LAS VEGAS—G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation and Gemini Motor Transport both won their third North American safety championship.
They still have a long way to go to catch the 2023 Harvison division winner.
Groendyke Transport, which already owned a record eight Heil trophies, collected its ninth championship Tuesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on the same day National Tank Truck Carriers honored long-time Groendyke Chairman John Groendyke with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 NTTC Annual Conference.
“It’s an incredible day for Groendyke Transport,” said Greg Hodgen, Groendyke CEO and John Groendyke’s son-in-law, who took the stage after Chris Pape, Groendyke vice president of safety and training, accepted the trophy.
“This award really means a lot to us. It’s in our DNA. It means a lot to our employees. They ask about it every year. And it means a lot to the Groendyke family. And it comes down to the quality and exceptional character of every member company in this association. That’s what this award is about—all of us.”
See also: Innovation, adaptation power Groendyke's deep-rooted prosperity
The Enid, Oklahoma-based bulk hauler founded in 1932 by Harold Groendyke, John’s father, emerged in the Harvison division for for-hire carriers whose trucks traveled more than 15 million miles last year, edging out Grand award winners Service Transport Company (Class 5), Slay Transportation (Class 4), Western Dairy Transport (Class 3), and Trimac Transportation (Class 1). Competing in Class 2, the division’s second-highest classification, Groendyke posted an accident frequency of 0.162.
Groendyke also won Heil trophies for outstanding safety performance in 1973, 1975, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2016, and 2018.
“Our goal every year is to compete for this award, not to win it,” Pape said. “We strive to continuously improve in everything we do, but most importantly in safety, and by contending for this award regularly, we have achieved our ultimate victory of getting our drivers home safely and protecting those around them.
“The icing on the cake is this Heil award.”
G&D/Hoffman, which prevailed in the Sutherland division for for-hire carriers under 15 million miles, collected its third championship in seven years. The Channahon, Illinois-based tank truck carrier also won for 2017 and 2019, and secured the 2023 award with an accident frequency of 0.174 in Class 6, beating out Reed Hurst Trucking (Class 7), Alaska West Express (Class 8), MBH Trucking (Class 9), and Ventura Transfer Company (Class 10), who also earned Grand awards in NTTC’s Competitive Safety Contest.
“This is quite an honor,” said an emotional Jerry Curl, G&D/Hoffman chief operating officer, who credited Kevin Hoffman, G&D/Hoffman president and CEO, for their safety success. “I kid you not, there is such a relentless pursuit of safety excellence here it is unbelievable. He is laser-focused on it, and it’s ingrained in all 300 employees. We operate with no safety department. We have 300 safety directors. That’s how we accomplish this.
“A remarkable man, a remarkable family—and we’re just getting started.”
Curl also thanked his wife, Bobbi, for standing behind him through adversity, vowing not to be “seduced by success” in reference to the message keynote speaker Ben Newman delivered during Monday’s opening breakfast; and praised G&D/Hoffman drivers who work tirelessly to deliver critical commodities. “We have never advertised for a driver,” he said. “We maintain a waiting list. That starts with culture, and that’s the glue that holds this company together—the love, care, compassion, hard work, and dedication they show up with every day. Thank you on behalf of all of us at Hoffman and G&D.
“We love you and we can’t do it without you.”
See also: G&D/Hoffman honors Usher trophy winners
Gemini, the primary fuel hauler for Love’s Travel Stops based in Oklahoma City, earned the inaugural private-fleet championship last year and repeated with a 0.255 accident frequency in Class 1, the division’s highest mileage class, while competing against Grand award winners CLI Transport (Class 2), Irving Oil (Class 3), Poolsure (Class 4), and Cato, Inc. (Class 5). Gemini also won a Heil in 2017 in the Harvison division.
“This marks our third time winning this,” said Brent Bergevin, Love’s executive vice president of transportation.
“Trust me, it never gets old.”
He also said he was coming after John’s record—but was unable to make up any ground.
Bergevin thanked wife Emily, who joined him on stage, and his Gemini team, which includes Jeremy Gravely, director of operations; Andy Lash, general manager of logistics; Jim Dillon, truck assets manager; Todd Singleton, manager of maintenance and compliance; and David Hargrave, manager of transportation accounting. “That’s my ‘A’ team and I couldn’t do anything without those guys,” he said.
“They are outstanding difference makers for us every single day.”
See also: Gemini's second Heil a fitting memorial to Love's founder
Every contestant was rated on five critical factors, including accident frequency, as determined by DOT recordable incidents; safety record improvement; vehicle maintenance, driver training, and controls; personnel safety; and other contributions to the cause of highway safety, particularly as it applies to the tank truck industry. The judges were David Heller (Truckload Carriers Association), Robyn Kinsley (The Chlorine Institute), Brenna Lyles (American Trucking Associations), and Bill Reese (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance).
Previous Heil trophy winners (since the contest split into multiple divisions) include:
- 2014: Tidewater Transit, Harvison; Wynne Transport, Sutherland
- 2015: Miller Transporters, Harvison; Carbon Express, Sutherland
- 2016: Groendyke Transport, Harvison; GLS Transport, Sutherland
- 2017: Gemini Motor Transport, Harvison; G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation, Sutherland
- 2018: Groendyke Transport, Harvison; Tandet Logistics, Sutherland
- 2019: Trimac Transportation, Harvison; G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation, Sutherland
- 2020: Suttles Truck Leasing, Harvison; LSP Transport, Sutherland
- 2021: Service Transport Company, Harvison; Lacy’s Express, Sutherland
- 2022: Tandet Logistics, Harvison; Harmac Transportation, Sutherland; Gemini Motor Transport, private
“Heil Trailer and EnTrans [Heil’s parent] truly appreciate the opportunity to sponsor this award, which we have done for the last 40-plus years,” said Ryan Rockafellow, EnTrans CEO, who revealed the winners.
Look for more on the 2023 NTTC North American safety champions in an upcoming special edition of Bulk Transporter.
