Company driver Leonard Capps has driven one million accident-free miles during his 38 years in trucking, and has the seal on the side of the big rig he drives to prove it.
He earned his million-mile award about three years ago, while driving for his current carrier, Werner Enterprises, The Omaha -based company he’s now been with 11 years.
Leonard is proud of the fact he’s had no accidents, and has never been arrested during his career. He’s driven for a number of companies over the years and has received safety awards at every stop along the way.
He was an owner operator for about three years after completing his enlistment in the Army.
“My dad suggested when I got out of the service I start driving a truck. I’ve been doing it ever since,” he says.
Leonard was stationed in Germany during his military stint, then lived in Chicago after he got out of the Army. He then moved to Mississippi now calls Iuka, Ms home.
At one time during his career the driver hauled a lot of fresh produce out of California to Walmart distribution centers. These days, most of his driving is in the Southeastern USA, although he’ll get as far north occasionally as Pennsylvania delivering Sara Lee products.
Leonard drives a 2010 Peterbilt housing a 475 hp Cummins diesel, with an eight speed transmission and 70-inch sleeper. He was pulling a 53-Utility trailers with a Carrier reefer unit.
While he still enjoys trucking, the excessive rules and regulations make it more difficult. For example, he was parked in a Georiga truck stop waiting for another driver to take over the load for final delivery.
“I only had 30 minutes left on my 14-hour restart, so I had only driven a few miles. After the other driver picks up the trailer, I’m going to deadhead home.”
While he continues to enjoy trucking and seeing different places, Leonard admits it is not as much fun as it used to be.
“Nobody talks to you anymore; not even other company drivers. There are four or five other Werner drivers parked here; we ought to at least be talking to one another,” he says.
Leonard logs about 60,000 miles a year, unlike the 135,000 annual miles he used to drive. There also is a 62 mph governor of that Pete. Still, he’s got those million miles of safe driving under his belt. That’s something of which to be proud.