The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) honored its 2024 Driver of the Month winners at the annual Driver of the Year Banquet on Wednesday, March 26 at the Penn Harris Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill. Presented by the PMTA Safety Management Council and sponsored by Sentry Insurance, the event recognized outstanding safety, professionalism, and dedication among Pennsylvania’s commercial drivers.

"Our drivers set the standard for safety and excellence on Pennsylvania roads,” said Rebecca Oyler, President & CEO of PMTA. “We are honored to recognize their unwavering commitment and are excited to celebrate their achievements at this year’s banquet."

She noted that this year’s awardees had safely driven a combined 23.7 million miles, the equivalent of a one-way trip to the planet Venus. “We’re so proud to recognize these amazing drivers that have done so much to keep goods on our shelves, businesses producing, and our supply chain running – and they’ve done it with safety top of mind.”

Tom Kintz of sponsor Sentry Insurance announced Arthur Gerber of Ward Transport & Logistics as the 2024 Driver of the Year. Mr. Gerber, of New Wilmington, has driven professionally since 1984, logging over 3 million miles. He has never been in a crash. Mr. Gerber has been named Driver of the Year at both Ward’s Erie Terminal and overall with Ward Transport & Logistics. He now serves as a mentor to new drivers. “Art cares about others and is an outright hero,” said his wife, Denise Murphy-Gerber. “He understands how important it is to come to work to do such a demanding job. His safety record speaks for itself and is a remarkable achievement.”

The Driver of the Month and Year program honors Pennsylvania drivers from PMTA member companies for exceptional highway safety. Drivers are nominated based on their safety records, customer service, leadership, and commitment to the trucking industry and safety on the road. Awarded monthly throughout the year, one driver is selected as Driver of the Year from the 12 monthly awardees and submitted for the National Driver of the Year Award from the American Trucking Associations. All honorees exemplify dedication, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to safety.

2024 Driver of the Month Winners:

• January: Arthur Gerber, Ward Transport & Logistics
• February: David Heller, FedEx Freight
• March: Justin Walker, FedEx Freight
• April: Nathaniel Houtz, The Giant Company
• May: Ryan Blose, FedEx Freight
• June: Joseph Collins, FedEx Freight
• July: Bernard Wanyo, UPS
• August: Jesse Morgan, Ward Transport & Logistics
• September: Kevin Cunningham, Ward Transport & Logistics
• October: Dean Herb, The Giant Company
• November: Dana Mann, JVI Group, Inc.  
• December: Aimee Hinote, JVI Group. Inc.

2025 nominees are now being accepted by PMTA’s Safety Management Council.