Staying Safe, Mile After Mile
Warren Greeno in his new custom Peterbilt tractor Walmart's drivers are some of the safest on the road. And we have the miles to prove it. Warren Greeno is the record holder for driving 3.5 million safe miles. Though you may not see them every day, there are nearly 8,000 drivers in your Walmart family. That's a lot of drivers—in fact, our private fleet is one of the largest on the road. But our associates should be proud that our drivers are also among the safest out there: More than 1,960 of Walmart's drivers have logged more than 1 million consecutive miles without a preventable accident. The record-holder: Warren Greeno, 3.5 million safe milesFor 28 years, Warren Greeno has driven for Walmart throughout the central United States , from the plains of Texas to the mountains of Montana. On the evening of June 4, as Warren was rolling through Nebraska on Interstate 80, a message came in through his onboard Qualcomm computer: He was about to hit the 3.5 million–safe-mile mark. Walmart suprises Warren with a new rigWarren, who currently holds the record for the most safe miles of any Walmart driver, received a plaque celebrating his achievement upon his return to Transportation Office (TO) 6819, in Loveland, Colo., where he is based. Then came a slightly larger trophy. Walmart surprised Warren with the opportunity to travel to the Peterbilt truck factory in Denton, Texas, where he was invited to pick out a brand-new Peterbilt tractor that only he will drive. Walmart's high safety standards, yearly training refresher courses, and respect for its drivers are key parts to Warren's success and longevity, he says. "Walmart drivers are very well known at weigh stations and Department of Transportation stops for our equipment being in good shape and our logs being right," he says. "And Walmart always allows plenty of time to get the load there on time, so there's no reason to be driving hard." Driving habitsWarren's personal driving habits also helped push him past the 3.5 million– mile mark. "Second-guess and take that second look," he advises other drivers and associates, whether they're steering a big rig, hauling a 53-foot trailer, or just driving in a regular-size car or truck. As a kid learning to drive, Warren remembers smashing the front of his father's aquagreen 1961 Ford Galaxie on the corner of the family garage. This year, when he ordered his new Peterbilt, he requested the truck be painted the same shade as the old Ford. "I chose this color to remind me that when I get in this thing I need to pay attention and take that second look," he says. |
