BROOKHAVEN — 133 trips around the world, that is how far Walmart truck driver James Luckett has driven safely in his 38 year career. A Canton native, Luckett lives in Madison County but drives out of the Brookhaven distribution center. 

Luckett reached the milestone of 4.5 million safe miles last week which is also equivalent to 9.5 trips to the moon and back. He had quite the crowd gathered to not only celebrate his accomplishment but to say many positive words about his impact. 

Jason Matte, Fleet Safety Operations Manager for Walmart, said it is an incredible achievement for Luckett to reach 4.5 million safe miles. He thanked Luckett and Luckett’s wife Carol because the 4.5 million safe miles was a lot of time spent away from home. 

“I’ve learned from Luckett, you take it a half mile at a time and it rings true for all of us,” Matte said. “I’m thankful for his guidance and how he always has a smile. He shows you can always get through tough times with a smile. He has a word of encouragement and has been a blessing since I’ve been here.”

Multiple people said Luckett has two hand gestures, a thumbs up and a point to the sky to thank God for his blessings. Matte said one thing they can learn from Luckett is how to help the next person. 

Derek Crosby, General Transportation Manager, said Luckett was at Walmart when he started with the company. Sam Walton was still in charge of Walmart then and Ronald Reagan was president. Crosby added Luckett had gone through seven different presidents and five Walmart CEOs over his career and was still driving safely. 

He pointed to Luckett’s hat which says “Best of the Best, 6811.” The 6811 is the number for Brookhaven’s Distribution Center. 

“I believe this is the best of the best team and he is the best of the best here,” Crosby said. “4.5 million safe miles, no one has ever achieved that here. You are the first and the best, a trailblazer for us and someone worthy to follow.”

Brookhaven Distribution Center has a couple other drivers who have four million and three million miles. Luckett is a driver others look up to. One driver said when they first started driving out of Brookhaven 19 years ago there weren’t any trucks which had reached 3 million safe miles. 

Tonya Morris said she was a former dispatcher and Luckett was one driver she could always depend on. “There is no one like you and there never will be,” Morris said. Another co-worker said Luckett has made the distribution center a welcoming place to work. 

One of Luckett’s daughters said she has driven semi-trucks for the past 10 years. She said her dad’s smile and kind soul goes everywhere he goes. 

There were several guests present for the celebration including Brookhaven Police Chief Kenny Collins, former Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing and former police chief Pap Henderson. Collins said he met Luckett a long time ago. 

“I believe when you are created by God, before you are sent to this earth, He already has what you are going to be planned. You think you chose the career you chose but before He sent you He knew Luckett was going to be a truck driver,” Collins said. “We want to thank God for sharing Luckett with us all.”

 

One fun fact about Luckett is he worked for National Public Radio playing gospel music on the weekend for 11 and a half years. He said people ask him all the time if he is going to go back to the radio one day. Luckett added he is so involved in church he hasn’t been able to yet but may one day. 

Mississippi Highway Patrol Maj. Odis Easterling said all of the kind words people spoke shows how Christ-like Luckett is.

Henderson said he once worked at Walmart Distribution part time and it was there where he first met Luckett. They became the best of friends, Henderson added. 

“He is like my brother. I love the man,” Henderson said. “I’m not surprised at what he has accomplished. He puts God first and family second.”