TravelCenters of America announced its 11th annual Citizen Driver Award honorees at the Mid-America Trucking Show, Friday March 22.
Married couple Steve and Gina Jones of Peoria, Arizona and Tim Taylor of Valdosta, Georgia were selected among over 140 professional drivers nominated for recognition.
The award was created to recognize professional drivers who demonstrate a high level of respect to the truck driving profession through leadership, good citizenship, safety, health and wellness, and community involvement.
“It’s an honor to recognize such extraordinary individuals who demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, safety and citizenship on the road and off,” said TA CEO Debi Boffa, who presented the awards at a special ceremony.
As a Citizen Driver recipient, honorees may select a TA, Petro Stopping Center, or TA Express location to be dedicated in their name. To celebrate their career and contributions, a bronze historical marker with the driver’s image and story will be installed on the front of the building, and a dedication ceremony is held with dozens of their closest family and friends. In addition, TA makes a $2,500 donation to each winner’s charitable organization of choice.
Steve and Gina Jones
Steve and Gina Jones
Steve served in the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2005, with one tour in Iraq. Gina had a successful career in retail management before joining her husband on the road at the age of 50 once her children were grown.
Their unique narrative as a married couple navigating the roadways together is an inspiration to many. As employees of Werner Enterprises, they belong to Werner’s elite Operation Freedom fleet, where they are regularly asked to take part in special events. From school visits to recruiting events, they talk about their experiences as professional truck rrivers and help spread awareness to the motoring public regarding safe driving around big trucks.
Steve and Gina were selected for the honor of delivering the US Capitol Christmas Tree. They transported over 14,000 ornaments, handmade by the people of West Virginia, and 84 companion Christmas Trees. As well as handed out the companion Christmas trees to members of the Armed Forces and their families at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
They are involved with organizations that aid veterans, children, and cancer research. Veterans causes include Helping Heroes Heal, Christmas Angel, Desert Devils at United Food Bank, Unforgotten Hero’s Ride, and U.S. VETS, which provides more than 5,500 veterans and families with housing, counseling, career development and support. They also helped organize and execute a fundraiser for U.S. Vets of Phoenix to help homeless vets. In addition, they participate in a program that provides toys to children in the Foster care system and as a cancer survivor, Gina raises money for breast cancer research and completed the Susan B. Komen 60-mile walk.
Steve and Gina have selected TA Tonopah, Arizona as the site to be dedicated in their names and Operation Noble Watchman as their charity of choice for the $2,500 donation.
Tim Taylor
Tim Taylor
Taylor is a driver/trainer with FedEx where he mentors new drivers. He also serves as a coach, offering advice to drivers to improve their skills and habits. He leads his fellow company drivers as they prepare for the truck driving championships, setting up practice sessions on his own time.
Taylor drives between 100,000 to 150,000 miles a year on average, but that doesn’t keep him from pursuing other passions. He hosts a weekly podcast where he interviews members of the trucking industry about how the industry is essential and how careers improve lives. In 2017, Tim was selected as an America’s Road Team Captain. He spreads the message of safe driving to students, fellow drivers, and everyone he can.
Taylor is also an active fund raiser for Safety Drive for a Cure, raising over $30,000 in the past seven years for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. He is also involved in his church as a Sunday school teacher for 36 years, an elder, and a mission field worker in Jamaica.
He has prioritized a healthy lifestyle recently losing over 50 pounds this past year. Always the mentor, he is now sharing his success by helping others in their weight loss journey.
Taylor has selected TA Atlanta South, Georgia as the site to be dedicated in his name and Adopt Together as his charity of choice for the $2,500 donation.
This year’s judges were:
- Dave Nemo, on-air host, of the Radio Nemo Show on Sirius XM’s Road Dog Trucking Network
- Ellen Voie, former CEO of Women in Trucking
- Lindsay Lawler, Nashville recording artist and cohost on Sirius XM’s Radio Nemo. Also, the writer and vocalist of our Citizen Driver theme song, “I Drive.”
- Donna Kennedy, executive director, St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund
- Jenny Fall, director of Driver Engagement, Women in Trucking
Since its inception in 2013, TA has awarded 44 professional truck drivers with the Citizen Driver honor.
