Geyer named Minnesota Trucking Association’s Driver of the Year

Any way you divide it, four million miles is a huge number. That is 160 trips around the Earth, that is traveling to the moon and back eight times, and that is the number Jeff Geyer has driven his tractor-trailer without accident over the last three decades.

That monumental achievement was recognized on Jan. 23, when Geyer was named the Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) Driver of the Year for 2023.

Geyer is a driver for Manning Transfer Incorporated of Blaine. He has been driving for the company since 2006. The trucking company has been in operation since 1970 and delivers freight to the lower 48 states.

“This award is a great way to honor the best in our industry,” MTA President John Hausladen said in a statement.” Driving safe is no easy task, especially when you take into consideration his daily driving conditions like congestion, driver distractions, and the added challenges of Minnesota winters. Having over four million safe driving miles is an outstanding accomplishment.”

“It’s a pretty big deal, I guess,” Geyer said, keeping humble about the honor. “I think I was lucky.”

“The most impressive thing about my dad's driving in my opinion is his ability to back up with the trailer in some crazy tight spaces,” said Amber Scholljegerdes, Geyer’s daughter “According to my youngest kid, that is why Grandpa won the award.”

To see more on this story pick up the February 1, 2024 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.