Hy-Vee Celebrates 2-Million Mile Driver
September 10, 2021 | News & Press Releases
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 10, 2021) — Hy-Vee, Inc. announces today that Rich Lundeen from the Chariton Distribution Center has reached the 2-million-mile mark for consecutive miles driven without a preventable accident. Lundeen will become a member of the Hy-Vee Road of Gold Hall of Fame.
On September 2, Lundeen finished his route around 100 miles shy of the 2-million-mile mark. The following morning he chose a delivery route to the Whitney Way Hy-Vee in Madison, Wis., to break 2 million accident-free miles. Lundeen was joined by his wife Kim who wanted to share in the excitement.
Chad Masters, director of transportation in Chariton, asked Lundeen why he chose such a long route when a trip to Des Moines would have pushed him over 2 million miles. Lundeen explained that he achieved 1 million accident-free miles while making a delivery to the East Washington Hy-Vee in Madison, so he wanted to visit the other Madison Hy-Vee for 2 million miles.
Lundeen began his career at Hy-Vee’s Chariton Distribution center in August 1997. He worked in grocery, frozen and produce before becoming a truck driver in June 2000. Lundeen achieved 1 million accident-free miles on June 26, 2011, and was Chariton’s 51st driver to reach this milestone.
The Hy-Vee Road of Gold program honors drivers who have achieved safe miles driven with a variety of gifts and a personalized gold- (1-million-mile safe driver) or black- (2-million-mile safe driver) painted Hy-Vee tractor to drive for five years.
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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 280 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $11 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 86,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.