Sadoff employees receive ISRI’s Safe Driver of the Year and Golden Wrench awards

Employees of Sadoff Iron & Metal, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, were honored for their dedication to vehicle safety at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) 2019 Convention & Exposition, ISRI2019, in Los Angeles in early April. The company’s Mike O’Connor was presented with ISRI’s Safe Driver of the Year Award for completing 41 verifiable years of safe driving, and Aaron Radl received ISRI’s Golden Wrench award for exhibiting outstanding efforts, achievements and contributions during a career in vehicle maintenance.

“It is with great pride that we honor Aaron Radl with the Golden Wrench Award,” says Commodor Hall, transportation safety director for ISRI. “His commitment to ensuring the fleet is maintained and in a safe driving condition serves as an example to others. Furthermore, Radl has dedicated himself to continuous improvement in his field, taken on additional responsibilities and helped drive a culture of safety. This award is well-deserved.”

Radl started with Sadoff Iron & Metal in May 2011. He currently serves as the second shift supervisor in the truck maintenance shop at the Fond du Lac location. Radl performs maintenance and directs other personnel to assure the fleet trucks are ready for the start of the next day. He performs these tasks and oversees other repairs to assure quality performance resulting in safe vehicles and maintaining an excellent CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score. Radl’s diligence in continued education in the heavy truck arena has led to internal recognition and increased responsibility in areas Sadoff previously had not undertaken. This includes rebuilding transmissions and engines in-house.

Dave Casper, equipment maintenance manager for Sadoff Iron & Metal, says, “We at Sadoff feel that Aaron has shown exemplary maintenance skills and leadership abilities. He has also participated in many of the fleet maintenance checklist modifications to assure a thorough inspection at each PM (preventive maintenance) service and has a good sense of follow through. Along with this, he has also shown that he puts 110 percent in every day to ensure that safety is never forgotten and instills it upon others.”

“Mike O’Connor has more than four decades of strong, safe driving experience,” says Hall. “His track record illustrates that safety is a core value for himself, his coworkers and everyone else on the road around him. For his safe driving skills, and exemplarily record, ISRI is honored to present Mike O’Connor with this year’s Safe Driver Award.”

O’Connor has driven for Sadoff Iron & Metal since 1977 after he served six years in the U.S. Navy. He is a four-time winner of the Wisconsin Motor Carrier Association Presidents Safe Driving Award, and he was recognized as the third place ISRI Driver of the Year for 2016 and the second place ISRI Driver of the Year for 2017.

“Mike is our most senior driver and continues to be an example for others to follow,” says Andy Coates, transportation service manager for Sadoff Iron & Metal. “His dedication to the company and his craft are obvious. Mike operates in a safe and efficient manner, servicing our customers with professionalism showing them why Sadoff Iron & Metal is the preferred choice in recycling.”