Twin Brothers Share Vision for Safety-First Driving
23 October 2000
Twin Brothers Share Vision for Safety-First Driving; J.B. Hunt Drivers Achieve Lifetime of Safe Driving
LOWELL, Ark.--Oct. 23, 2000--To have one driver achieve a lifetime of safe driving is quite an accomplishment for a company. But to have two drivers -- who are not just fellow drivers but brothers, and who are not just brothers but identical twins - is twice as nice.J.B. Hunt found itself in the enviable position of having veteran drivers Lonny and Tommy Whitman reach a pinnacle point in their careers within just a year of each other - each accumulating three million miles of driving for the same company without an accident. Lonny reached the three-million mark first in July 1999, and Tommy duplicated the goal in July 2000. Their impressive achievements earned each $35,000 ($5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 for reaching one-, two- and three-million mile levels respectively) in cash awards from J.B. Hunt. The twins are the only two drivers in the company's history and among only a handful of drivers industry-wide to have reached this goal.
"We're honored to reach this point and to have been with this company for so long," said Lonny Whitman. "We've stayed with J.B. Hunt through the years because it's clear that the driver is this company's No. 1 concern, and safety is so very important to them."
"Lonny and Tommy are very special to us," said Kirk Thompson, company president and CEO. "We're proud of them and what their accomplishments do to set the standard not just for our drivers but for all drivers throughout the industry."
The company honored each brother with a surprise reception and their $20,000 cash award during special ceremonies at the corporate offices in Lowell, Ark., when other drivers reaching the one- and two-million mile safety mark were honored and given cash awards.
"The Whitmans' achievements underscore our long-standing commitment to safety on the road," said Thompson. "We have many drivers who reach the one- and two-million mile safety mark," he added, "and we hope to have many more follow Lonny and Tommy's example as well."
Going the Extra Mile
Not surprisingly, the brothers are often asked about their secret to a three-million mile safety record. And they would be the first to tell young drivers that it pays, literally, to take a safety-first approach to driving. "Being a safe driver over the long haul isn't that hard to achieve if you are consistent in what you do, stay alert, remain focused on your load and keep a positive attitude," explained Tommy.
"We don't mind going the extra mile to make sure our load is safe," added Lonny. "We just make safety a habit. For instance, we've always tried to plan our trips carefully and to avoid as many dangerous situations as possible. We don't get ourselves into congested traffic areas, and we bypass cities whenever possible. We also get out and check to make sure no one is behind us before backing."
Floyd Couch, manager of automotive operations for J.B. Hunt, has known the Whitman brothers for many years. "Their load always came first," he said. "Regardless of how difficult the assignment or the obstacles they faced, they always saw that their load was delivered safely and on time. I'm not surprised to see them achieve this significant milestone."
The Early Days
The brothers enjoy reminiscing about the years they have driven together for J.B. Hunt. The twins joined the company in 1977 when it was just getting started. "It was so much like a family then with four dispatchers and a handful of drivers," remembered Lonny. "When you saw a J.B. Hunt logo on a truck somewhere out on the road, you always stopped to see who it was and try to share a meal together."
In many instances, the extremely close-knit brothers would find each other just by having an inclination of where the other might be. "The fleet manager would try to send us the same direction," said Tommy. "But when we were separated, we always had a feeling about where the other was and how he was doing." On one occasion, Lonny found Tommy in New Orleans - even though he didn't know he was there - just by looking for his truck.
Johnelle Hunt, wife of company founder J.B. Hunt and current corporate secretary and member of the board of directors, spoke of the twins with great fondness. "I can remember very well when they came to work with us. It was back in the days when everyone knew each other on a first-name basis," she said. "We knew they were special then. Once you met them you felt as if you'd known them forever."
Hunt added that the twins' dedication to the company is impressive. "They found a home with us and they stayed for all these years," she said. "It takes a special person to be a driver in the first place because of the responsibility and the hours on the road. But for us to be lucky enough to have found twin brothers with the same unique qualities is pretty rare. They are simply the best at what they do."