They call them the Dream Team at the YRC Reimer service center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada—and for good reason.
John Dyck and his sons Barry and Murray are all Reimer road drivers. Not only have they achieved their dream of becoming professional drivers at a top-notch company, but they are some of the safest drivers around. Over their careers spanning a collective 110 years, each has reached significant milestones for consecutive years of driving without a preventable accident.
Leading the charge is John with 44 years of accident-free driving and four million consecutive safe-driving miles as of March of this year.
Next in line is Barry with 28 years and three million consecutive miles as of November 2004—a streak that continues to grow.
Murray has to his credit 20 years of accident-free miles, and reached one million consecutive miles in June 2000. He was closing in on the two-million-mile mark when he had an accident in June of last year.
Relationship Built on Trust
All three of the Dycks were attracted to Reimer for the same reason. They thought it was a company they could trust.
John answered an ad in 1956 for a mechanic and ended up with a job on the dock. In 1957, he took an opportunity to move to the road and hasn't looked back. For the last 37 years, John has run Winnipeg to Regina (and return) every other day.
Barry started at Reimer in 1978 and worked on the dock as a forklift operator and as a shunt (switcher) driver. He obtained his CDL in 1980, and became a city P&D driver before moving to the road on April 26, 1982. Since then, he and his dad have driven the same Winnipeg to Regina turn in the same tractor on alternating days.
Murray joined the company in August 1980. He, too, looked to start in the garage but ended up on the dock. After getting his CDL through Reimer, he waited patiently for an opportunity to join the highway department. Day after day, he would load the Regina door and watch the units hook up and leave. Many times, it was his father or brother on one of those units.
Murray's opportunity came in August 1983. A senior owner-operator was looking for a partner to run opposite days to Regina and return. It did not take Murray long to say yes after seeing the success of his brother and father.
The Dycks' philosophies on safety are similar and are supported by Smith System® safety training, says Rob Penner, director of linehaul operations. Other qualities that contribute to their outstanding records, Rob says, are patience, sound judgment and an ability to learn through their experiences.
