2011
James BlanksDSR, NCT
James Blanks began his career as a professional truck driver when work as a certified welder became scarce. At the suggestion of a friend, he opted to give truck driving a chance and joined Con-way Freight in December 1987. Having grown up on a farm, James was already experienced in operating large equipment and felt right at home behind the wheel of a freight truck.
Although he enjoys meeting new people and seeing long-time customers, James also appreciates the freedom that being alone on the road gives him. “I would hate sitting at a desk all day,” James said. “In my truck I can pretty much be my own boss.”
The biggest challenge for professional drivers on the road today, according to James, is dealing with other motorists. “It’s one thing to monitor your own driving, but when you have to watch for others’ mistakes as well, it becomes far more difficult,” he said. “One of my friends warned me to always expect people driving around you to do foolish things so you have more time to react if you need to.”
The best advice James has to give other drivers is to stay attentive, “It sounds simple, but if people would just pay attention and drive with the flow of traffic instead of weaving in and out of lanes and cutting people off, so many accidents could be avoided,” he explained.
James said he is proud to have reached two million accident-free miles and knows that he helps keep the roads safe. “I guess I’m old school, but when I come to work, I always try to do the best that I can. I focus on doing my job, and doing it well. Receiving this award is bonus,” he added.
A resident of Ider, Ala., James is based out of Con-way Freight’s Chattanooga, Tenn., service center. He has been a professional truck driver for 34 years, and averages 500 miles on his daily route from Chattanooga, to Birmingham, Ala. He lives with his wife of 30 years, Sharon, and has three children. In his spare time, James enjoys hunting and watching University of Alabama football.
