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PHOENIX, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is pleased to announce that three of its employees, Johnny Caine, Florentino Castrellon and Quemene Perea, received the prestigious Driver of the Year award given by the National Waste & Recycling Association. The drivers were honored for their outstanding customer service and safety records today at North America's largest annual industry tradeshow, and were chosen out of 908 nominations from across the U.S., securing all three of the coveted award spots. Since 2010, Republic drivers have earned this top honor 13 out of 15 times in the large company categories.
"Safety is our top priority at Republic Services, which is why we believe it's every employee's responsibility to take personal ownership of their safety, as well as the safety of their co-workers and the communities we serve," said Don Slager, president and CEO of Republic Services. "Johnny, Tino and Quemene represent the best of the best in what they do every day, showing strong commitment to both Republic Services' priorities and serving our customers."
Republic Services' relentless commitment to safety led to the Company's formation of a comprehensive safety program that relies on continual training to reduce accident frequency.
Drivers begin with week-long equipment training with skill set verification at one of the Company's 26 driver training centers nationwide, followed by weeks of in-cab instruction and evaluation. Then throughout their tenure, Republic drivers participate in Focus 6®, a monthly supervisor-led training protocol focused on eliminating the six types of industry-specific accidents that occur most frequently or have the potential for the highest degree of human tragedy.
"The waste and recycling industry strives to successfully collect, recycle and innovate," said Sharon H. Kneiss, president and CEO of the National Waste & Recycling Association. "With the exemplary dedication and service Republic Services and its drivers have exhibited, this recognition is well-deserved."
The Driver of the Year program recognizes waste industry drivers committed to safety and providing excellent customer service. For more than 25 years, the program has honored drivers who have upheld the field of solid waste management as an honorable occupation, and have conducted themselves and operated their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner. Drivers from the private and public sector in the U.S. are eligible for nomination.
2014 Driver of the Year: Johnny Caine, Baton Rouge, LA
Since he joined Republic Services in 1999, Johnny Caine has held a perfect safety and accident-free record. Each week, Caine drives an average of 460 miles, making more than 7,000 garbage stops. He serves some 1,200 residential customers daily. Caine is often called upon to mentor new drivers, extending his knowledge and service across his division.
A 2013 Driver of the Year Finalist, Caine has also earned Republic's Dedicated to Safety award seven times and Dedicated to Excellence award three times.
2014 Driver of the Year: Florentino Castrellon, Ft. Worth, TX
With more than 25 years in the industry, Florentino Castrellon has been accident free for 10 years, with a spotless Motor Vehicle Report for the same timeframe. A driver of an industrial roll off truck, Castrellon serves Republic's municipal and commercial customers across the Fort Worth, TX-area. He drives some 800 miles a week serving 50 customers.
For the past five years, Castrellon has earned Republic's Dedicated to Excellence award, becoming the only driver to achieve this accomplishment in his division.
2014 Driver of the Year: Quemene Perea, Lake Havasu City, AZ
Since joining the Company in 1995, Quemene Perea has had a perfect safety and accident-free record. A commercial driver, Perea drives nearly 1,100 miles weekly, serving a broad range of customers from construction sites to physicians' offices and municipalities.
Often going above the call of duty, in 2007 Perea was made an honorary firefighter by Lake Havasu City officials for having prevented a serious structure fire by relocating a burning dumpster without regard to his own personal safety. He also has recruited a number of people to Republic, further demonstrating his commitment to the profession. He was selected a Driver of the Year finalist in 2012.
About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in U.S. non-hazardous solid waste and recycling. Through its subsidiaries, Republic's collection companies, transfer stations, recycling centers and landfills focus on providing reliable environmental services and solutions for commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers. Republic and its employees believe in protecting the planet and applying common sense solutions to customers' waste and recycling challenges. For more information, visit the Republic website at republicservices.com.
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