The 48-year-old Middletown man started his career as a truck driver 19 years ago and has been a FedEx employee for the past seven years, working out of FedEx Freight’s Huber Height’s terminal.
A commitment to safety is something that a truck driver must develop over the course of time, Woodrome said.
“When I first went into the industry, I wanted to do everything I could do to operate my vehicle safely,” Woodrome said. “You have to know safe driving techniques and apply them daily.”
He built his stellar record by being professional and courteous at all times, taking advantage of continuous training opportunities and exercising personal discipline.
The awards started rolling in in 2006, when Woodrome started entering truck driving competitions.
“It (safety) was always important but it takes it to a whole different level when you start competing,” Woodrome said.
That “different level” has seen him become a six-time first-place champion in the annual Ohio Trucking Driving Championships, a comprehensive test of a truck driver’s industry knowledge and practical skill. He’s won twice in the three axle, four axle and flatbed classes of the competition.
Judges in the competition examine a nominee’s total years of service, accident and traffic violation records, overall service to the community, and any acts of highway heroism before selecting 12 drivers of the month.
“Like our other 11 Drivers of the Month, Mr. Woodrome’s impressive safety record speaks for itself,” said OTA President Larry Davis. “But what I think also impressed our judging panel is his string of first-place victories in the Ohio Truck Driving Championships, which is a true test of a truck driver’s knowledge and skill.”
Winning the award was humbling, Woodrome said.
“This industry has a great amount of drivers,” he said. “There’s a UPS driver there that had more than 50 years of safe driving. That’s remarkable. Nationwide, he’s got the most for any UPS driver and he’s living right here in Ohio.
Besides safety, judges also took into account Woodrome’s extracurricular excellence.
He volunteers his time as a coach, referee and director of the Upward Basketball League in Middletown. Last year, Woodrome earned second place honors in a Mid-Atlantic Professional Truck Driving Association fundraiser for The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
He placed third in the American Trucking Association’s National Truck Driving Championships
He also was nominated for America’s Road Team, a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share “superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway,” according to the group’s website.
Woodrome said not only does he want to be safe for his company, but he wants everyone on the roads to be able to return to their homes and their families safely.
FedEx Freight is an active participant in the National Truck Driving Championships, hosted by the American Trucking Associations, with nearly 300 drivers winning state championships and representing the company at the national level during the past five years, according to spokeswoman Heather Hunter.
"I want to congratulate Scott for this outstanding achievement," Hunter said. "FedEx Freight and our employees are committed to safety, as evidenced by the many FedEx Freight drivers who have more than 20 years of safe driving experience. We provide education and development opportunities for drivers that continuously reinforce best practices in safety."
About the Author
