Each fall, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is a chance to pause and thank the dedicated professionals who keep our farms and food supply moving. At R.D. Offutt Farms, our trucking team is at the center of our operations.
From planting to harvest, and all of the days in between, our drivers make feeding families across the country possible.
Moving What Matters Most
As Trucking Manager Sherri Tatro said, “Trucking is the backbone of our farm division. We deliver the seed that starts each crop, then move potatoes from the field into storage and from storage to the customer.”
That responsibility adds up to an enormous effort. Each year, R.D. Offutt Farms’ company semis move upwards of 15,000 loads of potatoes, covering nearly a million miles on the road. Additionally, field trucks move every acre of harvested potatoes into storage, ensuring that each crop reaches its next destination safely and on time.
A Team Committed to Safety
Behind those numbers are the people who make it happen. R.D. Offutt Farms employs 18 full-time semi drivers who run two shifts around the clock, seven days a week, as well as dozens of seasonal drivers who join during planting and harvest.
Safety is always the top priority. Collectively, our trucking team has logged more than six million accident-free miles, a testament to their diligence and care on the road. Each year, we recognize drivers who achieve new milestones, celebrating every 100,000 miles driven without an accident.
In 2024, several team members reached impressive benchmarks:
- Mark Koehnen – 100,000 miles accident-free
- Troy Kinnunen – 200,000 miles accident-free
- Ray Angevine – 400,000 miles accident-free
- Tom Ramsay – 400,000 miles accident-free
- Jeff Harvey – 600,000 miles accident-free
- Mike Cole – 700,000 miles accident-free
We’re proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the example they set for the entire team.
More Than Miles
Although solo time in the cab is part of the job, our trucking team has built a culture of camaraderie. From meeting at loading sites to catching up while waiting at the plant, our drivers look out for one another and share a sense of teamwork that extends beyond the road.
Many of our drivers have been with us for more than a decade, and their long tenure is a reflection of the strong relationships and dedication that define this group.
During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we want to recognize and thank our entire trucking team. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but it is essential to our farms and to the families who enjoy the food made from our potatoes.
Addressing her trucking team, Sherri said, “For National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, I want to give a huge thank-you to my team. Every day, they show flexibility, cooperation and commitment. I can’t stress enough how much I value this group.”
Thank you to every driver on our team!
