NRMCA Names Michigan Man 2022 Driver of the Year

NRMCA has named Edward J. Folkersma of Producer member Northern Sand and Gravel the 2022 Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year. A national panel of industry judges selected Mr. Folkersma (pictured here) as the top driver from a large group of outstanding applicants from across the U.S. Mr. Folkersma, whose home plant is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Sault Ste. Marie, was honored for his career achievements, outstanding safety record, professionalism, driving competency and customer service skills. His extraordinary safety record includes a 34-year career without any at-fault accidents, on-the-job accidents or at-fault rejected loads. Remarkably, during his long career, he has traveled more than 675,000 miles and has delivered more than 125,000 cubic yards of concrete.

On Mr. Folkersma’s application, of Northern Sand and Gravel, Kathleen VanSloten wrote, “Eddie began working for our family-owned business in March of 1987 when he was just 18 years old. He has poured in the wind, rain, and snow, in heat waves and blizzards, off barges and ferries, and on remote islands in the Great Lakes," wrote Northern Sand and Gravel owner Kathleen VanSloten in the contest application. "He works on trucks and equipment when they break down, drives a dump truck when it's busy and trains new drivers when they arrive. He has been known to climb silos, drive the loader, get into the drum to chip, and even batches his own concrete in a pinch. He’ll jump out of his truck to help a customer screed, rake, or float. We think Eddie should be the NRMCA Driver of the Year!”

The judges also selected two extraordinary runners-up, 10-year veteran driver John Becker from Dolese Bros. Co. in Oklahoma City and 37-year veteran mixer driver Adam Kasztelewicz of Holliday Rock Co. Inc., from Upland, CA. Mr. Becker was the 2017 Dolese Bros. Company Driver of the Year finalist and participated in the 2019 NRMCA National Mixer Driver Championship. Mr. Kasztelewicz has a memorable safety record with over 36 years never having a vehicle accident or rejected load while delivering over 200,000 yards of concrete.

As the winner of the 2022 award, Mr. Folkersma will receive a $5,000 check from the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau. As runners-up, Mr. Becker and Mr. Kasztelewicz will each receive a check for $1,500. The 2022 Driver of the Year winners will be honored at NRMCA’s Annual Convention held March 15-18 in San Antonio, Texas. The Chicago-based trade magazine Concrete Products is a cosponsor of the NRMCA Driver of the Year program.

For more information, contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org.