One in a million: Driver logs major milestone in MCI coaches

MCI motor coaches are known for their ability to rack up seven-digit odometer readings in the course of their typically long lifetimes. But it's not every driver that can claim that kind of mileage. Corky Workman can. In his 16-year career with Trobec's Bus Service, St. Stephen, Minnesota, Workman has logged more than a million miles behind the wheel — 1,070,000 miles as of April, to be a little more exact.

It all started in 1991, when Workman was looking for work, having logged time behind the wheel of a few trucks. Workman's first trips were aboard an MC-8, and it wasn't long before he was driving all over Canada and the United States. Workman says he has traveled through every U.S. state and every Canadian province except for Labrador. His longest trip? A 54-day jaunt through Alaska. His favorite destinations include Alaska as well as Canada's Newfoundland.

In the course of duty, he's been charged by a bear, has chased an elk, and has seen his bus charged by an angry buffalo bull. Yet he's never had a serious incident. "In all of the years and miles that I have driven, I have had one windshield cracked from a flying rock, one flat tire, and no accidents," says Workman. "I consider MCI the most reliable motor coaches ever made."

And he should know. Trobec's all-MCI, late-model fleet runs the gamut of current-production MCI coaches, including D4500s, E4500s, and J4500s coaches. Workman likes them all: He admires the D4500 for its low-profile and handling in wind; and he enjoys the J4500 for its bells, whistles and dependability. He likes the E4500 too, and he’s hoping to get a crack at Trobec's newest, delivered just this month.

Workman has a flair for customer service, and he counts among his favorite customers the senior citizens. "Working with them is one of the greatest things you can do. They're always happy-go-lucky and appreciative to be on vacation. They really appreciate that stuff."

He adds that his senior groups treat him like he's part of the family — something he also says of Trobec's, which is itself a family-owned business that goes back to the 1930s. Workman is Trobec's senior-most driver (there are about 30 others), and they're clearly proud of his million-mile record.

Despite the occasional 70-hour work week, Workman is officially a part-timer. When he's not logging miles in Trobec's MCIs, he runs a kettle-corn business with his wife. He also likes to travel — often as not, by car. "One of the advantages is that I always know what we should see and what the attractions are wherever we go."

Workman doubts he'll quite make it to two million miles, though he does entertain the idea of hitting 1.5. "If I see two million miles," jokes Workman, "I've have been at it too long!"

Hats off to all of our million-milers! If you're a driver who can show us that you've driven at least a million miles in MCI coaches, we'll send you one of our logo hats to show our appreciation. E-mail your story by May 31, 2007, to fyi@mcicoach.com!