Republic is proud to announce that three of our colleagues have been awarded the National Waste & Recycling Association’s (NWRA) 2024 Driver of the Year and Operator of the Year awards! These awards are one of the highest in our industry and are considered a career-defining recognition. Honorees embody our top company value, Safe, and boast outstanding safety performance records.
Awards are given to Drivers and Operators who operate their trucks and equipment safely and responsibly, have outstanding safety performance records, and whose contributions have enhanced the overall safety and image of the solid waste industry. It is the honor of a lifetime!
Join us in celebrating our 2024 winners and learn more about their impeccable careers and accomplishments:
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR, MATTHEW L.
Elyria, OH
Matthew has been a part of Republic Services for 39 years, primarily in the Front-Load line of business. Known for his experience in the field, Matt is highly regarded by customers and coworkers. He has participated in multiple ROAD-EOs and is praised for his dedication to safe driving and his meticulous care for his truck.
Matt’s customers love him. Not only is he safe, but he takes care of corrals and the area surrounding our containers. He calls in containers that need refreshing and takes pride in each customer’s site. Matt’s dedication shows in his relentless pursuit of excellence, in giving everything he has each day he comes to work, and in knowing that our customers deserve to get the best every day.
In his spare time, Matt shares various interests with is wife, Betty, including gardening, farming, and ballroom dancing.
NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR, TERREL H.
Victoria, TX
Terrel has been with Republic Services for over 26 years and works in Victoria, TX, a remote site of Corpus Christi BU212, as a Residential Side-Load Driver and is a valued member of the team. He is reliable, helpful, and a true team player. Terrel often comes in on his day off to help cover routes and is a mentor to other drivers. His favorite part of being a Residential Driver is seeing the kids smile and get happy when he honks his horn and drives by.
He exemplifies Customer Zeal, coming to work each day providing exceptional customer service and developing meaningful relationships with customers and city staff. Terrel encourages collaboration and positivity among the team.
In his free time, Terrel is the pastor of his church and an active member of his community, volunteering to take care of three historically black cemeteries in his community and even referees basketball games for the junior high and high schools in his area.
OPERATOR OF THE YEAR, ROB H.
Chicago, IL
Rob has been with Republic Services for almost 32 years. Throughout those years, he has collected a wealth of knowledge and shares it with his colleagues consistently. In his Wheel Loader, Rob helps move over 1,000 tpd (tons per day). Rob’s dedication and passion for ensuring the neighborhood is clean and safe is just a small piece of his impeccable safety record.
The transfer station where Rob works is located close to Chicago’s downtown loop and is busy both day and night and is on a 2.5-acre footprint split by a public roadway. Operating a busy site like this requires experience, competence and a relentless amount of focus on safety. Rob manages the workspace around him, stays vigilant to safety risks and keeps his equipment in good working order.
When he’s not working, Rob enjoys playing golf and said that if he were not an Operator, his dream job would have been to be a professional baseball player.
About the Driver and Operator of the Year Awards
The finalists were determined by a computerized scoring system. Independent judges selected the winners based on letters of recommendation and, for drivers, the difficulty of the route based on factors such as pickups, weekly miles, and manual versus automatic transmission. NWRA says operators were judged on the difficulty of the equipment operated.
The winner in each category is honored in person at WasteExpo and receives a commemorative gift and $1,000 cash prize.