Jose Luis “JJ” Jaramillo is the fourth H-E-B driver to reach the milestone
On the morning of June 24, H-E-B truck driver Jose Luis “JJ” Jaramillo carefully pulled his trailer into park. In front of his vehicle, family, friends, and H-E-B Partners waited in excitement, ready to celebrate the remarkable milestone he’d just achieved.
Jaramillo became the fourth H-E-B driver to reach four million consecutive safe miles. In his nearly 40 years as a driver, he averaged about 115,000 miles per year to reach four million, which is equivalent to more than 160 trips around the Earth. On average, motorists drive about 14,000 miles per year. At that rate, it would take an average driver 285 years to reach four million miles, and that’s while driving without pulling a 53-foot trailer.
A celebratory reception was held at the Weslaco Retail Support Center to celebrate Jaramillo’s dedication to both his work and the Texans he has served and impacted in his 36-year career.
“JJ’s achievement is a testament to his professionalism, commitment to safety, and dedication to H-E-B’s values,” said Todd Wright, H-E-B Senior Vice President of Transportation and Logistics. “Reaching four million consecutive safe miles is a milestone few drivers in the industry will ever accomplish, and we are proud to celebrate this historic achievement.”
Jaramillo achieved 1 million consecutive safe miles in Dec. 2000, nearly ten years after he joined H-E-B. Jaramillo said he initially joined the company as a warehouse worker but transitioned into truck driving when a position became available. However, his love of trucks goes back to memories of childhood road trips.
“We would always pass eighteen-wheelers and I would do the signal to honk at the trucks,” Jaramillo said, thinking back to his childhood. “I don’t know why I always loved it. With that, I guess, I just loved trucks.”
Jaramillo said he developed several driving traditions over the years. “Every time I take off, I have to do the sign of the cross,” he said. His trips were also routinely soundtracked by Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” every time he entered a freeway and “Eastbound and Down” by Jerry Reed for drives back home.
Jaramillo’s pride in his work has also led him to become an active participant in the Truck Driving Championships. Since his start in 1990, Jaramillo has qualified for 25 regional, 17 state and two national competitions.
At the 1996 National Competition in Florida, Jaramillo became the first Rio Grande Valley driver to win a national championship event. He was also the McAllen International Truck Driving Champion in both 1999 and 2000.
Outside of competition, Jaramillo has dedicated his time towards various transportation committees and the 100 Club, a nonprofit organization that aids the families of fallen and severely injured active duty first responders.
Jaramillo attributes much of his success to the support of his wife, Erika, and his five children. Through his family’s support and the close relationships he’s created with H-E-B Partners and drivers across Texas, he has no desire to pump the brakes just yet. Jaramillo said he’s looking forward to the next million miles.
“It’s a crazy feeling. It’s hard to explain but I just love to work and drive the big truck. I’ve impacted more people than I realized,” Jaramillo said as he tapped his chest, “And that feels awesome.”
