Love’s Fuel Hauling Fleet Awards $1.8 Million to Company Drivers

(OKLAHOMA CITY, May 17, 2017) – A dream vacation, a mortgage payment, a new car or a retirement nest egg. The Gemini Motor Transport Safe Driver Credits program is providing those opportunities to 78 Gemini drivers who remained accident-free and adhered to Gemini’s stringent safety policies and procedures for five years. The 2016 and second class of Gemini Safe Driver Credits recipients was recently recognized with more than $1.8 million in bonus payments.

“We’re proud to reward our professional drivers for their hard work and maintaining Gemini’s reputation as one of the safest hazardous materials carriers in America,” said Brent Bergevin, vice president of transportation for Gemini. “Our safety numbers have improved for three straight years. We’ve also reduced turnover, increased our gas mileage, have better and safer equipment, improved truck aerodynamics and more. We love rewarding our drivers because we wouldn’t be able to accomplish those things without them.”

Safety credits are awarded to drivers on an annual basis. To earn one safety credit, drivers must have no accidents, tickets or fuel-related incidents over the period of one year. They must also pass all inspections from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Gemini. Once drivers collect five safety credits, they’re eligible to receive the bonus. The program has helped Gemini keep its preventable accidents per 1 million miles to 0.5, less than half the national average. According to the National Private Truck Council, the industry average for private fleets was approximately 2.0 between 2007 and 2015. Gemini awarded more than $3.4 million to last year’s inaugural class of 135 drivers.

“This program has been well received,” said Bergevin. “Not only are we helping our professional drivers plan for their futures, but they help us advertise all of the good we are doing at Gemini. Their safe driving in our yellow tankers truly makes them rolling billboards.”

Gemini has grown from six drivers and four trucks in 2001 to more than 900 drivers and 650 trucks. Hired drivers are required to complete a minimum of two weeks of Gemini-specific training and education before they can begin driving. They may undergo additional training based on experience and background. Drivers also attend quarterly safety meetings and adhere to the Gemini Code of Conduct, a set of guidelines designed to reduce chances of having any sort of incident while driving.

An additional 110 Gemini drivers are on track to receive their five-year payout in 2018. Beginning in 2021, Gemini will present higher payouts to the first-class of drivers who’ve earned 10 safe driver credits.

About Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Founded in 1964, Love’s has more than 420 locations in 40 states. Love’s provides professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, travel items, electronics, snacks and more, as well as a selection of restaurant offerings. On-site Love’s Truck Tire Care centers offer roadside assistance, tire care and light mechanical services for professional truck drivers. Showers, CAT scales and other services for professional truck drivers are also available. Love’s, which remains family-owned and operated, employs more than 17,000 people. To learn more, visit www.loves.com.