02/26/2026
Bulkley Trucking is proud to present Don Crawford with the 2025 Driver of the Year award.
Don has been behind the wheel since 1977 when, as a young 21 year old college student at Texas Tech University, he decided to follow in his older brother’s footsteps to work in furniture delivery in Lubbock, Texas.
Crawford spent his boyhood just outside of Abilene in Loraine, Texas, which has a population of 504. As he launched into the world, his dream was business management. After a few years at Cisco Junior College, he moved to Lubbock to attend Tech. But as Don himself admits, “I don’t like to read. I’m sorry, just never have.” As coursework got harder and furniture delivery paid better, he made the decision that so many truckers have made before him. He launched his career.
Turns out, Don didn’t need to love reading in order to make a good living. He worked faithfully, consistently, and with integrity at furniture delivery, then door and window delivery, and eventually landed at Winn-Dixie in Fort Worth, where he and his brother Steve both moved in their 30s.
While driving for Winn-Dixie, Don experienced some challenges. He didn’t always feel safe, the truck cab often got uncomfortably cold, and he couldn’t be sure he was valued much at such a large company. To sum it up, Don shares, “The equipment at Bulkley is great. I stay warm, I feel safe, and they take care of me.”
After Winn-Dixie, Don found himself transferred from Furr’s Cafeteria in Paris, TX to work in management at the location in Sulphur Springs. He was excited. This was an opportunity to manage a business. But soon, his position there proved to be more of a dead end than a launching pad.
However, Don enjoyed serving truck drivers from time to time in the dining room. Through friendly conversation, he shared that he had 13 years of driving experience. They heartily encouraged him to apply at Bulkley and gave glowing reviews of what employment was like there.
Don applied, was hired, and the rest is history.
For 10 years, Don has been a fixture at Bulkley as a long haul truck driver. While he has been more than willing to train new drivers, he prefers to drive alone. As much as he hates to be cold in a truck cab, he loves the look of the Cascade Mountains in Washington, covered in snow.
As far as job satisfaction, Don cannot think of anything else he would want other than what he has already found at Bulkley Trucking. When asked what it is like to work here, Don says very matter of factly, “Well, there’s nothing about it that’s hard. It’s great. The dispatchers are great, the equipment is great, and I never had any trouble with HR. If I’m not doing right, the dispatchers let me know and I fix it as best I can. I make twice as much here as I did at Furr’s. I’ve got nothing to complain about.”
Don has a long term partner and is the father of four, so he enjoys being home up to three days a week. But when it is time to hop back into the cab, he seems more comforted than burdened. He says he eats “lots of Lays,” listens to soul music or The Highway FM, and is fulfilling the one goal he had when he chose to become a long haul truck driver, which was “to see the world.”
Don does not want to spend much time dwelling on why he might have received the Driver of the Year award. He is simply happy with what he has. When asked why he thinks he is being honored, Don says, “Well, I hope it’s my fuel, I’m safe, a quick turnaround. I hope that’s what it is.” After a few moments of silence, he adds, “Everything I do, I do my best. My mama was a cook all her life. She taught me manners and how to work hard. So maybe that’s why. I don’t know.”
At 70 years old, Don does not seem to be in any hurry to retire. He is a happy, contented man who stays rooted in gratitude.
“I just want to stay safe, not hurt anybody, no accidents. And I want to stay healthy. I’m grateful for my health. I’m 70 years old. I’ve seen a lot of sick people in my family. But I don’t have to take any medicine. I’m proud of my health. Maybe I’ll retire in five or six years, but it could go on much longer. As long as I’m healthy.”
We are proud to honor the integrity and humble consistency of our long time employee, Don Crawford. Here’s to many more years in a warm cab with a view of the Cascade Mountains out the windshield.
Congratulations, Don!
