Each driver possesses an elite record of millions of miles of safe driving practices and a reputation of earned respect.

---

THE NATIONAL PRIVATE Truck Council has inducted four top private fleet truck drivers into its Driver Hall of Fame each year since 1987. At May’s NPTC annual conference, James “JD” Chasteen, Shaw Industries Group, Dalton, Georgia; Scott “Scottie” Edwards, Primo Brands Corp., Portland, Maine; Kenny White, AutoZone, Zanesville, Ohio; and Donald “Todd” Young, Marathon Petroleum Co., Columbus, Ohio, were honored as the “best of the best” truck drivers in the industry.

Each driver possesses an elite record of millions of miles of safe driving practices; a reputation of earned respect and admiration among fellow drivers, supervisors, and customers for exemplary professional standards; and personal qualities of honor, integrity, willingness to help others and kindness. Here are snapshots of each driver.

James “JD” Chasteen began his truck driver career in 1969 and has driven 5.8 million miles in 54 years, three million of those miles with Shaw Industries Group over 29 years. He puts in eight- to 12-hour days, 40-50 hours per week, and drives locally around Dalton, Georgia, northern Georgia, and Tennessee. He has zero accidents over more than five decades, a three-year record of no-moving violations, and has a career-long practice of using the Smith System of defensive driving system daily.

Chasteen was awarded the National Safety Council’s Best Safe Driver of the Year in 2022 for the Atlantic Region and has been recognized by Shaw each year for his safe driving experience. He loves metal-detecting for Civil War items, loves attending his church, and cherishes time spent with grandkids when they were younger.

Scott “Scottie” Edwards has been driving nearly his entire trucking industry career with his current company—31.5 years and 3.1 million miles. He began working with heavy-duty trucks and equipment in the logging industry with a family business run by his father before starting out as a yard truck driver with his current employer at age 21.

Edwards operates a six-axle tractor-trailer with a GCVW of 93,000 lb. and typically works 10-12 hours per day, five to six days a week covering 390 to 460 miles at various cities in Maine and Massachusetts. He has had no-moving violations in his 32-year career and has been honored several times as driver of the month.

Edwards has delivered more than 3,600 wreaths to Arlington Cemetery as part of the Wreaths Across America organization and was awarded a President’s Award from his company.

Kenny White has been a driver for 61 years (27 years with his current company) and driven 3.5 million total miles for his entire career, which involved no injuries or collisions. He has a three-year no-moving violations history and has earned multiple safe driving awards for millions of miles of safe driving.

White is married to wife Susan and has two children, seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He is an enthusiast of vintage and muscle cars. White is a former trustee and a current member of his church where he has taken care of the landscaping for 25 years. He is a current member of the Zanesville Eagles F.O.E. 302.

Donald “Todd” Young has 44 total years as a driver (38 years with his current company) and over 3 million miles with Marathon. He began his career in the U.S. Marine Corps driving straight trucks and tractor-trailers, then later worked as a school bus driver before joining Marathon.

Young’s typical workweek is four shifts per week, 12 hours per shift. In addition to Young’s three years of no-moving violations, he also has a career-long record of no preventable accidents, and he has previously been named a National Driver All-Star by NPTC. He has extensive training in defensive driving, first aid, CPR/AED, fire extinguisher training, industrial workplace ergonomics, hazard communication, and DOT hazmat security awareness. Young is also a certified Smith Driving System trainer. He volunteers for the American Red Cross to deliver blood and products throughout Ohio and often volunteers for relief efforts during natural disasters.

Congratulations to JD, Scottie, Kenny, and Todd as 2025 NPTC Driver Hall of Fame winners!

 

2025 DHF Inductees | Photos: NPTC