Bob Sweet, an OOIDA member from Omaha, NE, was honored recently as the Professional Truckdriver of the Month by the Nebraska Trucking Association.

Sweet, an owner-operator, was chosen for his safety record. The NTA said in a statement that he has driven 5.5 million miles with only one accident during his 38-year career.

The 58-year-old trucker received the award April 10 during a Nebraska Trucking Safety Management Council meeting in York, NE. In addition to the NTA honor, he was also given a plaque by the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division in honor of his safety record.

In addition to his years driving, Sweet also taught for about a year at a truck driving school operated by Nebraska Trucks and Diesel in Omaha. He served as the school’s backing instructor.

“I taught those kids to back up the proper way. I enjoyed that, I really did,” he said. “I did that for a year, and then the old road was calling me back.”

Sweet has been an owner-operator for 16 years, and drives a 1999 Eagle International 9400 series truck. He has been leased to Cornhusker Motor Lines for the past seven years.

--by Mark H. Reddig, associate editor

Mark Reddig can be reached at mreddig@landlinemag.com.