Lytx's 2025 Driver and Coach of the Year
Winners Celebrated for Their Industry-Leading Skillsets and
Commitment to Fleet Safety
SAN
DIEGO, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --
Lytx® Inc., the industry icon of video and safety-driven
efficiency, today announced the winners of the 2025 Driver and
Coach of the Year awards and shared their positive impact on
today's roadways. Implementing Lytx's best-in-class fleet safety
solutions, each honoree showcased their commitment to excellence
and exceptional performance.
The program this year received a record number of nominations,
the highest in its 12-year history and a 30% increase over
2024.
"We are honored and heartened to have received so many
incredible nominations this year," said Jeff Martin, Lytx's VP of Global Sales Strategy.
"Every individual who was nominated showed genuine and abiding
commitment to the safety in their community. We are grateful for
their vigilance in helping to ensure that every journey ends with a
safe return."
"These inspiring individuals illustrate the powerful dynamic
between drivers and coaches, and the lasting benefits that coaching
methods such as positive recognition and in-person conversations
can have," Martin continued.
The 2025 award recipients were nominated by their peers and
managers, and Lytx selected winners based on their outstanding work
in the fields of Services/Utilities, Transit/Motor Coach, For-Hire
Trucking, Private Truck Fleet/Distribution, and
Waste/Construction.
For more on Lytx's 2025 Driver and Coach of the Year awards, go
here.
**Winners – 2025 Drivers of the Year**
Services / Utilities (Drivers)
First-Place Winner –
Jerry Fitzgerald (Rottler Pest
Solutions)
Jerry showed exceptional commitment to safety
throughout 2024, maintaining a spotless record for the entire year.
He actively supports other drivers by offering guidance and sharing
best practices, while emphasizing the importance of safe driving
and the positive company image it projects. In his spare time,
Jerry is heavily involved in his local church program to bring the
community together during the holiday season, further demonstrating
his positive approach and strong commitment to serving others.
Second Place – Jeff Weaver
(AmeriGas Propane)
Third Place – Clark Christianson (Give and Go Express,
Inc.)
Transit / Motor Coach (Drivers)
First-Place Winner
– Julie Greene (Salter
Transportation)
As a school bus driver in the New England
area for 26 years, Julie is one of the safest and most respected
drivers in the Salter family. She has zero preventable accidents,
only three absences during her entire 26-year tenure at the company
and regularly receives cards and drawings from students she takes
to (and from) school. When asked about the importance of her job
and why she enjoys it, Julie shared, "We carry the most precious
cargo, we are needed, and we make a difference in a child's life
every day."
Second Place – Donjaray Baker (Transdev Chicago
PACE)
Third Place – Ivette
Calderon (Hendrickson Bus, Beacon Mobility)
For-Hire Trucking (Drivers)
First-Place Winner –
Roland G. Esquibel (Ryder System,
INC.)
Roland received Ryder's "2024 Driver of the Year"
award and has had no accidents in his four years at Ryder. With his
previous employer, he went nine years without an accident. His
manager remarked that Roland consistently performs his job at the
highest level and always goes above and beyond expectations. As a
United States Army veteran, church volunteer, and more, Roland
notes, "My parents taught me about working hard, being honest, and
to treat people the way you want to be treated."
Second Place – Bishal Sutti (HUB
Group)
Third Place – Michael
Whitehurst Jr. (UPS)
Private Truck Fleet / Distribution
(Drivers)
First-Place Winner – David Todosciuk (River Valley Ingredients –
Tyson Foods)
During his 31+ years of driving for RVI/Tyson
Foods, David has been recognized as a 1-, 2-, and 3-million-mile
driver and is one of the most respected drivers on the team. He is
a constant mentor to his fellow drivers and is a strong advocate
for the Lytx system, sharing his knowledge of the technology and
helping others embrace the safety tool. When talking about his
approach to safety, David said, "I work to anticipate what the
future may hold in every mile, and I maintain a positive outlook
when discussing the system and our everyday traffic
experiences."
Second Place – Jacques Allen
(Imperial Dade)
Third Place – Ryan Thorne (Kwik Trip, Inc.)
Waste / Construction (Drivers)
First-Place Winner –
Freddy Thomas (Waste
Connections)
Freddy is the 2024 Eastern Region Driver of the
Year for Waste Connections and has maintained an impeccable safety
record with no accidents or risky behaviors for over six years. He
is a dedicated and compassionate individual who contributes to his
community by mentoring at-risk and troubled youth, as well as
assisting the elderly with essential tasks such as attending
doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, and managing their bills.
Freddy is committed to safety on and off the job and added, "By
consistently doing the right thing, I gain peace of mind knowing
that I've taken every precaution to avoid potential hazards."
Second Place – Chris Foley
(MANATT'S, INC.)
Third Place – Hector Buz (Dolese Bros
Co)
**Winners – 2025 Coaches of the Year**
Services / Utilities (Coaches)
First-Place Winner –
Melissa Noe (Dycom Industries,
Inc.)
Melissa's coaching effectiveness in 2024 was an
impressive 84%, with a total of 4,932 coached events. Her hard
work, dedication, and attention to detail helped lower Dycom's
preventable accident rate by 44% from 2023 to 2024. When asked
about her coaching philosophy, Melissa shared, "I approach every
interaction with professionalism and courtesy, understanding that
respect and clear communication are essential to building strong
relationships and maintaining a positive work environment."
Second Place – James Martin
(Ranger Energy Services, LLC)
Third Place – Manny Fimbres (Allied University
Security)
Transit / Motor Coach (Coaches)
First-Place Winner
– Alphonso Burns
(Transdev)
As a Safety Manager at Transdev for over five
years, Alphonso earned the "Million Mile Safety Certificate" from
the company in 2021 and was instrumental in increasing their
coaching effectiveness from 69% in January
2024 to 85% in December 2024.
His success stems from his unwavering commitment to developing his
team and creating a culture of collaboration. Commenting on this,
Alphonso added, "By incorporating team-building activities and
fostering a collaborative environment, I aim to inspire
professionalism, courtesy, and a shared commitment to excellence
across the team."
Second Place – Candy Stodden
(Kansas Central School Bus Company)
Third Place –
Suzanna Marie Trevino (Mr. Greens
Produce)
For-Hire Trucking (Coaches)
First-Place Winner –
Parminder Choumwer (UPS)
Parminder completed several
coaching-related courses that helped shape his mindset and enabled
him to train team members to the highest standards in the industry.
He cares deeply about the health and safety of his drivers and uses
Lytx's coaching tools to address and reward behaviors through
targeted coaching and consistent follow-ups. During these sessions,
Parminder shared that "meaningful conversations foster a sense of
care and appreciation for our employee's efforts, demonstrating
that communication is key to understanding."
Second Place – Shane Patterson
(Melton Truck Lines, Inc.)
Third Place – Amber Gromis (J.B. Hunt Transportation)
Private Truck Fleet / Distribution
(Coaches)
First-Place Winner – Emily Wolford (Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling –
Bay City, MI)
Emily drives
continuous improvement throughout the year, and her effective
approach to coaching has resulted in a dramatic reduction in risk
potential and coachable events. An avid believer in using
recognition to motivate performance, Emily shared that "over the
course of 2024, I proudly handed out 230 Lytx Safety Recognition
certificates to recognize the tremendous safety efforts put forth
by our drivers." She has a long history in using technology to
improve performance. In 2020, Emily won the company's DriveCam
Coach of the Year award for the Michigan Market Unit for her
unparalleled ability to prioritize safety within her Distribution
department.
Second Place – Dylan West
(Keystops LLC)
Third Place – James Dowd (ABARTA Coca-Cola)
Waste / Construction (Coaches)
First-Place Winner –
Neil Rivers (Stericycle)
From
2023 to 2024, Neil's coaching strategies and tactics have helped
reduce nine of the top 10 risky behaviors within his driver group.
He is a safety advocate both on and off the job and attends
practices for the Andover Girls Traveling Basketball team as a
safety coach and first responder for medical emergencies.
Encouraging collaboration, valuing the team's contributions, and
caring about his driver's well-being, Neil stated, "I genuinely
care about the safety of others and strive to ensure that we all
make the right and safe choices."
Second Place – Shelley Krantz
(Vulcan Materials Company)
Third Place – Ed Ziegler (MANATT'S, INC.)
About Lytx
Lytx is a global leader in video safety and video telematics. Our
solutions harness the power of video to empower drivers and fleets
to be safer and more efficient, productive, and profitable so they
can thrive in today's competitive environment. Through the Lytx
Vision™ Platform, direct and reseller clients access our
customizable services and programs spanning fleet safety, risk
detection, fleet tracking, ELD compliance, preventative
maintenance, and fuel management. Using the world's largest driving
database of its kind, along with proprietary machine vision and
artificial intelligence technology, we help protect and connect
thousands of fleets and 3.4 million drivers in more than 85
countries. For more information about Lytx, visit www.lytx.com,
@lytx on X, LinkedIn, our Facebook page, or our YouTube
channel.
Contact:
Jason
Andersen
corpcomm@lytx.com
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SOURCE Lytx, Inc.
