Clay Bonnet and David Collins Win SC&RA’s Coveted Driver of the Year Award
(Centreville, VA - March 1, 2019) - This year two drivers, Clay Bonnet of Berard Transportation and David Collins of Perkins STC, were presented SC&RA’s prestigious Driver of the Year Award for outstanding safety, integrity, and talent behind the wheel.
SC&RA presents the award annually, recognizing heavy-haul drivers who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to highway safety. Both of the 2018 winners have performed exceptional pulls in the past year, while also distinguishing themselves throughout their career for their commitments to safety.
Bonnet joined Berard in 1984 and, in the three decades since, has never had a DOT recordable incident. In 2018, he completed a flawless trip hauling a 300,000-pound, 16 x 14 x 200-foot column across Texas. Bonnet also mentors all of Berard’s new hires, riding along with each of them, evaluating their habits, and fostering a culture of safety at the company.
“Clay is one of those versatile drivers the company can trust with a variety of cargo,” said award presenter Ed Bernard, President of Precision Specialized Inc. “He is a bulldog for ensuring all drivers adhere to Berard’s safety policies, never hesitating to correct bad habits when necessary.”
Collins has also earned a remarkable, accident-free record across his 20-year career. He is Perkin’s subject matter expert on their patented quantum trailers, which require significant expertise on hydraulic systems and complex valving components. In 2018 Collins pulled a 400-ton, dual-lane suspension beam trailer carrying 1.3-million pounds of combined truck/trailer/load through Michigan’s upper peninsula – a project that was a year in the making.
“David is a highly skilled and experienced driver, and a cornerstone for Perkins,” Bernard remarked. “His ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the project team, including customers, sets him apart as an integral company asset.”
Bonnet and Collins were recognized at the
2019 SC&RA Specialized Transportation Symposium, which took place February 19 – 28 in Houston, TX. Randy Berard, Chief Executive Officer at Berard Transportation, and Shelly Latham, Business Development Manager at Perkins STC, were in attendance as their team members were recognized.
Additional information on SC&RA’s Transportation Group Awards can be found
here.