LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A special retirement ceremony was held on Sept. 18 for one of the longest-serving drivers in UPS history.
Driver Cleveland "Cleve" Francis finally decided to retire at 82 after spending more than 58 years working for UPS, logging more than five million miles behind the wheel.
Pictured: 82-year-old Cleveland "Cleve" Francis poses in the cab of a UPS tractor-trailer while celebrating his retirement from the company after 58 years of service as a UPS driver. (UPS Communications)
He began working for UPS in 1967. His six-decade career has been full of milestones and changes, including the invention of laptops, smartphones, GPS and even seatbelts, according to a news release.
With decades of safe driving under his belt, Francis leaves behind a legacy that helped shape UPS into a global leader. Along the way, Francis has become a local legend — even saving a customer’s life during a delivery in 1979.
He also played a key role in delivering the first Moderna COVID vaccines to Worldport for global distribution.
"It's really changed over the years," Francis said during a ceremony honoring his legacy. "You know, trucks got better and as I say technology made it a lot safer and everything."
A UPS Circle of Honor member, Francis's story reflects the human spirit’s endurance, UPS’s culture of safety and the lasting bonds between drivers and the communities they serve.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week was observed Sept. 14-20.
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