ACE employee wins 2011 Driver of the Year award
by Tammy Sakry
Staff Writer
Drivers from all over the country competed, but only one could win and this year it was Tony Louzon.
ACE Solid Waste driver Tony Louzon recently was named 2011 Driver of the Year by the Environmental Industry Association. Photo by Andy Schweitzer, ACE Solid Waste owner
The ACE Solid Waste driver was one of more than 500 drivers competing for the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) Driver of the Year award.
Seven first-place awards were given in industrial, residential commercial and private sector categories.
Louzon collected his trophy in the small residential category, $1,000 cash and EIA monogrammed leather jacket at the the EIA’s Waste Expo in Dallas, Texas.
“This is huge. It’s as big as it gets for a garbage man,” said the 37-year-old Ramsey resident.
Before nominating Louzon for the award, “we picked three eligible candidates (in the company) based on their safety and service records,” said ACE owner Andy Schweizer.
After reviewing the accident histories, injuries, professionalism and productivity, they chose Louzon to nominate to EIA.
They all had clean records, but Louzon was the best, said Denny Fredrickson, ACE operations manager.
Louzon puts in the extra effort when it comes to working with customers, he said.
Although ACE has had two other drivers receive second or honorable mention in the EIA competition, Louzon is the first to bring home the first-place award, Fredrickson said.
“It was a privilege to be nominated,” said Louzon, who took his father, Al, to the convention and the awards ceremony.
“The whole experience was good. I want to thank the managers of ACE for putting me in for it.”
Extra effort
When Louzon, a 1992 Anoka High School graduate, started working for ACE Solid Waste 14 years ago, his attitude caught the attention of his superiors.
He is easy going and calm and his temperament made him a candidate to be a trainer, Schweizer said.
“Tony will step up and gladly share his experience and knowledge with others. He is a terrific asset to the company and an example to his coworkers on how to be a quiet, but strong leader. I am proud to have him representing me on the street everyday,” he said in a company newsletter.
For the last 13 years, Louzon has been training his fellow drivers as well as seeing to his Sherburne County route.
“I have always lived by the company guidelines of safety, service, professionalism and productivity,” Louzon said.
When he is training other drivers, Louzon stresses safety.
If it is safer to drive around three blocks or turn around, he tells them to drive the three blocks, according to Louzon.
He also makes sure they understand the importance of a clean truck – no trash on the dash.
“When you see our trucks rolling down the road, you don’t see maps, gloves and empty Mountain Dew bottles,” Louzon said.
“It all part of how we present ourselves to the customers.”
According to Orrock Township Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Peterson, Louzon is a valuable asset to him.
“As I plow snow and maintain the roadways for the township, (Louzon) has been a valuable asset in working with me concerning road conditions and roadway clearances unique to getting ACE’s trucks through most efficiently,” he said in a February 2011 letter to the company.
“Tony also recommends the best course of action for certain waste situations, to include unsafe conditions at residents and unique materials/recyclables handling.”
“He has educated me in many areas and has helped me in my job to provide the best and safest conditions possible for the residents, for the commercial contractors and for emergency vehicles….”
Louzon said he is also popular among the day cares along his route.
The kids line up to watch the truck and sometimes he stops so the kids can get a closer look, Louzon said.
For him, customer service is more than just service, he said.
“It is about building relationship with customers,” said Louzon, who spends time talking with the people on his route.
Tammy Sakry is at tammy.sakry@ecm-inc.com
Congrates LOUZON,it reads like u r well desrving of your reward as a fellew ex garbage driver it can be very hard to be reconized most see garbage is what you toss out and what may go with it.Drivers are or can be at the bottom of the scale as in working in the rubbish trade..But as you have proved it can come as a great reward if customers are made aware of how to get it right,even with as little as a smile wave or a show and tell {kids}education.And settig the pace at your base with fellow drivers.I’ve been out of it for approx 12 mths and i cant quite explain it the attraction to go back is very strong,i just cant help looking at a garbage truck when i spot it.Garbo on buddy.