A man who has driven for 41 years and almost 6 million miles is the 2017 truck driver of the year for Arkansas.
The Arkansas Trucking Association recently named Eddie Granger as the organization’s top trucker. He drives for Dedicated Logistics, LLC, a truckload carrier headquartered in Crossett, Arkansas. The association annually recognizes one driver for their noteworthy professional qualifications, experience and performance.
Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association, presents Eddie Granger with his driver of the year award. (Arkansas Trucking Association photo)In nominating Granger for this award, Dedicated Logistics said he has driven more than 5.8 million miles in his 41-year driving career without a reportable accident. He’s been with the company for 13 years as an independent contractor.
When not on the road, Granger is involved in his church, the Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi. He is president of the men’s ministry, president of the usher board and president of the pastor support ministry.
Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association, praised Granger for being an ambassador for the trucking industry.
“Eddie has an incredible safety record,” said Newton. “He hasn’t had a violation since the 1970s, when he was going 37 in a 35. Dedication to safety is certainly something to celebrate. Dedication to safety for over 40 years is something to tell the world about because our industry is fortunate to have individuals like Eddie devoting his career to delivering our freight safely.”
“This is a very prestigious award. We could not be more proud of Mr. Granger, and we feel he is more than deserving of this honor,” said Dedicated Logistics, LLC, Safety Manager Scott Richardson. “To fully appreciate why it is such a great achievement to win this award, you have to understand just how much competition there is in our industry. Statistics show that about one out of every 11 jobs in the state of Arkansas is tied to the trucking industry. There are nearly 5,000 trucking companies located in our state with tens of thousands of truck drivers working for them. We truly feel blessed to have one of our drivers chosen for the award.”
