ST. LOUIS -- Eight van operators have been honored by Mayflower Transit as Van Operators of the Month, announced Steven J. Dawkins, executive vice president of the nationwide van line. The recognition acknowledges exceptional performance in the areas of operational proficiency, cargo claims prevention, customer service and safety.

Winners are selected in each category of Mayflower's transportation business, including household goods and special transportation services. The special transportation services category consists of electronics, trade shows/exhibits/displays, high-value items requiring special handling, and Mayflower's Pinpoint express service. The winners are:

Household Goods

Continental Fleet

Eastern Region – Dean Hansen, Takin Bros. Transfer & Storage, Waterloo, Iowa
Western Region – D. Rick DuBois, Clark's Moving & Storage, Inc., Sarasota, Fla.

Master Lease (more than 50,000 miles)

Western Region – Richard Willis, Willis Moving & Storage, Inc., Lubbock, Texas
Eastern Region – Thomas Strafford, Jr., Safeway Moving & Storage, Inc., Lexington, Ky.

Master Lease (up to 50,000 miles)

Western Region – Daryl Wagner, Dodge Moving & Storage Co., Inc., Earth City, Mo.
Eastern Region – Edward Fries, Sinclair Moving & Storage, Inc., W. Berlin, N.J.

Note: The Continental fleet operates year-round throughout the United States, while Master Lease van operators are utilized on a per-trip basis.

Special Transportation Services

Dedicated – Paulo Lima, Shepard's Incorporated, Bethel, Conn.
Regional – Ewaryst Walinowicz, McCollister's Transportation Systems, Carol Stream, Ill.

Mayflower Transit, with headquarters in suburban St. Louis, is one of the nation's largest household goods movers and maintains a global network of 600 affiliated agencies.