The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) named Jeffrey Geyer, professional truck driver for Manning Transfer, headquartered in Blaine, MN, the 2023 Minnesota Driver of the Year at its Driver of the Year Award Ceremony on January 23, 2024.
“This award is a great way to honor the best in our industry. Driving safe is no easy task, especially when you take into consideration his daily driving conditions like congestion, driver distractions, and the added challenges of Minnesota winters. Having over 4 million safe driving miles is an outstanding accomplishment,” says John Hausladen, MTA president. “We’re proud to award Jeff for this achievement.”
“In his 17 years being here at Manning, Jeff is accident-free! That speaks volumes,” said Kacie Jestus, Safety Director at Manning Transfer. “He is a true professional driver. He is conscientious of his own safety and those around him while driving. He is one of those drivers you can count on to get the job done, and get it done well. We are so grateful to have a driver like Jeff, here with us at Manning.”
In addition to being a great example of what it means to be an outstanding professional truck driver, Jeff and his wife Janet are passionate about fostering children. Over the years they have had a total of 18 foster children, 6 of whom they adopted to join their 5 biological children.
Throughout 2023, exceptional drivers were nominated by their companies and one driver is chosen each month to be the Driver of the Month. The drivers who are chosen meet a high standard of requirements including an outstanding driving and work record; contribution to industry and highway safety; and involvement in the community. One of the twelve nominees is then selected as Driver of the Year by a panel of judges including Matthew Marin, Division Administrator for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Laura Roads, MnDOT and Captain Jeff Schroepfer, Minnesota State Patrol.
The Minnesota Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association representing over 550 trucking companies and allied firms from across the state. The membership reflects the diversity of the Minnesota trucking industry, including less-than-truckload, truckload, bulk, agricultural, heavy specialized and private trucking operations. Since 1932 the MTA has served as a powerful voice for the industry. Its mission is to advance a safe and successful trucking industry through advocacy, education and focused initiatives.
