including time hauling for Dixie Crystal sugar. He started driving for Marten in 1987, where he’s been since.