Truck driver with 4.1 million safe miles recognized with Driver Excellence Award

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) named an AutoZone truck driver with nearly 40 years behind the wheel as this year’s International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA) winner.

On August 29, the CVSA named truck driver Henry “Wayne” Hayes as this year’s IDEA winner.

Hayes has driven 4.1 million safe miles in his 38 year career.

According to the CVSA, Hayes began his driving career with Turner Dairy Company, then moved over to drive for AutoZone in 1994. Hayes has driven over 3 million miles for AutoZone and is currently working as a regional driver “who carefully navigates tight loading docks and parking lots in business districts to safely deliver auto parts to company stores” in the southeast.

“It is such an honor to receive CVSA’s International Driver Excellence Award,” said Hayes. “I realize there are many deserving drivers out there with great career records – drivers who prove their excellence in safety each and every day out on the road. I was honored to be a nominee and truly overwhelmed to be the recipient of this year’s award.”

“Wayne is a defensive driver, and he keeps his head on a swivel,” said AutoZone Distribution Center Transportation Operations Manager, Customer Satisfaction, Stephania Williams, who nominated Hayes for IDEA. “He drives anticipating what the other drivers might do and says that when he sees all the kiddos when he’s driving on the highways, it makes him stop and think about safety first.”

“On behalf of the Alliance, I’d like to congratulate Wayne for his outstanding and impressive safety record,” said CVSA President Maj. Chris Nordloh of the Texas Department of Public Safety. “This award, CVSA’s only driver-excellence award, is our way of acknowledging the crucial role drivers play in keeping our roadways safe. CVSA bestows its prestigious International Driver Excellence Award to one exceptional commercial motor vehicle driver each year. Wayne not only met, but far exceeded, the award’s difficult and exclusive criteria.”