Meet TA & Petro’s Citizen Driver 2020 honorees

Two drivers with a combined 8 million crash-free miles and exemplary records of leadership and service within their communities are TA & Petro’s Citizen Driver 2020 honorees.

Jerry “Skimpy” Seaman, an OOIDA life member from Huron, S.D., who drives for NTA Trucking Ltd., and Herschel Evans of Bremen, Ga., a driver for Holland Inc., were announced as the winners via a live broadcast June 9 on the Dave Nemo Show on Sirius XM.

The announcement of the 2020 honorees was supposed to take place during the Mid-America Trucking Show in March, but the show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seaman’s driving career started at 12 years old, delivering goods from farm to market. In 48 years of driving, he’s logged 5 million crash-free miles behind the wheel.

In 2010, Seaman was chosen as the NASTC Driver of the Year and as a member of their 2010 America’s Safe Driver Team. He began competing in the South Dakota Truck Driving championships in 2011. He received a first-place finish in the five-axle van class, received Rookie of the Year honors and the Larry Thury Award, and was named grand champion.

Seaman is a dedicated Sunday school teacher, Sunday school director, worship leader and music director. He is devoted to working with the Special Olympics and has been involved with the South Dakota Convoy for Special Olympics since its inception in 2002.

Evans followed in his father’s footsteps as a diesel mechanic before transitioning to a seat in the cab. A trainer for Holland, he’s logged 3 million safe miles. He received the 2018 Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance International Driver Excellence Award. In 2013, he was selected as an American Trucking Association’s America’s Road Team captain. In 2017, he was presented with the Mark Russell Trucking Image Award for representing the industry through his role as an America’s Road Team captain.

Seaman and Evans were chosen from among 10 finalists. Nemo and OOIDA President and CEO Todd Spencer were among the six-member panel of judges.

TravelCenters of America president Barry Richards said all 35 honorees over the past seven years have certain traits in common: They lead by example and they’re committed to safety, mentorship and representing the industry in the best way. They’re also all heavily involved in charity and community support.

“There are so many upstanding individuals out there driving trucks, and most of America doesn’t know about it.” Richards said during the live broadcast. “Consider the hours that these folks dedicate to the highway and their career, it’s rather amazing that they have the time to accomplish some of the things they’re going to be recognized for today.”

OOIDA life members Steen Gronlund, from Longmont, Colo., and Kenn and Beth Zelten, a husband-wife team from Menominee, Mich., were selected as the 2019 Citizen Driver honorees.

Launched in 2013, the program honors hardworking, professional truckers. The award places a premium on being positive role models within their communities. The Citizen Driver program said it seeks to exemplify the good in the trucking industry by honoring drivers with exemplary records of safety, leadership and public service.

Honorees get the TA or Petro of their choice dedicated in their honor. A plaque recounting their stories and service is displayed in their respective facility. TravelCenters also makes a $2,500 contribution to the driver’s charity of choice.

Evans has chosen the Petro in Atlanta for his dedication ceremony. Seaman picked the TA Express in Vermillion, S.D., for his location. LL