By Steve Pollock

STEUBENVILLE, OH....Gypsum Express Ltd., a Baldwinsville, New York based carrier, recently held a Safety and Awards Banquet at "The Rose" Banquet Hall.  The event was held in Steubenville, Ohio to accommodate drivers from the Shadyside, OH and Aliquippa, PA terminals.  There were over 150 drivers and their guests in attendance.

Gypsum Express established their Safety Bonus Program in 2000.  The Bonus Program was implemented to reward drivers and technicians for doing their job safely and efficiently.   It focuses on two areas: safety and employment longevity.  Gypsum Express Owner and CEO John Wight, who has been a driver all of his life, believes that by offering substantial safety bonus incentives to drivers and technicians, many cargo, equipment and workman's compensations claims can be prevented.  As Gypsum Express's insurance carrier will attest, the numbers speak for themselves.

In the past 10 years Gypsum Express has paid out $3.95 million dollars in bonuses. 2,756 deserving individuals earned an annual safety bonus.  Gypsum also awarded 371 consecutive bonus checks for employment longevity for a total of 3,127 bonus checks over a 10-year period.  This year Gypsum will pay out, company-wide, over $450,000 in safety bonuses and $11,000 in DOT bonuses to 340 employees.  $50 is paid for each clean DOT inspection.  The safety bonus is mileage based, giving drivers almost an extra 1¢ per mile for driving safely.  Most drivers are earning a safety bonus of $1,500 to $2,000 each year by driving safely.  New drivers are pro-rated from their start date of employment to the end of the year.  If you stay with Gypsum and drive safely, you will also earn an escalating annual consecutive bonus.  Starting at 3 years, drivers are paid an annual bonus of $1,250; 5 years - $2,500; 10 years - $5,000; 15 years - $7,500; and for 20 years - $10,000.  In addition, drivers can earn a $1,400 driver referral bonus for recommending someone to Gypsum who is eventually hired.  Last year 83% of Gypsum drivers and technicians earned a bonus.

At the Safety and Awards Banquet Executive Vice President John Zink recognized 16 outstanding Gypsum Express drivers, each of whom have been with the company and have driven safely for 10 years or more.  Collectively they have driven over 15 million miles safely and have PSP scores that range from 0-14.  Each of these individuals received a consecutive bonus check for $5,000 this year and an annual safety bonus each year.  Over a 10-year period, each driver earned an average of $24,550 in bonuses.  At the Safety Banquet the drivers from the Aliquippa and Shadyside terminals were awarded thousands of dollars in bonuses.

John Zink thanked the drivers for a job well done.  Mr. Zink also explained that with some additional accounts coming on board, as well as increased freight volumes for existing customers, there are opportunities for an additional 100 drivers in the Gypsum Express fleet.  Gypsum Express operates primarily east of the Mississippi from several terminal locations in Baldwinsville, NY; Demotte, IN; Shoals, IN; Savannah, GA; Carrollton, KY; Aliquippa, PA; and Shadyside, OH.  They primarily haul gypsum (wallboard) for several of the nation's largest wallboard manufacturers.  For more information log onto www.gypsumexpress.com or call 800-621-7901 x124.