FLUSHING, QUEENS — Forest Hills Letter Carrier Andrew Fontanetta joined the thousands of Postal Service employees who have individually driven more than a million, accident-free miles in an award ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.  

Fontanetta received postal leadership recognition and a plaque from the National Safety Council in a local Post Office ceremony at the Forest Hills Post Office (10628 Queens Blvd., Flushing, NY 11375).

The Postal Service joins with the National Safety Council to induct a select group of these drivers — who deliver on safety every day — into the Million Mile Club.

“Club status” means that the revered Million Mile Award is rewarded to letter carriers, rural carriers and truck drivers, who have a safe attitude that entails driving for one million miles or 30 years without a preventable incident. They receive a plaque which bears the Million Mile Club emblem, the NSC logo and an engraved personalized nameplate.

The Postal Service has the world’s largest civilian fleet of vehicles topping at an impressive 232,000. These vehicles link the nation’s 31,000 plus Post Offices and are driven by more than 341,000 letter carriers and truck drivers. The Postal Service logs more than 1.2 billion miles annually delivering to America’s 148.6 million residences and 12.8 million businesses – 6 days a week. 

Driving a million miles safely is commendable, especially in the dense area of Flushing, Queens. To add perspective, the moon is 238,900 miles from planet earth. Driving one million miles is the equivalent of doing that journey more than four times.

“I am proud to work for the Postal Service and have been able to raise my family with this job. I have provided a stable life for them. I like when people get excited about packages arriving. Both kids and adults get excited when I pull up. They are usually tracking it,” said Fontanetta. “Being on the route for so long, I know when the addresses are incorrect or missing anything. I have been on the same route for 30 years. Over the years, I have seen a lot of people come and go,” he added.

According the National Safety Council, more than 30,000 Postal Service employees have achieved a distinction most people never approach in their lifetimes – driving more than a million accident-free miles. No other business comes close.

“Safe driving is no accident,” said District Manager Frank Calabrese. “The safety of our employees is our top priority, and we are proud that our comprehensive safe driver training program is second to none.”

Safe Driving Habits Start with Good Training

Driving for the Postal Service is a privilege. All drivers must demonstrate safe-driving practices throughout their careers. Behind-the-wheel job candidates undergo a rigorous screening, training, and certification process to earn credentials to operate a right-hand drive postal vehicle.

Information on the National Safety Council’s Safe Driver Program is located at www.nsc.org/usps. Questions can be directed to the National Safety Council Customer Relations at 1-800-621-7619 or uspsawards@nsc.org.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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