Three Professional Truck Drivers Honored With The ATHS Golden Achievement Award
It was an evening filled with friends, family, and fellowship on April 25th at the Hoss’s Steak and Sea House in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. There were plenty of tales about the good old days of trucking.
The occasion was presenting the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) Golden Achievement Award to three very deserving Professional Truck Drivers: Frank Miller, Daryl Rhodes, and Leonard Waite.
Statistics provided by the banquet hosts revealed that Miller, Rhodes, and Waite have collectively driven 15 million miles over the years. The video display revealed interesting facts about these Drivers and shared that with one round trip to the moon being approximately 477,610 mils, each of these Drivers has taken 10 trips to the Moon and back and made 200 trips around the Earth. They’ve hauled a staggering 1,096,200,000 pounds between them. It’s estimated that they drank 6400 galloons of coffee while out on the highway, enough to fill two fuel oil delivery trucks!
Frank Miller did not grow up in a trucking family, but he did grow up around a lot of truckers near McVeytown PA. In 1965, he joined the Army, where his trucking career started and he drove a 5 ton bridge truck. After leaving the Army he drove truck part-time.
Between 1972 and 1978, Frank hauled livestock and pulled a milk tanker for TC Daubert from Yeagertown PA. He also drove truck for CD Zimmerman, of Mifflintown PA hauling firebrick. Then in 1978, he went to work for J&D Trucking, which is now known as Class 1 Transport, out of McVeytown PA. In 1993, his wife Mary joined him and they drove team until 2016. Frank still drives for Class 1 Transport and Dave Bratton.
Daryl Rhodes joined the Marine Corp and came home on the weekends and would load trucks for his father-in-law. His father was a company driver, so needless to say, he got the "bug" early and started driving at age 20.
In 1975 he bought his first truck, a 1971 International 4070 Cabover. Over the years he has owned many new trucks and trailers. Most of Daryl's career he pulled flatbed and for a short time he pulled a van.
Daryl has helped many of his friends along the way, including drivers who were broke down out on the road. Although he "retired" 5 years ago, he is still driving today because he says, "it’s in his blood.”
Daryl says, “Trucking has always been good to me and you have to have a strong work ethic to survive today and a positive attitude."
Leonard Waite was raised on a dairy farm in Long Hollow near Mount Union PA. When his dad and brother got "trucking fever", Len would skip school to go with his Dad, Chris or his brother. Len first drove an A model Mack for his dad, and then an F Model Mack hauling steel & coal.
In 1972 when he was 20 years old, Len bought a new West Coast R Model Mack and continued to haul steel and load trailers for his Dad. Over the years Leonard has worked for P&E, Quinn and Freeport Transport. He’s been leased to Freeport Transport for the past 39 years.
Leonard always said he, “Might not be home for all the little things, I’ll be home for the important things." And he has kept that promise. Leonard has been trucking for 54 years this May and says it is time to slow down. Over the years he has received safe driving, accident free and longevity awards from Freeport Transport.
Congratulations to Frank Miller, Daryl Rhodes, and Leonard Waite for their remarkable feats as Professional Truck Drivers over the years and for the honor of receiving the ATHS Golden Achievement Award. “Keep On Truckin’” Gentlemen!