NSC Recognizes Safe Driver of the Year Award Recipients at 2025 Congress & Expo
Fifteen professional drivers were honored in Denver for maintaining accident-free records spanning decades and millions of miles.
- By David Kopf
- Sep 16, 2025
The National Safety Council opened its 2025 Safety Congress & Expo by honoring 15 professional drivers with the Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award, recognizing individuals who have achieved remarkable safety records on the road.
The award is presented annually to professional drivers who have demonstrated long-term dedication to roadway safety. To qualify, recipients must complete at least 15 consecutive years or 250,000 miles without a preventable accident.
This year’s honorees include drivers from the United States and Canada representing UPS, the U.S. Postal Service, Stellantis, FCA Transport LLC, and Teichert Construction. Collectively, they represent millions of accident-free miles traveled and a consistent commitment to protecting both themselves and the motoring public.
2025 Recipients:
- Bradley Bieler, UPS, West South Central Region
- Dale Diggs, U.S. Postal Service, Southern Region
- Peter Farquhar, UPS, South Atlantic Region
- Dee Finlinson, UPS, Mountain Region
- Jeffrey Larson, UPS, West North Central Region
- John Macrae, UPS, New England Region
- Thomas Malden, UPS, Middle Atlantic Region
- Dennis Polk, UPS, East South Central Region
- Terry Teskey, FCA Transport LLC-Stellantis, Canadian Region
- Bradley Van Ruiten, Teichert Construction, Pacific Region
- Lynn Boles, U.S. Postal Service, Atlantic Region
- Edward Coleman, U.S. Postal Service, West Pacific Region
- Calvin Freeman, U.S. Postal Service, Central Region
- Tim Jelinger, Stellantis, East North Central Region
“These professional drivers exemplify what safety leadership looks like on the road,” NSC leadership said during the ceremony. “Their dedication over decades and countless miles demonstrates an unwavering commitment to protecting lives.”
The Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award highlights the crucial role of professional drivers in ensuring roadway safety and establishes a benchmark for excellence in the transportation industry.
About the Author
David Kopf is the publisher and executive editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine.