SAN DIEGO – Solid waste management company Veolia Environmental Services Solid Waste (a division of Veolia Environment, of which Veolia Transportation is a division) has signed a three-year contract with driver risk-management company DriveCam to implement that company’s Managed Services Program across Veolia Environmental Services’ entire fleet of vehicles.

“We have been very pleased with the results we’ve seen with DriveCam – an 89 percent reduction in risk frequency program-to-date improvement,” commented Jim Long, President and CEO of Veolia ES Solid Waste. “Having worked with DriveCam for many years, we’ve found them to be a proven partner that delivers bottom line results and continually enhances their product to meet the operational needs of solid waste fleets.”

The DriveCam system monitors driver behavior and reports it in real-time so drivers receive immediate feedback and can improve while on the job. The system also uses video to record events inside and outside the vehicle, which are then analyzed by DriveCam’s analysts, who recommend specific changes to driver behavior. This system is designed to reduce collision incidents and operating costs.

John Nowak, North American Director of Safety at Veolia ES Solid Waste, added, “DriveCam provides an easy-to-use solution that allows us to attain the results we need with the lowest possible impact on our organization. We’re excited to expand our relationship and ensure on-going safety and operational improvement throughout the Veolia Environmental fleet.”

In other company news, Veolia ES Solid Waste announced Eugene Schmidtke, one of its drivers based in Ocala, Fla., has been named the Environmental Industry Associations’ (EIA) 2011 Driver of the Year in the Large Industrial category.

The Driver of the Year award honors drivers with the highest safety record and who have distinguished themselves in service to the company and communities in which they serve. Schmidtke has worked for Veolia for more than 15 years and has been accident-free since 1995, according to the company.

“This award recognizes Eugene as one of the best drivers in the waste industry,” said Jim Long, president and CEO of Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. “He is a true ambassador of Veolia’s operational mission of ‘Service First, Safety Always,’ and we are so proud to have Eugene as a member of our team.”

In addition to winning Driver of the Year, Schmidtke has been honored with Veolia’s Good Samaritan Award and other companywide recognitions for his commitment to safety and performance on the job. He was also named a finalist in the 2010 EIA Driver of the Year competition, the company stated.

“I am so honored to have been awarded with this distinction and am very pleased to know that my efforts to put safety first everyday have been recognized,” said Schmidtke.

Schmidtke was honored with the other 2011 Driver of the Year winners at the EIA’s Inspirational Breakfast awards ceremony on May 10, 2011 at Waste Expo in Dallas. He lives in Ocala, Fla. with his wife, Diane, and is involved with various charity organizations including the Disabled American Veterans’ Association. A lifelong waste professional, Schmidtke worked for his father’s garbage company before joining Veolia Environmental Services in 1994.