[January 26, 2010] UPS Honors Ohio Drivers for 25 Years of Safe Driving Tweet COLUMBUS, Ohio --(Business Wire)-- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 48 elite drivers from Ohio 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. Ohio boasts 242 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 6,909 years of accident-free driving. Ronald Sowder of Springboro is Ohio's senior safe driver, with 48 years of accident-free driving under his belt, ranking 1st among UPS's 102,000 drivers. 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 George Brooks, president, UPS North Central Region. "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 3,582 total UPS drivers in Ohio. 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 [email protected]. Following is a list of Circle of Honor drivers in Ohio.   Driver   Hometown   UPS Work Location Michael Artis   Reynoldsburg   Columbus Steve Bemis   Findlay   Findlay Jack Bruno   Highland Heights   Cleveland Arnold Buser   Tallmadge   Middleburg Heights Berul Calabrese   Bloomingdale   Brilliant (News - Alert) Edmond Cieslak   Columbia Station   Middleburg Heights Randy Davis   Columbus   Columbus Anthony Davis   Columbus   Columbus Robert Denny   Cincinnati   Cincinnati   Driver   Hometown   UPS Work Location Paul Dinehart   Wickliffe   Cleveland Eric Dusenberry   Zanesville   Zanesville Roger Edington   Wooster   Wooster Michael Eldridge   Xenia   Dayton Edward Estridge   Englewood   Dayton Steven Hehemann   Cincinnati   Cincinnati Richard Hojnowski   Parma   Cleveland James Hooven   Toledo   Maumee Benjamin Hymes Jr.   Akron   Wadsworth Phillip Johnson   Bedford Heights   Cleveland Michael Kayse   Cincinnati   Cincinnati Daniel Kleinhenz   Dayton   Dayton Lawrence Knapke   Celina   Celina Joseph Leblanc   Beavercreek   West Carrollton Rick Miller   Bowling Green   Maumee Daniel Miller   Casstown   Dayton Dan Miller (News - Alert)   Sandusky   Milan John Moler   Germantown   West Carrollton William Napier   Wooster   Wooster Mark Negrey   Valley City   Wadsworth Kennard Oman   Bloomdale   Maumee Eric Pottmeyer   Fleming   Marietta James Rogers   Poland   Middleburg Heights Robert Sears   Bowling Green   Maumee Cynthia Seward   Loveland   Cincinnati Lyle Shelton   Uniontown   Middleburg Heights Terry Simpson   Holland   Maumee Roderic Smith   Jamestown   Dayton Donald Snider   Fletcher   Piqua Ronald Solether   N. Baltimore   Maumee Edwin Szymczyk   Mayfield Heights   Cleveland Gary Tepley   Willowick   Cleveland Stephen Vonkaenel   New Philadelphia   New Philadelphia Richard Weinert   Beavercreek   Dayton Steven Wilhelm   Sylvania   Maumee Lee Wilson   Mt. Gilead   Marion David Young (News - Alert)   Cable   Columbus David Zahler   Canton   Wadsworth Gary Zicht   Centerville   Dayton [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]