UPS United Parcel Service

UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that 33 elite drivers from Minnesota are among 1,613 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.  

Minnesota boasts 148 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 4,231 years of accident-free driving. Raymond Welk of Nowthen is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 45 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 1,878 total UPS drivers in Minnesota. 

Globally, 8,703 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor.  Collectively they’ve racked up more than 245,000 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers. That’s enough miles to travel to Mars and back 19 times.

“My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Trayce Parker, president, UPS Northern Plains District. “Their attention to detail has kept them safe and has helped improve public safety.”

Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 53 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 47 years of safe driving. Sixty-six others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.

UPS’s 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and delivering more than 4 billion packages safely.   

Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training.  The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923.  In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch.  UPS formally established its safe driving honor program in 1928.

** NOTE: The following table lists local drivers by hometown and UPS center.  If you’re interested in interviewing a local driver, please contact UPS Public Relations at pr@ups.com. Visit pressroom.ups.com for multimedia assets.

Following is a list of Minnesota drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.

Driver	Hometown	UPS Work Location
Altenhofen,  Mark	Orono	Maple Grove
Bailey,  Greg	Blaine	Minneapolis
Broze,  Thomas	Savage	St. Paul
Castle,  Edward	Roseau	Thief River Falls
Chavez,  Robert	St. Paul	Minneapolis
Churchill,  David	St. Paul	St. Paul
Dubay,  Jimmy	St. Paul	Minneapolis
Fettig,  Robert	Pelican Rapids	Fargo
Gabriel,  Patrick	Maplewood	Minneapolis
Harren,  Scott	Mounds View	Maple Grove
Kach,  Randy	Albert Lea	St. Paul
Kordahl,  Joel	Duluth	Duluth
Maddaus,  Richard	New Prague	St. Paul
Marquis,  David	Blaine	Maple Grove
Nelson,  David	Sandstone	Isanti
Novak,  Bryan	Coon Rapids	Minneapolis
Oberg,  Jerry	Lino Lakes	Maple Grove
Olson,  Allen	Faribault	Faribault
Overas,  Michael	St. Paul	Minneapolis
Petroske,  Ronald	Forest Lake	Minneapolis
Powers,  Michael	Circle Pines	Maple Grove
Radmer,  Gene	Woodbury	St. Paul
Rees,  Scott	Prior Lake	St. Paul
Ringgold,  Rolf	Circle Pines	Minneapolis
Schaefer,  Bruce	Eagan	St. Paul
Stenberg,  Todd	St. Anthony	Minneapolis
Swails,  Derek	Lakeville	Minneapolis
Tersteeg,  Steven	Ramsey	Maple Grove
Urista,  Bruce	Otsego	Minneapolis
Vetsch,  David	Clearwater	St. Cloud
Weber,  Jeffery	Detroit Lakes	Detroit Lakes
Williams,  Geoffrey	Lakeville	St. Paul
Woods, Michael	Fergus Falls	Fergus Falls

Contact:       
UPS Public Relations
pr@ups.com