In 2009, Ruan launched the Driver of the Year (DOY) program to recognize exceptional driver performance for the previous year. Our DOY candidates exemplify our standards of safety, customer service, dedication, and professionalism. Each Driver of the Year—one out of Ruan’s 4,400 professional drivers—is honored with a trophy, a $5,000 cash reward, and the title of Driver of the Year for the recognition year.
In February of each year, on-site managers across the country select finalists from their operations. From these finalists, each vice president of operations will select Winners’ Circle honorees to represent their business unit. Operations create a thorough workbook for each honoree that our senior leadership team uses to select the national Driver of the Year. The Winners’ Circle honorees travel with a guest to our headquarters in Des Moines, IA, in July for our much-anticipated Driver and Operation of the Year events. These drivers and their guests will enjoy meeting executive leaders, a corporate tour, opportunities to share feedback with the leadership team and, most importantly, be recognized at the Driver and Operation of the Year Awards Ceremony at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. There, our chairman John Ruan III will announce the Driver of the Year.
In addition to being a full-time Ruan truck driver for the entire award calendar year, a driver must have the following to be eligible:
- Zero preventable behind-the-wheel accidents in the award year
- Zero moving violations, citations, or warnings in the award year
- Zero roadside DOT inspection out-of-service violations
Congratulations to our 2018 Winners' Circle!
