The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) has named Burice Woods of Chandler Concrete Company, Inc. the Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year for 2017. A panel of industry judges selected Woods as the top driver from a group of outstanding applicants from across the United States. Woods, whose home plant is located in Roxboro, N.C., was honored for his career achievements, outstanding safety record, professionalism, driving competency and customer service skills. He has worked for Chandler Concrete for an impressive 37 years. Along with numerous accolades, Woods unbelievably has never had an accident or rejected load and has averaged more than 3,400 cubic yards delivered over the past three years.
The judges were impressed with his many letters of recommendation which included one from contractor Ron Henderson who wrote, “I’ve been pouring concrete all over this county for 35 years and a good mixer driver can save you a lot of time. Burice Woods is at the top of my list!” In 2015, Woods was named the winner of Chandler Concrete’s Driver of the Year Award and in 2016 was named the Carolina Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Along with the winner, three runners-up were also selected by the judges. In alphabetical order, the first is 31-year veteran mixer driver Jeff Acuna of Central Concrete Supply Company, a U.S. Concrete business unit. Driving out of Central’s Martinez, Calif. plant, Acuna has a spectacular safety record - never having an accident on or off-road while delivering an average of 6,197 cubic yards over the past three years. Cliff Swisher, owner of Swisher Custom Concrete wrote, “I have been pouring concrete for more than 50 years and Jeff is the best mixer driver I have ever worked with. He is always accommodating and gets the job done right!”
Also honored as a runner-up is 31-year veteran mixer driver Michael Castellanos of Right Away Ready Mix, Incorporated, a U.S. Concrete business unit. Driving out of Oakland, Calif., Castellanos has averaged an impressive 6,000 cubic yards delivered over the past three years. He was also the 1996 Employee of the Year for Right Away Redy Mix. Oakland Plant Manager Sheilah Young wrote, “With his driving skills and jobsite knowledge, he has been the go-to-driver for tackling jobs that most ready-mixed concrete producers would not take on.”
The 2017 judges also selected as runner-up, Sylvester Wallace of Titan Virginia Ready Mix in Norfolk. Titan Vice President Louis Petrillo wrote, “When nominating Sylvester I am consumed by a sense of nostalgia. Sylvester is an Army veteran, but to that point he is a ready mixed veteran of an amazing 46 years. He is the ‘old breed’ of our industry today. Before load cells, when pony motors and chains charged the mixer drum, Sylvester was delivering concrete in the heat and cold of Virginia without climate control. In an ever changing industry, Sylvester found his niche and successfully delivered concrete for the same company over a career which spans a lifetime.”
As the winner of the 2017 award, Woods will receive a $5,000 check from the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau. As runners-up, Acuna, Castenellos and Wallace will each receive a check for $1,000. The 2017 Driver of the Year winners will be honored at NRMCA’s Annual Convention during the Awards Luncheon Ceremony on Sunday, March 5, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
