OTTAWA -- Owner-operator Gary Norris has been named Driver of the Year by the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario's Fleet safety Council.

Over his 14-year career with FedEx Ground Package Systems, he has amassed nearly 2 million accident free miles.

Norris, who hauls A-trains between Ottawa and Gananoque, Que. nightly (a notorious snowbelt route), has also won several awards in the past sponsored by the Truck Driving Championships.

A review of FedEx's CVOR over the past five years shows that Norris has never been cited for having a defect or out of service violation.

Norris began his truck-driving career at 16 in 1968. His first driving job was from behind the wheel of a dump truck for Collins Trucking, which just so happens to be across the street from the FedEx facility he now works out of.