Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, through heat, cold, rain, sleet and snow, truck drivers keep the economy moving, across virtually every industry, agriculture included. At R.D. Offutt Farms, truck drivers play the vital role of getting spuds and equipment where it needs to go, safely, and on time.
This week, during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, and every day, we are grateful to these essential workers.
R.D. Offutt’s Trucking Division was created in 1981, at the same time as the now Lamb Weston – RDO Frozen plant was built in Park Rapids. Today, the division consists of 16 year-round semi drivers and four shop and mechanic team members who maintain company trucks. Additionally, more than 100 seasonal and independent truckers are hired drivers throughout the year.
Truck drivers are involved in many aspects of business on the farm. They haul potato seed from warehouse to field, move equipment from one farm to the next, drive tandem trucks during harvest and finally, deliver potatoes to be processed.
Camille Nisius, Manager of R.D. Offutt Trucking Division, said the farms rely on these dedicated and hardworking men and women every day.
“Drivers deliver year-round, 24/7, from storage bins to the plant. Often, our drivers haul from five or six locations per day to deliver various varieties of potatoes needed to make different products.”
Safety is the biggest factor in transportation and one that Camille and her team take very seriously.
“Most of our drivers have logged hundreds of thousands of accident-free driven miles, with one driver reaching more than 1.3 million accident-free miles,” she said. “I am very proud of having such a great team of safe, dedicated drivers.”
To the truck drivers on the farm and to all the 3.6 million truck drivers across the country – thank you for all that you do! We applaud your dedication, and we salute you for keeping our stores stocked and food on our tables.
