The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has named Edward J. Folkersma of Northern Sand and Gravel the 2022 Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year. A national panel of industry judges selected Mr. Folkersma (seen here at right) as the top driver from a large group of outstanding applicants from across the U.S. Mr. Folkersma, whose home plant is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Sault Ste. Marie, was honored for his career achievements, outstanding safety record, professionalism, driving competency and customer service skills. His extraordinary safety record includes a 34-year career without any at-fault accidents, on-the-job accidents or at-fault rejected loads. Remarkably, during his long career, he has traveled more than 675,000 miles and has delivered more than 125,000 cubic yards of concrete.

On Mr. Folkersma’s application, Northern Sand and Gravel owner Kathleen VanSloten wrote, “Eddie began working for our family-owned business in March of 1987 when he was just 18 years old. He has poured in the wind, rain and snow, in heat waves and blizzards, off barges and ferries, and on remote islands in the Great Lakes. He works on trucks and equipment when they break down, drives a dump truck when it’s busy and trains new drivers when they arrive. He has been known to climb silos, drive the loader, get into the drum to chip and even batches his own concrete in a pinch.  He’ll jump out of his truck to help a customer screed, rake or float. We think Eddie should be the NRMCA Driver of the Year!” The judges agreed.

The judges also selected two extraordinary runners-up: 10-year veteran driver John Becker from Dolese Bros. Co. in Oklahoma City and 37-year veteran mixer driver Adam Kasztelewicz of Holliday Rock Co. Inc., from Upland, CA.

Mr. Becker (at left) was the 2017 Dolese Bros. Company Driver of the Year finalist. He participated in the 2019 NRMCA National Mixer Driver Championship, was honored with the 2017, 2019 and 2020 Dolese Bros. Safe Driving Awards and was named the 2021 Dolese Bros. Co. Driver of the Year. He also has a remarkable safety record, never having a vehicle accident or rejected load while delivering an average of nearly 6,000 cubic yards annually over the past three years. Writes contractor Billy Karlin, president of Karlin Construction, “John is one of those unique people that has been placed on this earth to make your day joyful. He makes our jobs much easier with his attitude and work ethics.”

Mr. Kasztelewicz (at right), too, has a memorable safety record, with more than 36 years of never having a vehicle accident or rejected load while delivering over 200,000 yards of concrete. Writes Jeremiah Castano, area manager for Holliday Rock, “Adam is a leader in every aspect of his job as he commands respect at the plant, from other drivers and at job sites where he provides a professional delivery experience for our customers, but also has the fortitude to stop when things are unsafe. Adam is recognized by everyone at Holliday Rock as not only the best driver at our company, but the entire industry.”

As the winner of the 2022 award, Mr. Folkersma will receive a $5,000 check from the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau. As runners-up, Mr. Becker and Mr. Kasztelewicz will each receive a check for $1,500. The 2022 Driver of the Year winners will be honored at NRMCA’s Annual Convention held March 15-18, 2022, in San Antonio, TX. The Chicago-based trade magazine Concrete Products is a cosponsor of the NRMCA Driver of the Year program.

NRMCA represents the producers of ready mixed concrete and the companies that provide materials, equipment and support to the industry. Founded in 1930, NRMCA actively promotes the use of concrete. The association provides its members with education, training, promotion, research, engineering, safety, environmental, technological, advocacy and regulatory programs to enhance the profitability and professionalism of the industry.