MMTA’s Mr. May: Jason Dempsey named Maryland’s Driver of the Month
Jason was presented his award by Maryland State Police Trooper Derrick Peck (left) and MMTA’s Safety Management Council Chairman Russell Brehm (right).
Imagine driving a 70,000-pound truck hauling 3,000 gallons of fuel through the uncertain terrains of ten different job sites in the sun, rain, snow, and hail. That’s the job of Gaines and Company driver Jason Dempsey. He safely drives over 50,000 miles each year, earning him the title of Driver of the Month for May 2024 from Maryland Motor Transportation Authority (MMTA).
Jason has been safely driving for Gaines and Company for 10 years. He started at Gaines as a dump truck operator and is now responsible for ensuring that over 150 pieces of equipment are safely operational.
He fills them with diesel fuel and performs routine maintenance so there is never a delay in operations. He averages 300-400 miles each day (including Saturdays, when needed).
At an award ceremony on February 6 at the Maritime Conference Center, Jason was recognized for his achievements in front of his wife (Diana), Gaines’s Safety Director Dominic Pope, and a room full of driving professionals and law enforcement officers.
Dominic said, “Jason goes above and beyond each day to make sure that not only is he safe, but his coworkers and the public are kept safe, also. He keeps our operations progressing with a ‘slow and steady’ attitude and is always level-headed.”
MMTA’s 2024 Drivers of the Month
Awardees are chosen by Maryland State Police based on their professional and personal driving records, customer relations, driving environments, attitudes and characters, and community involvement.
“Jason is definitely worthy of recognition for this award with his dedication to safety, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules, and our [Gaines] stringent driving policies,” added Dominic. “Congratulations on a job well done, and keep up the good work, Jason!”
A Gaines and Company driver has won this award every year for the last four years. Past winners include Robert (Bobby) Aberts (2021), Shawn Gibson (2022), and Jeff Grove (2023). Jason Dempsey, along with Heavy Haul Driver Steve Silverberg, was also recognized by the National Safety Council in 2024 for safe driving.
Jason and his wife, Diana, share a smile after Jason was awarded May 2024’s Driver of the Month.
Gaines and Company is a full-service grading and excavation company with offices in Maryland and North Carolina. The organization has 70 years of experience in underground utilities, grading and excavating, sediment and erosion controls, and road work. Gaines and Company delivers safe, reliable, turnkey site development services in Maryland, North Carolina, Washington D.C., and Delaware on time and within budget.
