MP Walmart Transportation driver reaches 4 million safe miles

A driver for Walmart Transportation in Mt. Pleasant is one of fewer than 10 drivers in the U.S. to drive 4 million miles without an accident.

Mike Rouse was celebrated by family, friends and co-workers on Friday, March 1, for driving 4 million miles over his 33-year career at Walmart Transportation.

He was welcomed back to Walmart Transportation in Mt. Pleasant a little after 8:30 a.m. Friday, escorted by a deputy with the Henry County Sheriff's Office. As he drove into the parking lot, he tooted the horn and gave a holler of excitement. Upon parking, Diane Rouse, Rouse's wife, jumped up to the window of the truck and kissed him.

'It's been a long ride,” Rouse said. 'There's been a lot of luck and the big guy upstairs has looked out for me many times. I've been looking forward to this for a long time.”

Mike Phillips, with Walmart Transportation, said most drivers don't achieve 4 million miles, let alone without a single accident.

'I've always said (Rouse) is one of a kind, the only and first person in Mt. Pleasant to reach 4 million miles,” Phillips said. 'It takes a lifetime to do it.”

At 3 million miles, drivers can upgrade to a blue truck or take a cash bonus. Rouse's drove his blue truck for so long that it expired and was now back to driving a white truck.

At 4 million miles, drivers can choose to customize their truck or take a $10,000 cash bonus.

Rouse said he would try to find a good truck, otherwise he is going to take the $10,000 and put it toward his retirement.

'Then we can go to Hawaii,” Diane said with a smile.

Rouse said he was blessed with a love of driving. Since he started driving in 1986, he has received a lot of support from his wife, family and fellow drivers, he said.

While Rouse said driving 4 million accident-free miles was 'a lot of luck,” he advised other drivers to be aware, drive defensively, be relaxed and stay focused.

'It's been a good job,” Rouse said. 'It's treated me OK. Thank goodness I've made it to four (million miles). Now, I can shoot for five,” he said with a laugh.

Diane Rouse said she is elated and proud of her husband. Diane said Rouse reached 4 million miles earlier in the week, and it was hard for her to keep it a secret.

'Everyone loves him here. He's a very outgoing and fun-loving guy,” Diane said.

Diane has joined Rouse on the road 'numerous times,” she said. She's seen what a careful, aware and talented driver Rouse is, especially as other drivers on the road become more distracted with cellphones, eating in their car or anything else that takes their attention off the road.

'I've ridden with him numerous times. (Truck drivers) have to watch themselves and everyone else,” Diane said.

Sharon Beggs, who retired from Walmart Transportation a few years ago, said Rouse drove with her husband. It's awesome, Beggs said, for Rouse to have accomplished 4 million miles of safe driving.

'Not very many people make it. It's really an honor to be out here,” Beggs said.

Beggs said drivers have to keep their eyes open and their minds clear at all times. One wrong wind and an empty trailer will end up on its side. To hold a trailer steady on the road takes a lot of skill, she said.

Tim Schmidt, a driver who reached 3 million miles in October, congratulated Rouse as he pulled in to Walmart Transportation.

'It's one mile at a time, one day at a time,” Schmidt said.