Veteran truck driver Jerry Van Emmerik earned America's safest truck driver award in the annual 2007-2008 Safety Top Dog program, sponsored by The TLC Companies, Brooklyn Center, Minn.
Van Emmerik, who works for family owned and operated Lake Valley Trucking of Wheaton, Minn., received grand prize honors and a check for $12,500 during a ceremony May 15 at Lake Valley trucking headquarters.
Van Emmerik, who drives approximately 125,000 miles per year, has been driving for Lake Valley Trucking since May 1997. He began driving over-the-road in January 1978, so his career has spanned more than 30 years.
He qualified for the national safety award by having a clean driving record, no over-the-road accidents, and no workers' compensation claims during the program year. He was chosen randomly from a large group of drivers from across the nation who had also met the program's stringent qualifications and had registered in each of the program's four three-month periods.
Lake Valley Trucking currently has six trucks on the road with several veteran drivers. Owned and operated by Jim and Jean Osterman and members of their family, the business has been in operation since 1983 when they started with one truck. They have had as many as 10 trucks on the road over the years.
The TLC Companies a large professional employer organization (PEO) specializing in the trucking industry. TLC created the Safety Top Dog Awards Program in 2000 to encourage and reward safe work and driving by its drivers.
Each quarter, 25 qualified drivers receive $200 major retailer gift cards and five receive $800 gift cards. To qualify, a driver must be accident and injury-free and be in good standing with their company and TLC. Drivers must also register each quarter. Their chances of winning improve when they correctly answer questions from safety quizzes contained in TLC's monthly newsletter for its drivers.
Minnesota Truck Driver Wins National Safety Award 
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