Announcing the 2025 Driver Advisory Board

Post Date - Apr 4, 2025

We are thrilled to continue the work of the Driver Advisory Board (DAB) with the announcement of the 2025 members. Now in its second year, the DAB plays a vital role in amplifying the voices of our drivers, ensuring their feedback and insights shape the future of Ascend. This ongoing initiative is a cornerstone of our People First culture, reinforcing our commitment to listening to and supporting our drivers every step of the way.

First, we want to take a moment to sincerely thank all the drivers who served on last year’s Driver Advisory Board. Your dedication, time, and commitment played a crucial role in moving our entire team forward and helping us better understand the challenges and opportunities for our drivers on and off the road. Your efforts have truly made a difference, and we’re grateful for your service.

As we enter a new year of the DAB, we’re excited to welcome new members while also recognizing the invaluable contributions of those who have stepped down. Thank you again to everyone who served—you’ve helped set the stage for another year of progress.

Thank you to our former DAB members.

·        Logan Dodd, DEDCO

·        Brenda Davis, DEDCO

·        Gregory Madison, DTS

·        Chris Haase, FUCHS

·        Rudi Lenssen, FUCHS

·        Thaddeus Heard, Independent Contractor

·        Greg Lambert, OTR

·        Kraig Hinrichs, OTR

·        Laura Carter, OTR

This year, we had over 150 nominations from across our team, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of the enthusiasm and involvement from all of our drivers. The selection process was thorough, ensuring that the new members bring fresh perspectives, diverse experiences, and a passion for improving the driver experience.

After careful review, we’re proud to introduce the 12 drivers who will represent Ascend’s drivers on the 2025 Driver Advisory Board. These members will play a key role in ensuring we continue to drive forward initiatives that matter most to our drivers, making their voices heard and their feedback a driving force behind future improvements.

Welcome to the 2025 DAB Members!

We would like to take this opportunity to officially welcome the following drivers to the 2025 DAB:

·        Angela Hiltz, DEDCO

·        Nikki Patton, DEDCO

·        Patricia Durdin, DTS

·        Gene Johnson, DTS

·        Kelly Dunnum, FUCHS

·        Donald Reed, FUCHS

·        Jason Westmoreland, Independent Contractor

·        Fred Bowman, Independent Contractor

·        Rivers Jones, OTR

·        John Reid, OTR

We’re excited to see how these new additions, including two drivers from our new Dedicated Store Deliveries (DSD) division, will help shape the future of our company.

While the basic setup and organization will remain the same as last year, there are a few things to note for the Driver Advisory Board in 2025. The DAB will continue to meet monthly to discuss driver needs and necessary improvements, with an in-person meeting once a year. These meetings provide the DAB the time to dive deep into key topics, discuss issues, and work together to create actionable solutions for Ascend drivers.

As in previous years, nominations are open each February, and the nomination process remains unchanged. Drivers can nominate themselves or others to be considered for the board. Each member will serve a two-year term, ensuring we have continuity as well as fresh perspectives in the mix.

As we move forward with the 2025 Driver Advisory Board, we remain committed to our mission of fostering an inclusive and supportive culture at Ascend. This board plays a vital role in our continuous improvement efforts, ensuring our drivers’ needs and concerns are prioritized. We’re excited for what this year’s board will accomplish and how they will continue to make Ascend a better place for all drivers!

Once again, we thank the past drivers for their incredible contributions to our DAB and extend a warm welcome to our new DAB members. Together, we will continue to make Ascend a company that truly puts People First.

Thank you to everyone who nominated, participated, and supported this initiative. We’re looking forward to another fantastic year of progress with the 2025 Driver Advisory Board.