2010
Juan RodriguezDSR, LHG
Con-way Freight DSR Juan “Pepe” Rodriguez, had tried jobs in many different fields, but nothing quite seemed to fit. In 1974, he finally found his calling as a professional truck driver, first driving long-haul routes cross-country and then choosing to stay closer to home and family by switching to a local driving route.
“I have really enjoyed my life behind the wheel,” Juan said. “I have driven across the country and visited many places that I might not have otherwise had the opportunity to see.”
Juan believes that one of the most important things that truck drivers can do to keep themselves and others safe while on the road is to ensure that they are well-rested. An alert driver is better able to anticipate the moves of other motorists and react quickly.
“It just takes a split second for something to go wrong and if you are distracted or tired, you can’t react quickly,” Juan said. “I am lucky that my wife, Maria, makes sure that I always get plenty of rest before going out on my route.
Juan credits much of his safe-driving skills to his participation in professional truck driving competitions. Since becoming a competitor, he has participated in state, regional and national competitions, and has made a lot of friends along the way.
“The truck driving competitions have always been a big incentive for me to be extra cautious while driving,” he said. “If you have an accident, then you can’t participate and I love having the opportunity to meet new people. I also really enjoy helping new people practice and am always encouraging other drivers at the terminal to get involved.”
A resident of Santa Rosa, Texas, Juan is based out of Con-way Freight’s Harlingen, Texas, service center. He has been married for 34 years to his wife, Maria, and has four children: Brenda, Vanessa, Bianca and Diego; and seven grandchildren. Juan is a veteran of Vietnam and his youngest son, Diego, is currently serving in the United Sates Army and is deployed in Iraq.
