“In trucking, you can be at the right place at the right time.”

Jerry Locke, Driver for Kenan Advantage Group, 2022–2023 NTTC Driver of the Year Finalist

Jerry delivers all types of petroleum products, is based in southern Virginia and travels mostly around the state. He’s been driving for more than 35 years and has four million miles accident free. As a twice nominee for the NTTC Driver of the Year finalist honor, Jerry deeply understands the industry, how to be safe, and how to train the next set of drivers.

“It’s something I have always wanted to do,” Jerry said when describing driving a truck. Jerry drove in the Army, then went to community college and driving school. When he graduated, he started working at Kenan Advantage, the same company he has worked his entire career. Jerry believes that trucking is a great career financially, and the benefits are good. He is well treated, loves the independence of his job and looks forward to completing his work safely so he can come home at the end of the day.

“Seeing the different areas, seeing different people, the comradery of most drives, to me, it’s the like perfect storm,” he says. “The good part is that you never know what your day will bring. You meet different people, yet at the same time, you also get to know the same people over time as your customers. It’s gratifying to create and build those relationships over one’s career.

Jerry describes a very memorable time in his career about ten years ago when he was able to provide very meaningful help; something he will never forget.

“There was a moment ten years ago that has stayed with me. I came to a store in Crozet, VA at about one in the morning. It was dark and cold; only about 5 degrees. An older gentleman was walking around with just a t-shirt on and approached me and said he didn’t know where he was. I told him I would take care of him. I got a sheet out of the truck and wrapped it around him. Since no one else was around, I called the police and waited. It turned out that there was a nursing home nearby and he had walked out and was totally confused. Since it was freezing out, who knows what may have happened if he just laid down. It touched me that someone was that vulnerable, and I could help. This was a case of being at the right place at the right time, and the stars aligned that day.”

Safety is the key to driving, Jerry says. He explains that drivers must be totally focused on the job all the times, and to pay attention and not be on your phone. “We cannot stop on a dime,” he adds. “There is more traffic, more people. Everyone is in a hurry. Everyone in the car is texting. Drivers must be proactive and try not to get frustrated.”

Jerry describes receiving this honor from the NTTC, two years in a row, as being very special, and how all of his years of hard work are being noticed as a culmination of his career.

The longtime driver takes pride in training the new drivers, and has learned to demonstrate a lot of patience, because everyone is a beginner at some point. “My favorite expression to share is to ‘measure twice and cut once. Also double check. Then perform.’ It can save you a lot of problems. I would really encourage the younger generation to look at the industry. There are so many opportunities.”