UPS Recognizes Carnesville Driver for Safe Driving

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A Carnesville man has been listed as one of UPS’s top safest drivers.

UPS driver Ronnie McCannon of Carnesville was recently inducted into UPS’s prestigious Circle of Honor for achieving 25 years of accident-free driving.

He, along with 70 elite drivers from Georgia are among 1,445 newly inducted into the company’s honorary organization.

According to Company spokesman Dan McMackin, making the Circle of Honor list is no easy task.

“To make the list and achieve this honor the driver has to achieve 25 years without an avoidable accident,” McMackin said. “And UPS is very strict about we consider an accident to be. So even something as small as a scratch can be considered an accident. So what these people have done is truly remarkable and it’s a true honor.”

Globally, 7,878 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor.

According to McMackin, before ever making a delivery, McCannon, like all UPS drivers, was taught safe driving methods through the company’s defensive driving platform.

And that training continues throughout their careers.

“There’s training for both tractor-trailer drivers and package delivery drivers,” McMackin explained. “We have morning meetings with all of our drivers and very often the focus the focus of those meetings is safety on the roads. Then there’s recurrent training throughout their entire career and every year there’s an annual safety ride. So, yeah it’s a constant thing.”

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.