UPS Honors New York Drivers for 25 Years of Safe Driving

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

UPS UPS today announced 29 elite drivers from New York are among 1,235 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.

New York boasts 151 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 4,201 years of accident-free driving. Ronald McKnight of the Bronx is New York's senior safe driver, with 43 years of accident-free driving under his belt, tying him for fourth best driving record among UPS's 102,000 drivers. There are 5,293 total UPS drivers in New York.

Globally, 5,842 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they've racked up 161,746 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 212,000 times.

The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company's history.

“I'm very proud of these men and women,” said George Brooks, president, UPS East Region. “To go at least a quarter century without an accident is a testament to the pride they take in their work and to the training they receive. My thanks go to all of them for the countless lives they've saved.”

Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS's Ohio Valley District, with 50 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Great Lakes District is next in line with 49 years of safe driving. Twenty-seven 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 averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven.

UPS invested $175 million in 2011 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called “Space and Visibility.” All UPS drivers are taught safe driving methods beginning on the first day of classroom training through the company's defensive driving platform. The training continues throughout their careers.

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 the Circle of Honor in 1955.

More information on UPS's commitment to safety is available at http://www.pressroom.ups.com/safety.

UPS UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

** NOTE: The following pages list local drivers by hometown and UPS center. If you're interested in interviewing or riding along with a local driver, please contact Dan McMackin at 404-828-4188 or dmcmackin@ups.com.

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

Driver			Hometown			UPS Work Location
Kenneth Abrams			Highland Mills			Long Island City
Robert Blandino			Brooklyn			New York
Kenneth Blumenthal			Patchogue			Farmingville
Augusto Cotto			Forest Hills			Bronx
Shawn Egan			Cutchogue			Farmingville
Gary Epstein			Staten Island			New York
Joseph Foundoulakis			Staten Island			New York
Robert Gund			Lindenhurst			Farmingdale
Christopher Kalantgis			Westbrookville			New York
Larry Lehr			Oceanside			Brooklyn
Dennis Little			Jamaica			New York
John Mangiaracina			West Hempstead			Uniondale
Michael Menicci			Staten Island			Brooklyn
Michael Micheletti			Farmingdale			Uniondale
Philip Murphy			Wantagh			Farmingdale
Edward Nacer			Massapequa Pk			New York
Carlos Pacheco			Mt Kisco			Yorktown Hgts
Daniel Papaccio			Patchogue			Farmingdale
William Postupak			Port Jefferson Sta.			Farmingville
John Rizzo			Brooklyn			Brooklyn
Anthony Waller			Deer Park			Uniondale
Christopher Waslin			Coram			Farmingdale
Kurt Youngberg			Coram			Farmingville
Timothy Carey			New York Mills			New Hartford
Richard Cowan			Henrietta			Buffalo
Michael Lynn			Peru			Plattsburgh
David Sischo			Rodman			Watertown
Daniel Wheeler			Ballston Lake			Latham
Donald Williams			Ransomville			Lockport