Annual Award Honors 14 Professional Drivers for Safe Records -- Occupational Health & Safety

Six award recipients wearing medals stand on stage in front of a green backdrop for the Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award.

Annual Award Honors 14 Professional Drivers for Safe Records

Honorees were selected based on miles and years driven without a preventable crash.

By Danielle Naidu
Sep 15, 2026

The National Safety Council (NSC) has named 14 recipients of its 2026 Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award.

The drivers were honored Sept. 14 during the NSC Safety Conference & Expo in Indianapolis.

UPS drivers receiving the award were Jerry Allen Jr., Paul Houston, John Kilcoyne, Danny Peterson and Michael Willding. U.S. Postal Service recipients were Larry Marez, Richard McDonald, James Sawyer and James Thomas.

Shaw Industries Inc. drivers Walter Atkinson and Claude Cook also received the award. The remaining recipients were Helio DaSilva of UL Solutions, Marc Guerin of Landstar Inway Inc. and Bryan Woodard of Teichert Construction.

NSC launched the annual award in 2004 to recognize professional drivers for their long-term commitment to safe driving practices.

About the Author

Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.

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