BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that 18 elite drivers from Alabama are among 1,582 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.  

Alabama boasts 178 Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 4,235 years of accident-free driving. Larry Jackson of Deatsville is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 41 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 1,238 total full-time UPS drivers in Alabama.

Globally, 10,504 UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 257,221 years and nearly 14 billion safe miles during their careers. That’s enough miles to travel to the moon and back almost 29,000 times.

“My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Charlene Thomas, president, UPS Mid-South District. “Their attention to detail has kept them safe and has helped improve public safety.”

Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 55 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 49 years of safe driving. One hundred twenty six others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.

UPS’s 127,000 small package drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and delivering nearly 5 billion packages annually. 

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 its safe driving honor program in 1928.

** NOTE: The following page lists local drivers by hometown and UPS center.  If you’re interested in interviewing a local driver, please contact UPS Public Relations at pr@ups.com. Visit pressroom.ups.com for multimedia assets.

Following is a list of Alabama drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.

Driver	Hometown	UPS Work Location
Bennett,  Emmitt	Phenix City	Columbus, Ga
Boykin,  Phillip	Birmingham	Birmingham
Brooks,  Keith	Dadeville	Opelika
Crutcher,  Lynn	Toney	Decatur
Earls,  James	Hazel Green	Huntsville
Ellington,  Dennis	Auburn	Opelika
Frazier,  Gregory	Hoover	Birmingham
Gallahar,  Ricky	Ohatchee	Anniston
Harding,  Bruce	Hartselle	Decatur
Holmes,  Rodney	Sylacauga	Goodwater
Holt,  James	Theodore	Mobile
Joner,  Gary	Muscle Shoals	Florence
Kitchens,  Steven	Harvest	Huntsville
Roberts,  Randy	Sylacauga	Goodwater
Sanders,  Byron	Robertsdale	Loxley
Thomas,  John	Alabaster	Birmingham
Tilley,  Brian	Ider	Ft. Payne
Witt,  David	Morris	Roebuck

Contact:           
UPS Public Relations
pr@ups.com