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Washington, DC – Bill Willis, of Grossman Iron and Steel Company in St. Louis, MO, was presented with the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) first-ever Safe Driver of the Year Award for operating his entire 35 year career and driving more than 1.5 million miles without a single preventable accident. The award recognizes outstanding drivers who have driven a commercial vehicle for at least 20 years without incurring a preventable accident.

“Given their valuable contributions to the U.S. economy and the sacrifices they make to perform their jobs, truck drivers deserve any and all recognition they receive,” said Commodor Hall, ISRI’s Transportation Safety Manager. “For more than three decades, Bill Willis has been transporting goods in a safe and reliable manner, and he truly exemplifies the many truck drivers who keep America’s roadways safe.”

The Safe Driver of the Year Award is based on the following mandatory criteria:

• Nominations may be submitted only by ReMA members in good standing.
• Nominees must be full-time employees whose primary responsibility is to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
• Nominees must be current employees of the nominating member company, and must be employed for at least one year (12 consecutive months).
• Nominations must be made by someone familiar with the nominee’s work history, such as manager or safety director.
• No more than three drivers may be nominated from the same member company.
• Nominees must meet the minimum requirement of 20 years of verifiable employment as a commercial motor vehicle driver without a preventable accident.

Other criteria taken into account are the driver’s contribution to highway safety (driver trainer), letters of appreciation, deeds of heroism on or off the job, and civic and fraternal organizations.

“Bill was twice the recipient of the Grossman Iron and Steel Company Driver of the Year Award in 2000 and 2006. The award criteria is very stringent including a safe driving record, perfect attendance and no injuries, and a work ethic that positively separates him from his peers. Bill’s tenure with our longest running dedicated account is a testament to his professionalism and his dedication to superior customer service. He is well deserving of the ReMA Driver of the Year Award,” said Kevin Speis, Transportation Manager for Grossman Iron and Steel.

When Bill isn’t driving, he is often fishing or spending time with his family which includes his wife Vera of 44 years, and two adult children. Bill was also drafted into the Army in 1970 and served in Korea from 1970-1971, before receiving an Honorable Discharge. 
The award was presented to Mr. Willis at ISRI’s 2013 Convention in Orlando, Florida. In addition to travel to and lodging at the Convention, he received a crystal truck trophy, personalized certificate, ReMA Safe Driver leather jacket, congratulatory letter, and a $500 personal check.

The 2013 second-place winner was Joseph Cortinez of Behr Trucking Company, Rockford, IL, and third-place went to Dale Corban of PSC Metals-Garn, Wooster, OH.

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Attached photo: (left to right) Commodor Hall, ISRI’s transportation safety manager; Bill Willis; Cap Grossman, president, Grossman Iron & Steel Co.; Jerry Simms, ReMA chair.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI)
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the Voice of the Recycling Industry™. ReMA represents more than 1,700 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker and industrially consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute provides education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. For more information about ISRI, visit www.ISRI.org.