Arvis Dyches Jr., a driver with bulk transportation company TransWood, was among the professional drivers and coaches recently recognized by Lytx during its seventh annual User Group Conference in San Diego CA.
Lytx, which specializes in video telematics, analytics, productivity and safety solutions for commercial and public-sector fleets, presents Driver of the Year and Coach of the Year awards to outstanding drivers who are using its Driver Safety Program.
Dyches took third in the For-Hire Trucking category for demonstrating safe driving is a product of continuous learning, and that a commitment to safety can have a positive impact on the individuals, companies and communities drivers serve.
“Lytx is honored to recognize these drivers and coaches who truly make a difference on America’s roadways,” said Del Lisk, vice president of safety services at Lytx. “It’s not about never having an incident, but learning from a mistake, making a commitment to implement safety practices daily and coaching those around you to do the same.
“These drivers and coaches exemplify the safest driving standards and behaviors found in the transportation industry today.”
Lytx recognized winners of the Driver of the Year award from clients across six commercial driving categories: Government; Services and Utilities; Transit/Motor Coach; For-Hire Trucking; Private Trucking; and Waste/Construction.
Government
- First Place – Martin Bowen of the City of Ocala FA has been committed to how his Lytx DriveCam Event Recorder can help him improve safety since his last coachable event in November 2016. The incident transformed the way he operates his clamshell truck. Since then, Bowen has made safe driving a habit and hasn’t triggered a single coachable event. He has won numerous safety awards, including Ocala’s Driver of the Year award in 2017 and 2018, as well as the Public Works Department Character Award in December 2018, which was sparked by a citizen calling the city to express appreciation for Bowen going above and beyond what is expected of him.
- Second Place – Juan Trujillo of the City & County of Denver Solid Waste Management, Colorado
- Third Place – Donald Cassedy of the Fairfax County Government Land Development, Virginia
Services and Utilities
- First Place – Jerry Ingram of Murphy-Hoffman Company (MHC) has been a model employee who has risen quickly to be the lead driver and driver trainer at MHC’s Atlanta branch. Ingram has never been involved in a preventable collision nor received any moving violations during his tenure at the company. He is well-liked by his MHC team and the customer base he serves. This safety-minded driver approaches customer service with a “whatever-it-takes” attitude and consistently provides constructive feedback to help the company reach its goals. Ingram is a model employee and citizen who serves his community as a youth football coach and disaster relief volunteer.
- Second Place – John L. Enos of National Grid
- Third Place – Louie Escando of Rescue Rooter
Transit/Motor Coach
- First Place – John Como of MV Transportation loves what he does, especially when it comes to transporting the elderly or people with disabilities to doctor visits, shopping, the bank or wherever they need to go. After each coachable event, he works closely with his manager to find a solution and never makes the same mistake twice. Como’s work ethic is unmatched. He missed only two weeks of work after a lung cancer diagnosis and the ensuing treatment.
For-Hire Trucking
- First Place – Doug Hager of American Central Transport (ACT) has a goal to be the best driver he can be. He strives to represent his company in a positive light and treat every customer and co-worker with respect. He has gone two consecutive years without any coachable events and was recognized as the 2017 ACT Safe Driver of the Year. Hager works diligently to be the safest driver possible and encourages others to do the same by promoting important safety practices across his organization.
- Second Place – Edward Perry II of TransAm Trucking
- Third Place – Arvis Dyches Jr. of TransWood
Private Trucking
- First Place – Earl Brown of Performance Food Group (PFG) has been working with PFG since 2000, after he left the US Army with the rank of Corporal. Brown recognizes that having his commercial driver’s license is an honor, not a privilege, and views his Lytx DriveCam Event Recorder as an added benefit to help safeguard his livelihood. He is a model employee who treats every customer with respect. As a husband and a father of three, Brown supported his wife and family every step of the way after her diagnosis with lupus in 2012. He even helped raise money and disease awareness through charity bike events.
- Second Place – Jonathan Gazda of Reyes Holdings
- Third Place – Mark Connealy of Fred Meyer/Kroger
Waste/Construction
- First Place – Leonard Leanos of Waste Management San Gabriel has been with the company for more than three decades and receives praise from his co-workers, the community and customers he serves. In 2018, he was recognized as the National Waste and Recycling Association Driver of the Year, as well as the Waste Management San Gabriel Employee of the Year. In addition to his work ethic and focus on driver safety, Leanos conducts recycling demonstrations at local schools and participates in the annual California Highway Patrol’s CHiPS for Kids toy drive event, helping distribute toys to less fortunate children. Leanos helped fulfill a little boy’s birthday wish to have his own Waste Management truck, stopping by with a toy-sized model and showing the boy around his full-sized side-load trash truck.
- Second Place – Bill White of Waste Connections
- Third Place – DeAnn Martwick of GCC
Coach of The Year
At the ceremony, Lytx also recognized Dina Dixon of ARS/Rescue Rooter as the “2019 Coach of the Year.” Since implementing the Lytx Driver Safety Program, ARS was awarded Best Overall Safety branch in 2016. Dixon met or exceeded safety compliance in all four quarters of 2018. She coached drivers following incidents, provided weekly presentations on safety topics, conducted job site and vehicle inspections, and managed annual and new-hire driver training programs. Her work culminated in reducing total collisions from eight in 2017 to three in 2018; improving preventable incidents year-over-year from 67% to 33%; and reducing total claims to nine incidents with regard to auto loss, workers’ compensation and general liability claims. Dixon is committed to ensuring everyone looks out for each other on the jobsite and performs their jobs as safely as possible.
In addition to being selected the overall winner of the 2019 Coach of the Year, Dixon also was the winner in the Services and Utilities category. Other winners within their respective categories this year were:
- Government: Carlos Garcia of the City of North Miami
- For-Hire Trucking: Jody Clark of Big M Transportation
- Transit/Motor Coach: Harry MacGlaughlin of Keolis Transit America
- Private Trucking: James Bullwinkel of Sysco Sacramento
- Waste/Construction: David Bass of Concrete Supply Co.
“We congratulate the exceptional performance of all nominated drivers and coaches and applaud them on their dedication to driver safety,” Lisk said. “As such, Lytx remains steadfast to enhancing our Driver Safety Program and will continue to honor those who have risen to the top of their profession.”