Prime Inc. director of safety retires following 25 years of service
Don Lacy’s distinguished 50-year industry career includes awards, accolades
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Feb. 26, 2014 – Longtime Director of Safety Don Lacy is retiring on April 1 following a distinguished 25-year career at Prime Inc.
Lacy first joined Prime in 1989 for a two-year stint as operations manager. He rejoined the company in 1996 as director of safety where he led a seven-member team, including a registered nurse, and three loss prevention department employees.
During his tenure, Lacy spearheaded numerous safety and communications initiatives for the company’s 6,400 drivers and its fleet of more than 5,000 trucks, including the creation of the “Prime University” training center, the establishment of weekly safety meetings and downloadable podcasts, and the implementation of the latest technological developments, including rollover stability control, lane departure warnings, and forward-looking radar.
Commenting on the changes he has seen in the trucking industry – including rapid industry growth, greater government regulation, advances in research and technology – and its impact on safety, Lacy said, “For many years Prime was production-driven, how many miles we could drive. Today the biggest drive is towards safety. It has become the most important part of the business. Everybody is part of the safety effort.”
Throughout his career, Lacy has been a tireless advocate for driver safety, serving on several boards and committees including: Professional Truck Driving Institute; Truckload Carriers Association Safety Group, Safety & Security Division, and Independent Contractor Division; American Trucking Association Council of Safety Supervisors; Commercial Motor Vehicle Section National Safety Council; Oklahoma Motor Carriers; and the Missouri Bus & Truck Association.
He has also served as an expert panel member of the American Transportation Research Institute, spoke at numerous industry events, and developed and implemented more than 30 safety programs.
Lacy’s accolades include: 2011 Claire C. Casey Safety Professional of the Year Award from Truckload Carriers Association; 2010 Fleet Safety Improvement Award from the Truckload Carriers Association; 1978 Safety Man of the Year from Missouri Bus and Truck Association; 1977 Missouri Safety Director of the Year.
When asked about his reasoning for retiring at the height of his 50-year career, Lacy stated, “I love this industry and have been very fortunate. It has been a great ride, but I am ready to hang it up.”
About Prime Inc.
Prime Inc. provides safe, reliable and continuous on-time service to its expanding customer base through its fleet of more than 5,000 refrigerated, flatbed and tanker trucks. Founded in 1970 by Robert Low and headquartered in Springfield, Mo., Prime has a 40-year reputation for providing superior transportation services throughout North America. The company’s commitment to providing unsurpassed customer service continues as new methods, technical advances and systems are implemented to meet the ever-increasing demands of the shipping industry. Learn more at primeinc.com.
