Airman earns National Driver All-Stars award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Julia Sorber
  • 193rd Special Operations Wing

Tech. Sgt. Seth Maurer, a structures specialist with the 201st RED HORSE, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, Pennsylvania, earned the National Private Truck Council’s National Driver All-Stars award in September 2018.

Maurer was one of 18 private-fleet truck drivers who demonstrated high performance standards against other drivers throughout the country. This NPTC award takes into account a driver’s customer service, safety, adherence to company standards, regulatory compliance and community service, according to information from the NPTC.

“I show up to work, I work hard, and I work my days off when needed,” said Maurer. “The big thing with this award is safety. I didn’t have any accidents or issues in the 200,000 miles that I had hauled feed, which I think made my application stick out.”

Maurer gives credit to his military career for helping him earn this award on the civilian side.

In 2008, he enlisted in the active-duty Air Force as a security forces specialist, and after completing all initial training he was stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea. During his time there he was assigned to the Quick Reaction Team, a special duty, which he called the ‘base SWAT team.’

Maurer’s next assignment was at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, where he served three years. His time there included deployments and being tasked with another special duty, flyaway security, which Maurer stated is comparable to the current Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element program. Maurer completed his active-duty service at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

The Pennsylvania native separated from active duty in 2014 and moved back home with his family. He enlisted into the Pennsylvania Air National Guard that same year with the 201st RHS.

“I still wanted to serve in the military while being at home,” said Maurer. “The guard was a perfect fit for me since I wanted to do something different with a change of pace.”

Maurer’s coworkers commented on what it’s like working alongside him.

“Tech. Sgt. Seth Maurer is a hard charger,” said Master Sgt. Charles Brown, structures supervisor with the 201st RHS. “I have had the opportunity to deploy with Maurer to El Salvador and saw his work ethic first hand. Through 100-degree weather, direct sun with 90-percent humidity, working 12-hour days to prep for a concrete pour, he was always the first on the job and the last to leave. Hard work ethic is an understatement!”

In 2016, Maurer learned that his military career field was one of few accepted into the tractor trailer training program at the Regional Equipment Operators Training Site, Fort Indiantown Gap. He decided to apply, and was accepted.

The CDL Act of 2012 allows states to accept a military operator’s license and training certificate, along with approval from a commander, to issue active and retired military members a commercial driver’s license. The Air Force's tractor trailer training program supports the CDL Act by offering an 80-hour, civilian-level course several times a year at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, and at Fort Indiantown Gap.

“It was a phenomenal course with very intelligent instructors,” said Maurer. “They were super knowledgeable, had great tips and pointers, and were very thorough in everything they taught.”

Upon completing the course, Maurer landed a job at Wenger Feeds and has been with the company for more than two years.

Maurer said that, for him, winning this award is a big deal because this specific award typically goes to veteran drivers, as opposed to those only driving for a short amount of time.