Doug Quick was honored July 1 as Ruan Transport Corporation's 2009 Driver of the Year after being selected from a pool of more than 4,100 professional drivers.
Quick, who operates out of Ruan's Tampa, FL, terminal, has been with Ruan for 14 years and has served as a professional truck driver for 28 years.
Quick said he was surprised and humbled to be nominated for the recognition.
"Remembering to make safety first and never hurry is my philosophy," Quick said. "It's important to realize that others rely on you to be a driving professional."
Ruan, a 78-year-old dedicated contract carriage and logistics company headquartered in Des Moines, IA, began the search for its Driver of the Year when 117 drivers from Ruan's 162 terminals were named regional finalists based on length of service, safety and driving records, and exceptional customer service.
Regional vice presidents then narrowed the field further to 12 finalists, who traveled to Des Moines with a guest June 30 for a ceremony and other festivities. Of the 12 finalists, Quick was selected by Ruan's executive committee and awarded the Driver of the Year title on the field before the Iowa Cubs vs. Omaha Royals baseball game at Principal Park July 1 at 6:30 p.m.
"Sometimes it's hard to quantify the impact of a single individual or driver on the performance of an operation," said Quick's terminal manager Byron McClain. "However, I would be remiss if I failed to point out the leadership, guidance and training Doug provides to both new drivers and veterans alike."
Each regional winner was awarded a trophy at the ceremony. Quick, who is a dedicated driver for Ruan client Johnson Controls, Inc., was honored with a trophy, $5,000 and the 2009 Driver of the Year title. The winners were congratulated on the field by Ruan's executive team.
Des Moines-based Ruan employees attended the July 1 ceremony and game to congratulate and cheer on the company's 12 most distinguished drivers. Additionally, the ceremony officially kicked off Ruan's annual Founder's Days events, and the company will continue to celebrate its founder, John Ruan, throughout the month of July.
"In this age of high driver turnover, it is imperative that we protect, nurture and recognize our most vital asset: our professional truck drivers," Ruan's Chairman and CEO John Ruan III said, even though Ruan's driver turnover rate is one fifth the industry average. "I believe there is no better time to celebrate our best, most accomplished professional drivers than on the anniversary of our company's founding, when Ruan was the promising business of one determined, hard-working driver."