Bill Wood has been named Driver of the Year for Tyler Transport in Troy and was given the choice of the truck to drive during his yearlong reign. Wood didn’t have to think twice to decide which truck he wanted – the brand new big blue 2018 Freightliner.

In addition to having first choice of which truck to drive, Wood also received a $1,000 cash bonus and a recognition plaque.

Wood has been driving for Tyler Transport since June 2015 but he has been driving big rigs since the early 1990s and has enjoyed every mile he has been behind the wheel.

Lee Hussey, Tyler Transport owner, said Wood was the obvious choice for the Driver of the Year Award.

“Bill met all the criteria in our Driver Excellence Program,” Hussey said. “He won three out of four quarterly contests during 2017 and he sets a fantastic example for anyone in the profession.”

Hussey said Wood is always there when called on and he performs every task with a positive attitude and excellent performance.

“Bill is always there for us so we want to be there for him,” Hussey said.

For Wood, driving for Tyler Transport is the perfect job for him. He has opportunities to haul dry freight throughout the Southeast and the Midwest and those are his favorite routes.

“Most of my routes are up in Indiana and I like that,” Wood said. “But I really don’t mind driving anywhere. I like being behind the wheel. I like the freedom of being on the road. I can sit back and listen to the radio – country, rock, classic – whatever’s on and enjoy the ride.”

Wood has driven loads to the West Coast and the Washington state. He’s driven through bustling cities and one-horse towns, through the plains, across deserts and over mountains.

“I’ve seen a lot of this beautiful country from a truck,” he said. “I’ve seen things I would never have seen and been to places I would never have been if I had not been driving a truck.”

Wood said the one thing that most all truckers have to battle is that drowsy feeling that comes from driving mile after mile after mile.

“That’s when I have to start crunching,” he said. “I crunch ice, potato chips, sunflower seeds. Anything that you have to crunch will keep you awake.”

Wood said driving a truck for a living is not for everybody.

“Truckers are a different breed,” he said. “You are by yourself much of the time so it can get kind of lonely, if you let it. But, if you like driving a truck, it’s a good life and I like driving a truck.”

Wood expressed appreciation to Hussey for the opportunity to drive for Tyler Transport and thanked him for the confidence the company has in him and his ability to drive the big rigs.

“I couldn’t drive for a better boss or work for a better company,” Wood said. “I enjoy every day on the road and I am thankful for the opportunity.”