Drivers for MedTrans—Medline’s privately-owned transportation fleet —were recently honored for their skills and safety after successfully competing in the first MedTrans National Rodeo at the company’s flagship distribution center in Grayslake, Illinois.

The competition featured recent regional competition winners from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York and Texas. During the national event, more than 200 family members, friends and colleagues cheered on the competing drivers as they tested a broad range of driving and safety skills. The timed assessments during the national event included backing up over 50 feet, driving forward and backward around strategically placed cones, and backing up to a loading dock.

There were six winners in two categories. In the Parcel and Straight Truck category, Luis Ignacio Becerra Leal of Katy, Texas took first place; Samuel Garcia of Modesto, California, second place; and Ivan Arroyo of Chicago, third place. In the Tractor-Trailer category, Arthur “AP” Porn of Hemet, California took first place honors; Troy White of McDonough, Georgia, second place; and Brad Willard of Wadsworth, Illinois, third place.

Promoting safety, caring for people

“It’s important to promote safety,” said Porn, who has been driving a truck for 32 years. “The rodeo shows our customers that we’re really trying to take care of them, take care of our loads, and take care of the public. I’ve always liked driving a truck and at Medline. We know we are doing something to help people in need.”

Medline has the largest owned transportation fleet of any healthcare product distributor in the U.S., with more than 1,600 trucks and drivers. MedTrans has grown along with Medline over the past two decades, doubling the size of its fleet every five years. Medline also continues to diversify its vehicles and strategies to meet the company’s evolving portfolio of more than 300,000 products.

“Our drivers know the important role we play in health services delivery,” says Jeff Brennan, senior vice president of transportation at MedTrans. “For 2023, we’ll travel over 80 million miles to make nearly 2 million deliveries.”

Learn more about the benefits of working at Medline.
Read about MedTrans’ role in ensuring the delivery of vital medical supplies during last winter’s record Sierra Nevada snowfall.