To qualify for the award, drivers must have met stringent requirements which include: 12 quarters out of a rolling 18 where they had no chargeable accidents, no workers compensation claims and no service failures. Drivers must also have met specified mileage requirements for their division - ranging from 25,000 to 54,000 depending upon the type of truck driven and the region of the country in which the driver is based.

This was the second time McMillian has received this honor. President and CEO of M.S. Carriers, Mike Starnes, presented the awards to the drivers.

Steele attended the awards event with his wife Maddie who was was presented a Seiko clock.

"This honor is for the best of the best, but I can't thank these drivers enough for their professionalism, their efforts, and the way they conduct themselves on our nation's highways," Starnes said. "These folks make our reputation great."

In addition to the awards dinner, drivers and their guests were treated to a weekend in Memphis to visit tourist attractions or do whatever they wished.

M.S. Carriers is a North American coast-to-coast line haul and regional carrier operating approximately 4,500 over the road power units. M.S. Carriers' operation include eight full-service terminals and 21 drop lots which combined to help the company generate revenues of more than $620 million during fiscal 1999.