Two-Time Truck Driver of the Year Bruce Sinner lays claim to millions of miles, displaying longevity and commitment.
Vivid memories and experiences that shape many drivers out on the open road always ebb and flow back to being true to yourself and adapting along with a team while cultivating your various strengths. After 33 ½ years of service and more than 3 million safe miles logged behind the wheel, Bruce Sinner has been both blessed and humbled during his stint as the only driver from Chief Carriers to receive the “Truck Driver of the Year” award from the NTA twice.
On average, a professional semi truck driver’s career lasts 15 years.
Growing up fulfilling his responsibilities on the farm, Bruce was assigned the task of dutifully dragging all-American steel in the dirt, and here he learned about the values of hard work and determination in Boelus, Nebraska, before joining the Army as a Combat Engineer in 1978. Spending most of his tour in Germany and aiding with extensive bridge construction, he found himself in Grand Island after the service and romantic sparks flew when he met his wife Gail while hard at work on a harvest crew.
Bruce Sinner and his wife Gail.
After heeding the call of the open road and heading down to Texas on his Harley Davidson, he returned to get Gail and they tied the knot in the Lone Star State on November 26, 1982. This is where Bruce originally began his trucking career, as he learned the ropes and learned that the demanding yet rewarding pace of driving a flatbed was a rewarding career that fit him well. Remembering the abundance of trucking outfits that were here in Nebraska, he arrived back home and began hauling refrigerated goods for a company based in Hastings.
It’s estimated that only about 1 in 20 drivers will be able to reach 1 million miles safely, and far fewer than that will ever clear 2 million, let alone millions of miles. It’s an incredible accomplishment.
His stepfather had taken a job that he enjoyed with Chief Carriers in 1990, and he contacted Bruce during a run in California to let him know they needed to quickly acquire drivers. Donner Pass is a breathtaking and visually stunning spot, and this is where he made the call to begin his journey at Chief Carriers and knew as he stared out at the placid peaks of the Sierras that he had finally found a true working home. He then needed to be home on weekends as Gail was pregnant with their second child, and he was accommodated fairly and quickly for his request.
This two-time truck driver of the year was all about professionalism and precision.
Professionalism and Precision
As many others spending time on the road did, he benefited greatly from the insight shared in “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”, and learned to listen more with so many 18-wheel-worn miles in between him and his spouse. He had already developed a large sense of love for touring the entire upper 48 and chiseled out his own form of negotiating with dispatch when he knew he needed an extra day at home. Safety has long been valued and strictly adhered to laurel of Chief Carrier’s success, and flatbed operation gave Bruce the experience to load and unload with professionalism and precision. And those qualities helped him earn truck driver of the year.
Virgil Eihusen was the CEO when Bruce started at Chief Carriers, Bob Eihusen was his successor, and then DJ Eihusen presided at the helm. Over the years so much has changed, and Bruce remembers when CB radio was the go-to means of communication, where you could alert fellow drivers if you saw something wrong with their rig and provide support over the constantly crackling-to-life airwaves. Now that he is going to have more time on his hands, a few home improvement projects and farm tilling will most likely take up the first well-earned increments, along with motorcycle trips with his beloved wife.
Acting Chairman of the Board DJ Eihusen reflected on how reliable and valued Bruce was during his time here, and how proud he was of his loyal service to his country in Germany. Celebrating a long and fruitful career is a staple of what every dignified and safety-conscious driver should reap the rewards of, and Bruce has always had a firm grasp on the importance of stakeholders and getting the load in on time, EVERY time. We are always thrilled to commemorate A-list attitudes, winning work ethics, and true leaders in our field, and Bruce Sinner has earned our hearty badge of approval with every dedicated haul and his constantly hearty demeanor.
“For over 32 years Bruce was a reliable and valued member of the Chief family. Over those years he was a true reflection of our mission statement by providing unparalleled personal attention to meeting the needs of our customers while treating everyone with dignity and respect. I always admired the attitude Bruce brought with him each and every day and it inspired me to have the same approach in my daily efforts as well. While many things have changed during his career; including facilities, equipment, and size of the organization, the one constant has been the importance of our stakeholders. Bruce understood how important that was and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.” ~ DJ Eihusen
A trucker’s work is seemingly never done. As soon as one run ends, another begins a few days later at most. Given that the job typically involves driving hundreds or even thousands of miles at a stretch, that’s a lot of rubber meeting the road. Throughout their career, experienced truckers can expect to pass some pretty big milestones, but few will likely ever drive as many miles as a man who was apparently destined for the profession: Two Time Truck Driver of the Year, Bruce Sinner.
We wish Bruce Sinner and his wife Gail a very happy retirement.
