Robbie Howell Driver Spotlight
Description
"I never thought I'd drive a million miles, let alone five. Hell, I didn't even know they counted that high."
Robbie Howell wanted to drive a truck and nothing else. His uncle drove for Amcor in Idaho Falls, and Robbie says that ever since he was knee-high that was the plan — he was born to drive, more or less. His view is that most people who last in this work feel the same way: you either like driving truck or you don't.
Asked what it takes to accumulate millions of safe miles, he doesn't make it about himself. It takes a team — sales, dispatch, the shop, all the different fingers of the company making it work — plus a company that let him run as hard as he wanted to. His personal contribution he describes in nine words: plan ahead, keep an eye out, pay attention. Being named top driver in North America was, in his telling, mostly nerve-wracking; he wasn't worried about the awards ceremony until it came time to walk on stage, and he's quick to say the other two finalists were every bit as good.
He doesn't work only when he's working — his dad was a carpenter, so he spends time off on projects around the house and helping his kids with theirs. Most people retire around 65. He'll reassess at 70, because if he sits still too long he starts thinking he's supposed to be somewhere. Read his full testimonial, see him on the A-Team, or start your own run at open positions.
Video Transcript
That boy is going to burn the wheels off that truck.
I never thought I'd drive a million miles, let alone five. Hell, I didn't even know they counted that high.
The only thing I've ever really wanted to do is drive truck. My uncle was a driver for Amcor here in Idaho Falls, so ever since I was knee-high I wanted to be in a truck. I guess you could say that I was born to drive, more or less. Most of us that have done this for a while feel the same way — you either like driving truck or you don't.
I love working. Even when I'm not at work I do a lot of projects around the house in my spare time. My dad was a carpenter and taught me a thing or two, so if the kids have any projects they need help on, I'll usually help them out too. It's just what I do.
To drive millions of miles, I'd say you need a few things. It takes a team to accomplish this. Really all the different fingers of the company make it work, from sales to dispatch to shop. And Doug Andrus has supported me and let me run just as hard as I wanted to.
I've learned to plan ahead, keep an eye out, and pay attention to what I'm doing. At the end of the day, that's what will keep you on the road.
I was pretty excited to be named top driver in North America. My wife asked me if I was nervous about the awards ceremony, but I wasn't — until it came to get on the stage. That's when the nerves hit me. It's a pretty big deal to be recognized, just to be up there and be number one. The other two finalists are every bit as good as I am, but they picked me this year.
Most people retire around 65, but I think I'm going to do this longer. We'll see how I feel at 70. Right now, if I sit around too long, I look around and think — ain't I supposed to be some damn place? So I guess I'll keep doing this until I don't feel like that anymore. Maybe after that I'll go down south to where they don't know what the word snow means.
Frequently Asked Questions
What award did Robbie Howell win?
He was named North American Driver of the Year by the Truckload Carriers Association in 2021 — the top individual honor in the industry, selected from three finalists drawn from carriers across the continent.
How many safe miles has Robbie Howell driven?
Several million over his career. See the verification note in the delivery summary — the exact published figure needs confirming.
How do you drive that many miles safely?
Robbie's own method is plan ahead, keep an eye out, and pay attention. He also credits the company team — sales, dispatch, and the shop — for keeping him moving, and the company for letting him run as hard as he wanted.
Is Robbie Howell still driving?
Yes, with no plans to stop at the usual retirement age. He said he'd reassess at 70.
How did he get into trucking?
His uncle drove for Amcor in Idaho Falls. Robbie says he wanted to be in a truck from the time he was knee-high and never seriously considered anything else.