America's Road Team Roster

Ben Atkinson has been a professional truck driver for 36 years and has accumulated 3 million accident-free miles. He is a city driver for ABF Freight System, Inc.

Ben has been awarded the ABF Freight Silver and Bronze Awards for 30,000 and 15,000 consecutive hours driving without an accident. He received ABF Freight’s 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-Year Safety Performance Driving Awards.

Ben has been competing in the Florida State Truck Driving Championships for 19 years; winning the Team Trophy in 2005 and 2023. 

Ben has been a member of the ABF Freight Road Team since 2020. He served on the 2023 ABF Workday for Me Focus Group. Ben serves as an ABF Freight Driver Trainer, an ABF Freight Equipment Session Participant, and is Smith System Training Certified. He is an Alternate Steward for the Teamsters Local Union 385. 

Ben resides in Lawtey, Florida with his wife, Cheryl, and children, Ryan and Jaci.

Willie Baylor has been a professional truck driver for 34 years and has accumulated 2.9 million accident-free miles. He has been a driver for FedEx Freight for over 29 years. 

In 2023, Willie received FedEx Freight’s 25-Year Safe Driving Award. He has been awarded Indiana State’s One Million Mile Safe Driving Award.

Willie won his class at the Indiana State Truck Driving Championship in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2017. Three of those years, he was named the Indiana State Truck Driving Championship’s Grand Champion. In 2012, Willie received Indiana Motor Truck Association’s Sportsmanship Award and the Top Pre-Trip Award. 

At FedEx Freight, he is a Driver Trainer, New Driver Mentor, Diversity Council Member, and serves on the Safety Review Board.

In 1997, Willie volunteered his time to help facilitate and train over 75 qualified dockworkers to become Professional CDL drivers.

Willie has been an Associate Minister since 2002 and was a Pastor from 2015-2021.

Willie resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife, Pauline, and five children: Kirkland, Terrick, Tanya, Daron, and Jhalyn.

Terry Bennett has been a professional truck driver for 39 years and has accumulated over 3.5 million safe driving miles. He is a city driver for ABF Freight System, Inc.

Terry has been awarded the ABF Freight Silver and Bronze Awards for 30,000 and 15,000 consecutive hours driving without an accident. He received ABF Freight’s 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-Year Safety Performance Driving Awards.

Terry has been competing in the Florida State Truck Driving Championships for 10 years; placing first in his class in 2019 and 2023. He went on to compete at the National Truck Driving Championships in 2019 and 2023.

Terry has been a member of the ABF Freight Road Team since 2020. He served on the 2023 ABF Workday for Me Focus Group. Terry serves as an ABF Freight Driver Trainer, an ABF Freight Equipment Session Participant, and is Smith System Training Certified. He is a Chief Union Steward for the Teamsters Local Union 385.

Terry resides in Gainesville, Florida with his wife, Lori. 

Perry Carter has been a professional truck driver for 33 years and has accumulated over 2.7 million safe driving miles. He is an over-the-road driver for Cargo Transporters, Inc.

Perry has received Cargo Transporters’ 2 Million Mile Safe Driving Award. He was named North Carolina Trucking Association’s Driver of the Month for April 2011.

Perry is a US Air Force Veteran who served from 1978 to 1984. In 2018, he was selected by Cargo Transporters to be the driver of the Daimler 2018 Ride of Pride tractor, which features military bases in North Carolina. In 2023, he received his second Ride of Pride tractor from Cargo Transporters. He has been a Wreaths Across America Driver into Arlington National Cemetery since 2018.

In 2023, Perry was selected to drive The Wall That Heals exhibit for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The exhibit is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC designed to travel to communities throughout the United States.

Perry resides in Morganton, North Carolina with his wife, Carolyn, and their son, Dwight.

Damon Evans has been a professional truck driver for 30 years and has accumulated over 600,000 safe driving miles. He is a city driver for United Parcel Service (UPS).

Damon has been named the UPS Wellness Co-Chair Champion, UPS Safety Co-Chair Champion, and UPS Community Relations Champion for the North Bay Hub. He serves as a UPS Driver Mentor.

Damon is the Vice President of a collegiate age summer baseball team. He started the LLAR Scholarship Fund for high school seniors in his area. Damon is an ordained minister.

Damon lives in Fairfield, California with his wife, Derena, and children, Dareion and Demairah.

Dennis Hall has been a professional truck driver for 24 years and has accumulated over 3.2 million safe driving miles. He is an over-the-road driver for Tyson Foods.

Dennis received the John Christner Trucking 1 Million Mile Safe Driving Award in 2005. He received the Tyson Foods 1 Million Mile Award in 2017 and the Tyson Foods 1.8 Million Mile Achievement Level in 2023. Dennis was named Tyson Foods Driver of the Year in 2020 and the Tyson Foods Q1 Driver of the Quarter in 2022.

Dennis has been competing in the Arkansas State Truck Driving Championship for 10 years. In 2014, he finished second place in his class and was named Arkansas State Truck Driving Championships Rookie of the Year. In 2022, Dennis won his class and was named Arkansas State Truck Driving Championship Grand Champion. He finished second place in his class at the 2023 Arkansas State Truck Driving Championship.

Dennis is a Tyson Foods Driver Trainer and participates in the Tyson Foods Cook Team, which works on charity events and disaster relief efforts. He has participated in Wreaths Across America for the last nine year. Dennis is a member of the Tyson Foods Driver Advisory Board and served as their President from 2018-2023.

Dennis resides in Arlington, Texas with his wife, Kimberly, and son, Remington. 

Dave Hedicker has been a professional truck driver for 39 years and has accumulated over four million safe driving miles. He is an over-the-road driver for ABF Freight System, Inc.

Dave has been awarded ABF Freight’s 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-Year Safety Performance Driving Awards. He received ABF Freight’s one, two, and three Million Mile Safe Driving Awards. Dave was named the Ohio Trucking Association’s Driver of the Year Finalist in 2006, 2017, and 2021.

Dave has competed at the Ohio State Truck Driving Championships for over 20 years. He finished third place in the five-axle class in 2007.

Dave has been a member of the ABF Freight Road Team since 2020. He served on the 2023 ABF Workday for Me Focus Group. Dave is an ABF Freight Equipment Session Participant, Driver Trainer Mentor, and Driver Development Program Instructor. He served as a Teamster Military Assistance Program Liaison for ABF Freight. Dave is Truckers Against Trafficking trained and Smith System Training Certified. He is a current member of the Teamsters Local Union 957 and has served as an Alternate Steward for 18 years.

Dave is the Crew Chief for a motorcycle drag racing team who is currently one of the American Motorcycle Racing Association’s National Champions.

Dave resides in Vandalia, Ohio with his wife, Connie, and children, Victoria and Trey.

Lloyd Howell has been a professional truck driver for 28 years and has accumulated over 1.7 million safe driving miles. He is a local driver for TCW, Inc.

Lloyd received TCW’s 10- and 13-Year Safe Driving Awards. He was named the Sysco Driver of the Year in 1999 and the Sysco Supervisor of the Year in 2001, 2003, and 2007.

Lloyd was named an Alabama Trucking Association Road Team Captain in 2015. At TCW, Lloyd serves as a Driver Trainer, Mentor, and Master Coach. He serves on TCW’s Driver’s Council and Accident Review. Lloyd is a U.S. Marine Veteran, serving from 1984 to 1988.

Lloyd resides in Sterrett, Alabama with his wife, Erica, daughter, Meghan, and three grandchildren.

John Lemmons has been a professional truck driver for 25 years and has accumulated over 1.7 million safe driving miles. He is an over-the-road driver for United Parcel Service (UPS).

John received the UPS 10-Year Safe Driving Award.

John is a Tennessee Trucking Association Road Team Captain. At UPS, he is a member of the Feeder Safety Committee and serves as the Co-Chair of the Feeder Safety Wellness Committee. John is the Union Steward of the Teamsters Local 519.

John resides in New Market, Tennessee with his wife, Kelly, and children, Samuel, Rachael, and J.C.

Rodney McNew has been a professional truck driver for 35 years and has accumulated over 3 million safe driving miles. He is a tank driver for Groendyke Transport, Inc.

Rodney received the Phillips 66 Quarterly Safe Driver Award. He is in the Groendyke Transport Million Mile President’s Club. In 2023, Rodney was named the Western Division Driver of the Year. He has received nine annual safe driving awards.

Rodney has been HAZWOPER Trained and is a Groendyke Transport Driver.

Rodney was a wild land firefighter and was a volunteer firefighter at the Abernathy Fire Department.

Rodney resides in Abernathy, Texas with his sons, Saajin and Dalton, and grandson Darien, and two granddaughters Mamie and Addy. 

Michael Middleton has been a professional truck driver for 26 years and has accumulated over three million safe driving miles. He is a relay driver for Old Dominion Freight Line.

Michael received Old Dominion Freight Line’s One Million Mile Safe Driving Award. In 2023, he won the 2.OD Award for Old Dominion Freight Line.

Michael has competed in the Tennessee State Truck Driving Championship for 14 years. He competed in the Make a Wish Charity Drive in 2008 and finished first place in the five-axle class.

Michael has been a Tennessee Trucking Associations Road Team Captain since 2023. He is an Old Dominion Freight Line Certified Driver Trainer and is a member of the Old Dominion Freight Line SHIELD Safety Team. Michael is a member of the American Truck Historical Society. He participated in the 2023 Arkansas Special Olympics Convoy.

Michael is a vehicle exhibitor at the American Truck Historical Society.

Michael resides in Atoka, Tennessee with his wife, Brandi, and son, Randall.

Pete Palczynski has been a professional truck driver for 37 years and has accumulated over 2.7 million safe driving miles. He has been a driver for Walmart Transportation for over 20 years.

Pete received the Walmart Transportation Driver of the Month in February 2005 and July 2018. In 2008, he received the Walmart Transportation Good Sam Certificate of Appreciation. Pete was awarded the Walmart Transportation Driver of the Quarter.

Pete has been competing in the Illinois State Truck Driving Championships for over 12 years. He competes regularly and finishes top three in either the sleeper or five-axle classes. He won the five-axle class at the Illinois State Truck Driving Championship in 2014 and went on to compete at the National Truck Driving Championship. Pete has participated in the Walmart Regional Truck Driving Championship in 2012, 2017, and 2018.

Pete was a member of Trucker Buddy from 2005-2011. From 2018-2022, he served as the lead CDT for Walmart Transportation hiring events. Pete served on the Walmart Transportation Accident Review Committee. At Walmart Transportation, he mentors and trains new drivers, is a Store Ambassador, Walmart Heart, and Simulator Instructor. Pete is a NATMI Certified Driver Trainer.

Pete is a farmer with over 235 acres and is currently raising cattle. He resides in Huntley, Illinois with his wife, Lorrie, and four children: Amanda, Trevor, Marissa, and Dylan. 

Emily Plummer has been a professional truck driver for 24 years and has accumulated over 3.5 million safe driving miles. She is an over-the-road driver for Prime Inc.

Emily received Prime Inc.’s 2022 Highway Diamond of the Year award. She won Prime Inc.’s One-, Two-, and Three-Million Mile Award. Emily was named the Truckload Carriers Association’s 2023 Professional Driver of the Year.

Emily served on Prime Inc.’s Driver Advisory Board for three years. She was selected to serve as a member and continues to serve on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Women in Trucking Advisory Board.

Emily resides in Springfield, Missouri with her husband, Gary. 

Wayne Ponschke has been a professional truck driver for 19 years and has accumulated over 2.5 million safe driving miles. He is a city driver for United Parcel Service (UPS).

Wayne received the UPS Eagle Trailblazer Award for safety and community involvement. He was awarded the UPS 25 Year Circle of Honor. Wayne has received national recognitions for his efforts with Truckers Against Trafficking, bringing awareness to human trafficking.

Wayne is involved with UPS New Driver Mentor Training and is the Co-Chair of the UPS Safety Program. He reviews accidents at the UPS safety meetings. He helped coordinate and leads the UPS Rodeo on the West Coast from Ontario, CA to North Bay, CA. Wayne is Truckers Against Trafficking trained.

Wayne leads a motorcycle group with over 250 riders from all over the United States and Europe.

Wayne resides in Palmdale, California with his wife, Jackie, and sons, Codie and Branden.

Scott Post has been a professional truck driver for 46 years and has accumulated over one million safe driving miles. He is a city driver for Spartan Logistics leased to FedEx Ground.

Scott was named Minnesota Trucking Association’s Driver of the Month for November 2019. Minnesota Trucking Association awarded Scott with the 2019 Driver of the Year.

Scott has been a longtime competitor of the Minnesota State Truck Driving Championship. He finished third in the tanker class in 2022 and third in the five-axle class in 2023. Scott won the Minnesota State Truck Driving Championship in the five-axle class in 2019. He regularly participates in the FedEx Op-Co and was named five-axle champion in 2009.

Scott works with the Minnesota Operation Lifesaver on trucking-related railroad crossing safety videos. He conducts FedEx Ground’s New Driver Training and Safety Presentations for Drivers.

Scott is a Volunteer Locomotive Engineer where he is the Conductor and does maintenance for the Lake Superior and Mississippi Tourist Railroad. Scott is also involved with Trucker Buddy at Beacon Academy in Golden Valley, MN for 1st to 3rd grade classes.

Scott resides in Maplewood, Minnesota with his wife, Nancy.

Antoine Sadler has been a professional truck driver for 29 years and has accumulated over 2.7 million safe driving miles. He is an over-the-road driver for Walmart Transportation.

Antoine received Walmart’s 1.5 Million Safe Driving award and Walmart’s 19-Year Safe Driving Award. He was named Walmart’s Driver of the Month twice.

Antoine won the sleeper class at the North Carolina State Truck Driving Championship in 2022. He went on to finish fourth in the sleeper class at the National Truck Driving Championship. He won the Walmart Local Truck Driving Championship in 2010.

Antoine has been a member of the Walmart Road Team since 2015. He has been a member of the North Carolina Trucking Association’s Road Team since 2018. At Walmart, Antoine is a NATMI Certified Driver Trainer and leads New Hire Orientation. He is a Truckers Against Trafficking Board Member.

Antoine resides in Kings Mountain, North Carolina with his children, Kayla and Nigel, and granddaughter.

Brian Sheehan has been a professional truck driver for 28 years and has accumulated over 2.8 million safe driving miles. He is an over-the-road driver for CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.

Brian received CRST’s One Million Safe Miles Driving Award, CRST’s Tim Hughes Memorial Safety Award, and CRST’s Safety Service and Quality Platinum Award.

Brian is a Driver Mentor at CRST and a United States military veteran. Brian served for eight years with the Marine Corps and over seven years with the Army. He retired early due to an injury while on deployment in Iraq. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge for his service during Iraqi Freedom. Brian received the Marine Corps Combat Action ribbon for his service during Desert Storm. 

Brian resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his wife, Jocelyn, and sons and daughters-in-law: Brian, Justin, Abby, and Alethea, and five grandchildren.

Molly Shultz has been a professional truck driver for 27 years and has accumulated over 2.5 million safe driving miles. She is an over-the-road driver for TransLand.

Molly was awarded the Missouri Trucking Association Chair’s Safe Driver Club in 2020, 2021, and 2022. For four consecutive years starting in 2019, she was named TransLand’s Blue Diamond Elite Driver. Molly received the National Association of Small Trucking Companies 2023 Driver of the Year. Molly also received the Missouri Trucking Association Driver of the Month in October 2023.

Molly is a TransLand Driver Trainer and is a member of the Driver Advisory Council. She is a member of the TransLand Driver Recruiting and Retention Analysis Team.

Molly has been a Care to Learn tractor driver since 2019. The Care to Learn tractor is in support of the Care to Learn organization that is dedicated to meeting the health, hunger, and hygiene needs of students, ensuring that they have the resources to succeed in school. For every mile that Molly drives, TransLand donates $0.05 to Care to Learn.

Molly resides in Springfield, Missouri with her wife, Melissa, and son Ayrion.

Anthony Tirone has been a professional truck driver for 27 years and has accumulated over 2.5 million safe driving miles. He has been a driver for Walmart Transportation for nine years.

Anthony received Walmart’s Eight Year Safe Driving Award. In 2018 and 2021, he was named Walmart’s Associate of the Third Quarter. Anthony won Walmart’s Five-Year Certificate of Appreciation Driver Trainer Award. He was named Walmart’s 2023 Third Quarter Safety Champion.

Anthony has been competing at the Florida State Truck Driving Championship for over six years. He finished second in his class in 2018 and fourth in his class in 2023 at the Florida State Truck Driving Championship. In 2022, Anthony won the sleeper class and Best Overall Pre-Trip Inspection at the Florida State Truck Driving Championship. He participated in the Walmart Private Fleet Local Driving Championship, taking home first place in 2018 and 2019.

Anthony participates in Walmart’s Spring and Fall Driver Safety Presentations. Anthony has been a Florida Trucking Association’s Road Team Captain since 2022. He is a NATMI Certified Driver Trainer. Anthony has been a Walmart Driver Ambassador since 2017 and has been a Walmart Driver Ambassador Captain since 2023. He has been a participant in Wreaths Across America for the past seven years.

Anthony resides in Orlando, Florida with his family. 

Chevelle Walker has been a professional truck driver for 22 years and has accumulated over 1.5 million safe driving miles. He is a dedicated family dollar driver for Werner Enterprises.

Chevelle received Werner’s 20 Years of Service Award and Werner’s 2500 Safe Stop Award in 2021. In 2019, Werner awarded him with One Million Miles of Safe Driving.

Chevelle serves as a Werner Ambassador and works to lead over 180 Werner drivers. He mentors new hires on the Dollar accounts (Family Dollar, Dollar General, Dollar Tree). Chevelle has been a Werner Road Team Captain and a member of Werner’s Dollar Elite Team since 2020. He has been a Florida Trucking Association Road Team Captain since 2022.

Chevelle resides in Daytona Beach, Florida with son, Malakai. His daughter, Brianne, and two grandchildren, Huxlee and Bowen, lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Bernard Wanyo has been a professional truck driver for 25 years and has accumulated over 1.8 million safe driving miles. He has been a driver for United Parcel Service (UPS) for 19 years.

Bernard received ATA’s One Million Mile Safe Driving Award. He was awarded UPS’ 19 Year Safe Driving Award. Bernard is a recipient of the UPS CEO Carol Tome Challenge Coin. He was named the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association June 2022 Driver of the Month.

Bernard participated in the Safety Drive for a Cure Truck Driving Championship and was named the Rookie of the Year in 2022. He finished in second place in the sleeper class at the Pennsylvania State Truck Driving Championship in 2023.

Bernard is a Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association Road Team Captain. He is a UPS Safety Co-Chair and UPS Trainer for Powered Industrial Trucks. Bernard serves as a UPS Mentoring Lead. He has participated in the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet for two years.

Bernard resides in Newport, Pennsylvania with his wife, Angela, and children, Evan and Greyson.

Michael Whitehead has been a professional truck driver for 37 years and has accumulated over 3.9 million safe driving miles. He is a relay driver for FedEx Freight.

Michael received the South Dakota Convoy for Special Olympics’ 2021 Scouts Choice Award. He was named the South Dakota Trucking Association’s June 2015 Driver of the Month and the 2015 Driver of the Year. Michael was awarded the FedEx President Safety Award. He was given an honorary Lennox Chapter FFA Degree 2021-2022. Michael was named the Lincoln County 4-H Family of the Year in 2016.

Michael has been competing at the South Dakota State Truck Driving Championship for almost 20 years. He won his class 12 times, won the Best Written Test three times, won Best Pre-Trip Inspection twice, and won Best Course Score twice. He was named the South Dakota State Truck Driving Championship Grand Champion in 2012 and 2015. Michael has competed at the National Trucking Driving Championship 13 times, finishing in top five in the twins’ class in 2022 and won Best Pre-Trip Inspection in 2018.

Michael is a former FedEx Safety Committee Member and is currently a FedEx New Hire Road Test Observer and Road Coach. He has been a 4-H Leader for Dogs and Horses since 2010. Michael is the Vice President of the FFA Chapter Parent Support Group. He has been a member of the South Dakota Trucking Association’s Road Team since 2016. In 2004, he formed the Dakota Territory Mounted Shooters Club and served as their President of six years. Michael is a member of the South Dakota Champions Club, serving as their Vice President, President, and now Treasurer.

Michael resides in Lennox, South Dakota with his wife, Sandy, daughters, Katelynd and Myra, and nine grandchildren. 

James “Gragg” Wilson has been a professional truck driver for 37 years and has accumulated over 2.5 million safe driving miles. He is an over-the-road driver for United Parcel Service (UPS).

Gragg was named Nevada Trucking Association’s 2019 Driver of the Year. He received FedEx’s 10-, 25-, and 30-Year Safe Driver Awards. Gragg received the FedEx President’s Safety Award. He was awarded the UPS Three-Year Safe Driving Certificate.

Gragg has been a longtime competitor of the Nevada State Truck Driving Championship. He has won his class 14 times and was named Grand Champion five times. Gragg has competed at the National Truck Driving Championships 14 times winning the Best Pre-Trip Inspection in 2000 and the State Team Champion Award in 2018. Gragg won the tanker class and was named the 2023 National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.

Gragg has been a Driver Trainer for eight years varying across Viking Freight, FedEx Freight, and UPS. He is a former State Certifier for Nevada and former Safety Board Member.

Gragg helped organize the Drive for Freedom Truck Rodeo and served as a Board Member as well as the M.C.

Gragg resides in Reno, Nevada with his wife, Denise, five children, and three grandchildren.

David Young has been a professional truck driver for 30 years and has accumulated over 2.4 million safe driving miles. He is a line haul driver for FedEx Freight.

David was awarded with FedEx’s Bravo Zulu and Purple Promise Awards. He received the FedEx Freight 19-Years of Safe Driving Award.

David has been competing at the North Carolina Truck Driving Championship for over 10 years. He finished third in his class in 2013 and second in his class in 2015, 2016, and 2019. David was named champion of his class in 2017.

David is a member of the FedEx Freight Road Team and the FedEx Driver Safety Review Board. He is a FedEx Driver Coach for new drivers and assists in brake light and tire inspections at his local terminal.

David was a member of the local volunteer fire department from 1990-1999 and served as a Lieutenant for four years.

David resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, Camille, and daughter, Leah.