“I fell in love with driving and never looked back.”

Jefferson Benjamin, Tank Truck Driver for SWTO, 2022–2023 NTTC Driver of the Year Finalist

Jefferson Benjamin is a tank truck driver for SWTO with over 20 years of industry experience and two million accident-free miles.

As one of eight finalists for the 2023 NTTC Champion award, Jefferson said it’s amazing to be nominated for such an honor. “It’s so wonderful to be here. It is truly so nice to be here with my peers, and for us to be honored for all our work and dedication to safety.”

As a fuel delivery driver, Jefferson spends his days hauling petroleum and other products to help keep his customers supplied. He says being mentally engaged every day and following the proper policies and procedures helps him to stay safe on the road. “Staying distraction free, especially staying off the phone, is so important to being a safe driver,” he said.

Jefferson said that while he had always been interested in trucking, he initially got his start as a stocker at a bottling company. “I was at the right place at the right time — one day I was told there was an opportunity to be a driver. I took it, fell in love with it, and never looked back.”

For young drivers looking to make a career in tanking, Jefferson recommends that they focus on driving safe and staying distraction-free on the road. “The safest drivers are tank truck drivers,” he adds. He also said that the best way to attract future drivers is to do more career conferences and events at schools.

Outside of trucking, Jefferson likes to play golf, soccer, work out in the gym and spend time with his grandkids.