Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods has named four of its employees as Elite Drivers of the Year as part of the company’s Driver Ambassador Program.
To celebrate this achievement, as well as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, each driver was awarded $10,000 and each distribution center where the drivers reside receives a UNFI-branded, Navistar LT625 tractor they may use for deliveries during the next year. Over the course of the year, UNFI drivers make almost 1.4 million stops, delivering 300,000 products to more than 30,000 customer locations across North America.
The UNFI Driver Ambassador Program celebrates drivers who achieve specific metrics for service, safety and performance. Each quarter, UNFI drivers earn the Distinguished Driver Award if they meet attendance goals and do not have any preventable accidents or injuries, as well as hours of service or CSA violations.
Those drivers who achieve this level of excellence four quarters in a row become Elite Drivers. In the company’s latest fiscal year, 40 percent of its driver workforce, 1,040 drivers, attained Elite Driver status.
The following four Elite Drivers were selected as Elite Drivers of the Year:
- Jody Lee Turski from UNFI’s distribution center in Dayville, Connecticut;
- Andrew Verhaeghe from UNFI’s distribution center in Racine, Wisconsin;
- James Tucker from UNFI’s distribution center in Billings, Montana; and
- Serghei Trus from UNFI’s distribution center in Aurora, Colorado.
“Our drivers epitomize the passion, commitment and perseverance it takes to help make our customers stronger, our supply chain better and our food solutions more inspired,” said Mark Bushway, chief supply chain officer.
“This group delivers almost 43 million pounds of food each day and Jody, Andrew, James and Serghei represent the best of UNFI. Their dedication to our customers, their profession and UNFI are an inspiration, and we are very proud they are on our team.”
UNFI is North America’s premier grocery wholesaler delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded and owned brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, e-commerce providers and food service customers.
The company also provides a range of value-added services and segmented marketing expertise, including proprietary technology, data, market insights and shelf management to help customers and suppliers build their businesses and brands.
For more information, visit unfi.com.
