Louisburg resident Chuck McDonald has been driving a truck for 45 years, the past 23 of which hauling automobiles. McDonald, who was recently named Kansas truck driver of the year, has logged more than 4 million miles without an accident. (Submitted photo)
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18 wheels keep on rollin’ for 4 million accident-free miles
Louisburg’s Chuck McDonald earns truck driver of the year award
By Kristen Waggener, kwaggener@miconews.com
Chuck McDonald is a humble man.
Dressed in faded blue overalls and a yellow sweatshirt on a recent Saturday morning, he sips his coffee, insisting his latest accomplishment is nothing.
“I’ve won a lot of honors driving a truck,” McDonald says, laughing a bit.
But his most recent award was something special. McDonald was named truck driver of the year by the Kansas Motor Carriers Association.
Long history
Chuck said he started driving trucks when he was 18 as a way to make some money for his family.
“I’ll be 63 this summer,” he says. That’s 45 years behind the wheel of a big rig.
“I married young, and I started having babies young, so that was a way for me to make a living,” Chuck said.
His first job, hauling heavy equipment, kept him around for 20 years. His current job, hauling automobiles, he’s been in for the last 23.
Chuck’s route is pretty routine. It keeps him in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa for the most part, picking up vehicles and delivering them to auto dealers throughout the Midwest.
“It’s a lot of time spent by yourself,” he said.
Chuck will typically be out on the road Monday through Saturday, working up to 14 hours, 11 of which are spent driving each day.
Unlike many drivers, Chuck said, he doesn’t push the limits of how much he can drive.
“You work half your life anyway.”
Great honor
McDonald is a union driver currently with Jack Cooper Transport of Kansas City, Mo., the company that nominated him for the KMCA award.
First, Chuck was selected as truck driver of the month for November, and out of those 12, the truck driver of the year was selected, he said.
His company encouraged him to apply, Chuck said, and based on his record, they were pretty certain he’d win.
After all, Chuck’s driven 4 million safe miles.
“A guy running normal over 10 years will get about a million miles,” Chuck said.
McDonald received the truck driver of the year honor on April 23 at the KMCA banquet, much to his surprise.
“(The announcer) said ‘The driver we’ve selected has almost a half of a century of driving,’” Chuck said. “Once he got to talking, I knew.”
Chuck received a plaque for his honor, which sits on a table in he and his wife, Betty’s, basement with the rest of the awards he’s won.
“They selected me because of the 4 million miles, community involvement, acts of heroism and truck driving championships,” he said. “My boss kept saying, ‘I’m sure you got that. You’ve got the best credentials of anybody in there.’”
Accomplished driver
Chuck has 10 trophies from various truck driving championships around the region: five first places and two grand championships.
Not bad for a 42-year trucker.
The contests, such as an obstacle course where the drivers must maneuver around strategically placed cones, test the drivers’ skill.
“Now, don’t you think someone who drove four million miles should be able to do that?” Chuck jokes. “There are tight areas at dealerships. You do that every day.”
And when he’s not out driving or winning awards, Chuck likes to keep involved in the community through organizations like the Louisburg Sons of the American Legion.
“He’s just a socialite,” says Betty, Chuck’s wife of five years.
The couple has nine children between the two of them, and Chuck says he plays music, another one of his hobbies, with his two sons, Charles Jr. and William.
“I’m kind of a grandpa to younger people,” he said.
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Dressed in faded blue overalls and a yellow sweatshirt on a recent Saturday morning, he sips his coffee, insisting his latest accomplishment is nothing.
“I’ve won a lot of honors driving a truck,” McDonald says, laughing a bit.
But his most recent award was something special. McDonald was named truck driver of the year by the Kansas Motor Carriers Association.
Long history
Chuck said he started driving trucks when he was 18 as a way to make some money for his family.
“I’ll be 63 this summer,” he says. That’s 45 years behind the wheel of a big rig.
“I married young, and I started having babies young, so that was a way for me to make a living,” Chuck said.
His first job, hauling heavy equipment, kept him around for 20 years. His current job, hauling automobiles, he’s been in for the last 23.
Chuck’s route is pretty routine. It keeps him in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa for the most part, picking up vehicles and delivering them to auto dealers throughout the Midwest.
“It’s a lot of time spent by yourself,” he said.
Chuck will typically be out on the road Monday through Saturday, working up to 14 hours, 11 of which are spent driving each day.
Unlike many drivers, Chuck said, he doesn’t push the limits of how much he can drive.
“You work half your life anyway.”
Great honor
McDonald is a union driver currently with Jack Cooper Transport of Kansas City, Mo., the company that nominated him for the KMCA award.
First, Chuck was selected as truck driver of the month for November, and out of those 12, the truck driver of the year was selected, he said.
His company encouraged him to apply, Chuck said, and based on his record, they were pretty certain he’d win.
After all, Chuck’s driven 4 million safe miles.
“A guy running normal over 10 years will get about a million miles,” Chuck said.
McDonald received the truck driver of the year honor on April 23 at the KMCA banquet, much to his surprise.
“(The announcer) said ‘The driver we’ve selected has almost a half of a century of driving,’” Chuck said. “Once he got to talking, I knew.”
Chuck received a plaque for his honor, which sits on a table in he and his wife, Betty’s, basement with the rest of the awards he’s won.
“They selected me because of the 4 million miles, community involvement, acts of heroism and truck driving championships,” he said. “My boss kept saying, ‘I’m sure you got that. You’ve got the best credentials of anybody in there.’”
Accomplished driver
Chuck has 10 trophies from various truck driving championships around the region: five first places and two grand championships.
Not bad for a 42-year trucker.
The contests, such as an obstacle course where the drivers must maneuver around strategically placed cones, test the drivers’ skill.
“Now, don’t you think someone who drove four million miles should be able to do that?” Chuck jokes. “There are tight areas at dealerships. You do that every day.”
And when he’s not out driving or winning awards, Chuck likes to keep involved in the community through organizations like the Louisburg Sons of the American Legion.
“He’s just a socialite,” says Betty, Chuck’s wife of five years.
The couple has nine children between the two of them, and Chuck says he plays music, another one of his hobbies, with his two sons, Charles Jr. and William.
“I’m kind of a grandpa to younger people,” he said.