A Jefferson truck driver who recently logged his 4 millionth mile on the road received a surprise from his employer in Damariscotta Saturday, Nov. 7.
Bill Perkins, 64, of Jefferson, a driver with Damariscotta-based Yankee Pride Transport, was the guest of honor at a company breakfast at King Eider’s Pub.
After breakfast, Yankee Pride Transport owner Larry Sidelinger presented Perkins with a jacket recognizing his achievement.
Following the presentation, Sidelinger invited Perkins, his family, and his co-workers outside for the real surprise – a Western Star truck for Perkins to drive, waiting in the Elm Street Plaza parking lot.
Perkins prefers the brand, which has some special significance. He and his wife, Joanne Perkins, were once a long-haul trucking team. “My wife and I had (a Western Star), a brand-new one, and we loved it, just loved it,” Perkins said.
Perkins has been driving trucks for 42 years, the last dozen-plus with Yankee Pride Transport. His career has brought him to every one of the 48 contiguous states and four provinces of Canada.
During his early career with Dysart’s Transportation Inc., Perkins would go on the road for as long as three months at a time. Today, he mostly makes day trips for Yankee Pride Transport.
Perkins is the business’s first driver to reach 4 million miles, according to Sidelinger. Few truckers reach the milestone, which equates to more than 95,000 miles a year – or 160 trips around the globe.
Perkins, however, has much more to boast about than his longevity.
“Billy stands out because he’s a true professional,” Sidelinger said. “He’s the epitome of what a truck driver – a true, professional truck driver – is.
“Mr. Steady – he’s day-in, day-out, never have to worry about him being where he’s supposed to be for delivery or pickup, always on time, courteous. I can’t tell you how many customers have called me and said, ‘That guy is really good. What a great guy. What a true professional he is … I’ve never, ever had a customer complain about anything.”
Sidelinger has close to 25 years in the industry and still relies on Perkins for his experience, as do many of the roughly 15 drivers at Yankee Pride.
Perkins “is an example for the rest of the crew,” Sidelinger said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told other employees or even other truck drivers, ‘Want to see how a real professional acts and operates? Look at Bill Perkins.'”
Larry Sidelinger’s brother, Frank Sidelinger, works alongside Perkins as a driver at Yankee Pride Transport and witnesses his extraordinary work ethic firsthand.
“He’s a tough bird to keep up with,” Frank Sidelinger said. He tries to beat Perkins to work every day – the truckers arrive around 2 to 3 a.m. – yet rarely succeeds, despite being 13 years younger than his co-worker.
The truckers work a demanding schedule. “By the end of the week, you’re not sure if you’re standing up or lying down,” Frank Sidelinger said. The hours hardly faze Perkins, however. “He’s tough,” Frank Sidelinger said. “It’s all about stamina.”
Some years back, Yankee Pride was going through a difficult and uncertain time, according to Larry Sidelinger. Perkins’ loyalty never wavered.
“What freight there was wasn’t paying much and we laid off some people and cut back on trucks and had some people quit,” Sidelinger said. “We had to revamp our whole business and it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty, but we got through it with guys like Bill who stayed the course.
“He told me one day, ‘I’m going to haul the last load, Larry, so don’t worry about getting that last load hauled,’ and true to his word, he’s been right there.”
Perkins’ loyalty is just one example of his character, according to Sidelinger.
Perkins “is a great family man, really has taken good care of his family and worked hard,” Sidelinger said. “There are a lot of sacrifices, being an over-the-road truck driver. You’re gone a lot – a lot of early mornings and late nights.
“As good a truck driver as he is, he’s a better individual.”
