The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s 19th Annual Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year program recognizes two industry veterans from a pool of outstanding nominees across the country. The NRMCA Operations, Environmental and Safety Committee assembled a panel of judges to weigh nominees’ competence, driving skills, number of years without an on- or off-road accident, and colleague or customer testimonials. Judges awarded Driver of the Year honor to Eastern Concrete Materials’ Edward “Eddie” Rieper and Runner-Up honor to Concrete Supply Co.’s Henry “Pete” Scarborough. NRMCA-affiliated Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau will award Rieper $5,000, and Scarborough $1,000. Both drivers will be formally honored this month during the NRMCA Annual Convention in Orlando.
RUNNER-UP
Henry “Pete” Scarborough
CONCRETE SUPPLY CO.
Monroe, North Carolina
Pete Scarborough has been a mixer driver for Charlotte, N.C.-based Concrete Supply Co. for 27 years without any recordable personal injuries, and received a combined 25 awards for his productivity. He averages 5,700 yards of concrete hauled per year.
According to Keith Cates, director of Fleet Services at Concrete Supply, Scarborough maintains one of the lowest tire cost per yards hauled within the company. Due to his good driving habits, Scarborough is often assigned to pilot new tire testing for the company.
Scarborough has received two peer-nominated Concrete Supply “Teamwork Awards” for going above-and-beyond the call of duty. On one occasion, he fixed a leaking radiator hose on a coworker’s truck out on a jobsite by cutting a spare hose and utilizing wire ties to clamp off the repair enough for the truck to make it back to the plant. On another, Scarborough fixed a truck’s emergency fuel tank leak by whittling a piece of wood to the exact size and plugging the hole in order for the vehicle to reach a safe stopping point.
“When I think of the perfect mixer driver, Pete automatically comes to mind,” writes Concrete Supply Operations Manager Tony Hunt in the award nomination. “He is certainly professional in all aspects of performing his job. From his uniform appearance, down to the polished rims on his truck, he always demonstrates his service pride.”
Adds contractor Phillip Tarelton: “Scarborough can put a concrete truck where most people can’t even put a bicycle.”
NRMCA DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Edward “Eddie” Rieper
EASTERN CONCRETE MATERIALS INC.
Bogota, New Jersey
Eddie Rieper has driven a mixer for Eastern Concrete Materials, a U.S. Concrete company for nearly 30 years, all without a rejected load and 27 without an on-the-job accident. He averages just over 8,300 yards in annual deliveries.
Last year, Eastern Concrete was honored by the opportunity to represent itself alongside nearby West Point (“Eastern Concrete drives tribute to West Point,” December 2014, Concrete Products) with a U.S. Military Academy-themed mixer, whose cab and drum color and graphics mirror the Army football team helmet. Rieper is the lead Army mixer driver.
“Eddie does more than just operate a special truck,” notes Eastern Concrete Vice President of Operations Louis Petrillo. “He has dedicated himself to it. His efforts to modify his 2015 mixer with special water valves, lights, indicators, and storage gained the attention of the principles at Housby Mixer Systems. They sent their engineer to ride with Eddie for the purpose of developing an improved mixer system. Soon their mixers will include his modifications and suggestions.
“In keeping with military tradition, going beyond the call of duty is what most characterized Eddie in 2014. For example, when ‘off the clock,’ he can be found responding to Eastern Concrete incidents [if] a fire department is dispatched. It is no coincidence, he drives a vehicle with the core values of the United States Military Academy painted on his running board.”
Rieper was also Eastern Concrete’s 2014 Driver of the Year, placing first in all challenges at the in-house Driver Championship, which mirrors the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s national competition staged at the fall ConcreteWorks Conference & Expo.