NSC Presents Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Awards at 2024 Safety Congress
Award highlights the importance of roadway safety in the workplace, recognizing professional drivers with exceptional safety records.
- By David Kopf
- Sep 18, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Safety Council (NSC) has presented the Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Awards at the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. The award honors professional drivers for their outstanding safety records, evaluating factors such as total miles driven and years without a preventable crash.
“With nearly 40 percent of workplace fatalities occurring on the road, it’s essential that we acknowledge roadway safety as a critical component of workplace safety,” said Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “By presenting this award during the Opening Session, we are recognizing the significant role these drivers play in keeping our communities safe. They serve as exemplary role models for their colleagues and the industries they represent.”
This year’s recipients of the Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award were recognized for their unwavering dedication to safe driving practices. Among the honorees are professional drivers from UPS, the U.S. Postal Service, and Teichert Construction, showcasing the wide range of industries these drivers represent.
The 2024 recipients include:
- David Allen (UPS Canada)
- Dean Bellini (Teichert Construction)
- Hugh J. Cahill – In Memoriam (UPS)
- Craig Campbell (UPS)
- Johnny Lemos (UPS)
- Timothy McDade (UPS)
- Merrill Muller (UPS)
- Jerry Sadler (UPS)
- Earl Sutton (UPS)
- Jeffrey Wieczorek (UPS)
- Carter Scott (U.S. Postal Service)
- Floyd Tackett (U.S. Postal Service)
- Keith Tompkins (U.S. Postal Service)
- Chong Wong (U.S. Postal Service)
The award is named after Joseph M. Kaplan, a trailblazer in traffic safety who led initiatives like the “Buckle Up for Life Challenge” and made significant contributions to safety education. Kaplan’s legacy of promoting roadway safety and reducing preventable crashes lives on through this award, which celebrates drivers who embody the values of safety, dedication, and excellence.
About the Author
David Kopf is the publisher and executive editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine.