The National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) sponsors a driver of the year program to recognize the very best drivers within their group. Among the drivers selected for the 2021 Driver of the Year team was Daniel Branden of BM Transport, Inc of Frazee.
Branden has been a professional driver for 47 years, including 11 years at BM Transport, and has accumulated over 5.5 million accident-free miles. He started his career right after high school and served in the motor pool of the National Guard for four years. He loves driving in the Pacific Northwest.
"Danny is the epitome of a driver that looks at this as a true profession and way of life," his nomination read. "(He) never quits being the true professional that he is, whether he is delivering in downtown Los Angeles or rural parts of Minnesota."
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The NASTC represents over 14,000 trucking companies in the United States and Canada that employ over 156,000 drivers collectively, according to a BM Transport news release.
“As a recipient of his prestigious award, Mr. Daniel Branden joins a very elite group that represent the very best of our 156,000 drivers," said Buster Anderson, executive vice president of NASTC . “BM Transport, Inc is very proud of their drivers and should be very proud of themselves as well. It says a lot about a company when they can attract and keep employees of this caliber."
Anderson and NASTC president David Owen presented Branden and BM Transport their award on Nov. 6, 2021 during the annual conference in Nashville, Tenn.
For those considering becoming a driver, "Danny points out that being a driver can be challenging to balance with a family. However, he goes on to say, 'the country and the people you meet along the way....it's awesome,'" the nomination read.
He enjoys helping people along the road as it's the "right thing to do."
"Danny's work ethic is undying and helps our company immensely," the nomination read. "In his words, 'you do the best work you can do. It's how I was raised.'"
