Driver of theMonth NOVEMBER 2013


JIMTHOMAS Midwest Express Inc. By todd tRauB Contributing Writer


Midwest Express Inc. driver Jim Tomas was


plenty humble when discussing his Nebraska Trucking Driver of the Month award for January. But he was able to put it in perspective. “I think it’s a good thing with the amount of


companies and amount of drivers to be recognized like that,” Tomas said. “It tells you you’re doing everything right.” Not that Tomas needed to be told he was


doing everything right. Tat seems to be his method of operation. On Tomas’ nominating from Midwest


Express, president Craig Dixson noted that through everything from paperwork to appearance to safety record, Tomas has shown an attention to detail that makes him the type “that can be counted on in every situation.” At the time of his nomination Tomas, 52,


and in the third year of his second stint with the company, had over 2 million career miles, 285,165 miles with Grand Island-based Midwest Express and well over 10 years since any kind of traffic violation or citation. Along with his monthly honor Tomas has


thomas


been driver of the quarter, driver of the year and has won the state’s Platinum safety award. “Any time you get behind the wheel of anything


that makes you responsible,” Tomas said. Born in South Dakota, Tomas said he hadn’t


really considered driving as a career until he joined the Army at 19. He served from 1980-83, rose to the rank of Specialist (pay grade E4) and became interested in trucks, though he spent his military time with the infantry and an artillery unit in West Germany. “I would say that’s probably where it started,”


Tomas said when asked of his interest in driving. “Before the service I never even gave driving a thought.” He drove off and on for awhile after leaving the


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Army and said he has driven steadily for a leaving for the past 15 years. He was an owner-operator and contracted


with Midwest Express and also leased to two other companies. He learned the ups and downs of the business and his experience, Dixson said, provides him with a manager’s-eye view and a cost effective performance. Tomas “has hit every bonus available to him in


fuel and safety. “Jim is a positive influence to our industry and


I’m pleased his on our team as well as the Nebraska Trucking Association.” His career has taken Tomas from his native


Aberdeen, S.D., to O’Neil, S.D., and finally back to Grand Island after he sold his truck and became an over the road driver for Midwest Express. Driving a flatbed early in his career, Tomas


enjoyed traveling all 48 states and seeing different cultures, lifestyles, landscapes and architecture. “Everywhere you went it was something. … It


was good,” he said. Now, after 20 years of commercial driving,


Tomas is content to drive more regional routes, spend time riding Harleys with his wife Sally, going to the beach and catching up on his favorite football teams, the Oakland Raiders and Nebraska Cornhuskers. “I kind of get into where I like to run the same


lanes anymore,” he said. But staying safe on this lanes is as big a


challenge closer to him as it is anywhere else. Tomas credited his co-workers for the award, saying that because the other personnel do their jobs properly he never has to worry about missing sleep or getting in a hurry, which is where the danger lies. “Te people that I work with, everybody doing


their part, makes my job a lot easier,” Tomas said. “It doesn’t put so much stress on a person.” Nt


NEBRASKA TRUCKER — ISSUE 4, 2013 — www.nebtrucking.com


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