Beloved Waste Management driver wins one of industry’s highest honors

PEARL, Miss. (WLBT) -Rankin county neighborhoods are gleaming with pride as a Pearl Waste Management driver earns one of the industry’s top honors. His skills and kindness bring a national recognition, highlighting the work that keeps local communities running every day.

“I love what I’m doing. That’s why I’m doing it,” said Willie Ashford.

His passion for driving a Waste Management truck led to winning the National Waste and Recycling Association’s Residential Driver of the Year.

He winds through the streets of Pearl and Canton with a perfect safety record and the admiration of customers and co-workers. He beat more than 100,000 drivers across the country to receive the honor.

“I couldn’t have won it be myself,” said Ashford. “We have good co-workers, good managers, and I love them all”.

The Jackson native is described as a man of faith, wonderful husband and father of three sons. For 22 years he’s helped keep communities clean, but almost refused the award, which included flying to Washington D.C.

“I wanted to get out of it because of the airplane. That really was the reason, and so once they told me it was too big,” said the WM driver. “So my wife told me she said ‘I’m going to be with you’, and she flew before. I haven’t, and I always said I wouldn’t get in an airplane, but I’ll do it again”.

Of Waste Management’s over 50 residential drivers, Ashford was chosen for his training skills, professionalism, humble spirit and keeping his truck immaculate.

“He represents WM well,” said Waste Management Senior District Manager Kenneth Nance, one of the team leaders who nominated Ashford. “He cares about the employees. He cares about everyone on his route, and he is a fantastic driver, his awareness, his ability to look out for everybody and everything”.

Ashford and wife Chantry spent four days in DC in June touring the city, meeting Congressman Bennie Thompson and speaking to the association.

“It’s been a life saving job for me,” added the decades long driver.

His legacy will continue. Ashford convinced his son Jordon to become a Waste Management driver.

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