Saia honors over 4,800 drivers for safe driving, years of service

Updated Oct 15, 2024
Saia tractor-trailer
Saia

Saia Inc. recently announced that Saia LTL Freight honored its drivers, dockworkers, mechanics and other personnel for their 2023 safety achievements. Over 6,800 awards were distributed to personnel who met a safety goal or reached a career milestone.

Saia said in a statement that its safety award program is designed to recognize employees for their individual years or miles of accident-free driving or injury-free work. The company said safety is its number one priority, and the awards are a tangible representation of the company’s core values, including “Safety,” “Do the Right Thing,” and “Taking Care of Each Other.”

“We were honored to recognize over 4,800 drivers with a safety award. In addition, nearly 2,000 awards were presented to our tremendous dock personnel and mechanics,” said Vice President of Safety Steve Greenhill. “It goes without saying that working for an entire year without an accident or injury is an incredible achievement and it is evident that every employee at the company continues to be invested in our core values, most especially safety.”

Along with special pins and certificates, many employees received custom jackets, rings, or watches. Drivers with 3 million miles, or 24 years, of accident-free driving were given a custom gold watch. This year, 54 drivers received a watch. Diamonds are added for each additional 500,000 miles, or four years, of accident-free driving. This year, 40 drivers received diamonds in their watches.

Five drivers received a third diamond for their watches. They include:

  • Knoxville, Tennessee City Driver David Davidson
  • New Orleans, Louisiana City Driver Kevin Gilbert
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana Line Driver Evertt Kimble
  • Houston, Texas Line Driver Stafford Moses;
  • Shreveport, Louisiana Line Driver James Green

Dallas, Texas Line Driver Jack Ikey received his fourth diamond for safely driving at Saia for 40 years.

Drivers with 1 million miles, or eight years, of accident-free driving received a custom, personalized gold ring. For each additional 500,000 miles, or four years, of accident-free driving, a diamond is added to the ring. Up to three diamonds can be added for a driver who has reached 2.5 million miles or 20 years of accident-free driving. This year, 172 drivers received their million-mile rings and 40 individuals had a diamond added to their rings.

For the second year, Saia presented awards for injury-free work to its mechanics and dock team. Custom backpacks were awarded to 110 dockworkers and mechanics to honor five years of injury-free service. Additionally, 56 individuals were presented with a watch to honor 10 years of injury-free work.

A total of 67 dockworkers and mechanics have achieved 25 or more years of safe work. Two individuals -- Houma, Louisiana dockworker Harold Castell, Jr. and Phoenix, Arizona dockworker Kenneth Ball -- have worked safely for over 40 years at Saia.

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