Clearfield County truck driver hits 4 million miles accident-free milestone

CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Every day millions of tractor-trailers are on America’s highways to help keep the country running and families fed, and in Clearfield County, one truck driver hit a special milestone.

Doug Phelps is an XPO truck driver and he just passed the four million accident-free miles. That’s the equivalent of traveling around the earth 160 times and it took just under 40 years to achieve.

“Never thought I would go this far,” Phelps said.

In May 1985, Doug Phelps got behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer and never looked back. Now 39 years later he’s being recognized for such an achievement.

“A lot of good luck and paying attention,” Phelps said.

Surrounded by family, friends and co-workers they commemorated the career milestone, but Phelps says he was just following in his father’s footsteps.

“All the kids around watching us getting on this big, me going home on this big truck like that. And I thought from that moment on that what I wanted to do,” Phelps said.

Phelps drives a daily route to Bellville, Ohio to deliver needed items no matter what.

“Different weather, different climate. Every day is different. Every day is change. Every miles are different,” Phelps added.

But as most people know, four million miles while being accident-free is a hard thing to accomplish.

“We work in inherently dangerous environments, you know, out on the roadways every day. And to drive safely with that kind of professionalism and attention it needs to be celebrated, shown as an example to other drivers out there on what successful safe driving looks like,” Ryan Graham, XPO Service Center Manager said.

Phelps added that will all his experience he has a message for everyone on the roadways.

“I see people fly by going in and out of traffic and they go to Walmart. Were you in that big of a hurry? I think people just need to slow down a little bit, enjoy life,” Phelps added.

Phelps was the third driver in XPO history to reach this milestone.