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as the company’s needs. But in 1996, a wrung out of him to dismantle some- mince words when it comes to assessing
decision was made to hire only experi- thing so well-built and do it in a way his performance.
enced drivers – and that meant there that didn’t leave any of his people hang- “He’s thorough, very intelligent, he
was no longer a need for the schools. ing. speaks with authority, and he’s a man
“We gave the drivers a 33 percent of high integrity,” said Harper. “You roll
pay increase, but to fund it we had to profESSIoNal CrEdIBIlITy all that together and you’ve got a pretty
improve our safety with roughly a 50 That retelling offers a window into good person to work with. I think we
percent reduction in accidents and by the character of the man, something gelled together well. We both rolled our
shutting down the truck driver training others have seen enough of to place sleeves up, weren’t afraid to travel and
schools,” Woodruff said. responsibility on his shoulders and their do lots of hands-on work.
“That was probably one of the trust in his hands. And Woodruff’s “Greer will research whatever
hardest things I’ve ever done. I went performance has left overwhelmingly initiative we’re trying to accomplish
to both of those schools in one week positive impressions on the people he and he’ll have all the facts and figures,
and had to notify the staff.” Woodruff has worked with, both at J.B. Hunt and and it will be obvious he studied it and
met individually with every employee elsewhere in the trucking industry. thought out what actions we ought to
and even worked to find each of them When Hunt’s former Chairman take and implement, and which pro-
another job. I was hoarse by the end of Wayne Garrison and then-President cesses we need to get the desired out-
the week,” he said. “That was the abso- and current Chairman Kirk Thompson come,” he said.
lute right decision to close them, but decided in 1997 to develop a “safety Harper says that Woodruff’s eye for
it was still difficult to build something culture” within the company, they detail can be seen at the weekly meetings
you’re proud of and be the guy who has tapped Executive Vice President and of the company’s executive team, where
to go dismantle – it was a challenge.” Chief Operations Officer Craig Harper he’s ready with a handout and detailed
Woodruff’s not just speaking in to direct the effort. Harper relied on description of where the company is in
hyperbole there – more than 15 years Woodruff to spearhead the program the arena of safety, Harper said. And
later there’s this look on his face when among drivers and he’s worked side-by- everyone gives him their attention.
he talks about it, an echo of what it side with him ever since. Harper doesn’t 

GEt somEonE

on your sidE

A Legal Defense Plan
Designed by and for Truckers.

Jim C. Klepper, Esq.
800-417-3552 ®
www.driverslegalplan.com

Drivers Legal Plan

arKanSaS truCKing report | issue 1 2013 27