SC&RA Names Top Drivers

February 27, 1019 - The Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association has named two heavy-haul drivers as Drivers of the Year.

SC&RA announced the awards at its 2019 Specialized Transportation Symposium last week in Houston.

Clay Bonnet, Berard Transportation, and David Collins, Perkins, STC, accepted the prestigious award given for exemplary safety, integrity, talent, and teamwork.

Clay Bonnet began his career with Berard in 1984 as a driver/rigger. He has never had a DOT recordable incident. The versatile Bonnet hauls a variety of cargo including cold boxes, oil and gas modules, process columns, and refinery equipment.

One of his greatest moves was a flawless trip in Texas last year, hauling a 300,000-lb. column that measured 16' high, 14' wide, and 200' long. 

Bonnet now serves as Berard’s mentor for all new hires. He rides with each one to evaluate his or her driving habits. He also leads all pre-trip/pre-job safety briefings with third parties.

David Collins has been driving professionally for more than 20 years and has never had a recordable DOT incident.

He began his career as a heavy-haul driver with Perkins in 2011 because he wanted the challenge of hauling superloads.

Collins has pulled a variety of equipment carrying an assortment of cargo that includes industrial boilers, class 7 hazardous material, tanks, generators, and transformers.

In 2018, Collins pulled several engines with a gross weight of over 1.3 million lbs. on the Perkins 400-ton dual-lane suspension-beam trailer through the upper peninsula of Michigan -- a project that was a year in the making.

He serves as subject matter expert on Perkins' patented quantum trailer, which requires attention to detail regarding the hydraulic system and valving complexities.