Minnesota Veteran Truck Driver
Receives National Safety Award

Top Dog Video

Brooklyn Center (Minn.) … Veteran truck driver Jerry Van Emmerik is America’s safest truck driver, at least according to the TLC Companies, Brooklyn Center, MN.  Van Emmerik, who works for family owned and operated Lake Valley Trucking, Inc. of Wheaton, MN, received grand prize honors and a check for $12,500 during a ceremony May 15 at Lake Valley trucking headquarters. He earned the award in the annual 2007-2008 Safety Top Dog® program, sponsored by The TLC Companies®.
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.
Van Emmerik has also won Safety Top Dog® quarterly gift cards for his excellent driving practices.
          “To say I was surprised getting this big award is certainly an understatement – it just totally surprised me” said Van Emmerik about the award presentation. “When I first started participating in the Safety Top Dog® program I knew about the top prize, but it just never dawned on me that I might actually win it.”  Asked about what value the Safety Top Dog® program has provided him, Van Emmerik said “It’s a safety award and it’s an incentive for other drivers to get involved. It has definitely refreshed my memory on the rules and regulations – I read every newsletter and I find it very enlightening. My wife reads them too and we talk about the articles between us.”                          
          The award was made at a special company gathering to honor Van Emmerik. The grand prize was presented by Ardell DeBerg, CEO of The TLC Companies®.  This is the seventh year of the Safety Top Dog® program and, according to TLC Companies® Safety Director Bob Byrnes, participation has increased steadily each year. “With 30 quarterly gift cards ($200 and $800) and a huge grand prize, the incentive is definitely there for drivers to be part of Safety Top Dog®,” said Byrnes.  Drivers from hundreds of companies take part in the program each quarter.
          Lake Valley Trucking, Inc. 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. According to Jean, vice president of the company, “Jerry is just a terrific guy and he certainly deserves this award. He is the type of person you can always count on – he’s loyal, always on time, his logs are always up-to-date and neat, his reports always on my desk on schedule and he’s a great driver.”  She goes on, “And he really delivers for our customers. In other words, if he has a load going out Monday morning, he’s in here Sunday night making sure everything is ready to go.”
          Osterman speaks very highly of the Safety Top Dog® program too. “Several of our drivers participate and some have gotten the quarterly gift cards too. Plus, by being part of the program, reading the materials and answering the simple questions, they definitely become better, more safety conscious drivers for our company,” she added.  
          The TLC Companies® is the country’s largest 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.

Jim and Jean Osterman - Lake Valley Trucking; Chris Van Emmerik and Jerry Van Emmerik – TLC Safety Top Dog® grand prize winner; Kelly Stodola – Marketing Director , The TLC Companies®; Ardell DeBerg, CEO , The TLC Companies®.  In the foreground is the Safety Top Dog® mascot.