US Nuclear Waste Management and a Remarkable Truck Driver

The US government may struggle with finding suitable storage solutions for its spent nuclear waste, but that doesn’t prevent it from transporting these hazardous materials across the nation.

Tommy Cash, a trucker responsible for hauling these items on behalf of the government, was recently recognized as one of the five Professional Drivers of the Year at the Truckload Carriers Association’s annual convention in Orlando, Florida.

While Cash is undoubtedly an accomplished driver, it’s his impressive safety record while handling radioactive waste that truly sets him apart. According to the trucking publication CDL Life, he has achieved over 3.5 million safe miles in his 43-year career, with more than half of those years spent transporting waste for a federal contractor.

In logistics, “safe miles” refer to the tracked performance of drivers completing distances without incidents, injuries, or damage to goods. For context, even Walmart, which employs around 14,000 drivers, saw its first driver reach the milestone of 5 million safe miles only in 2020.

Adding to his accolades, Cash not only gained recognition for his driving skills but also received a monetary award of $20,000.

Throughout his tenure, most of Cash’s loads comprised “debris, residues, soil, and other items contaminated with radioactive materials—primarily plutonium,” as noted in a US Department of Energy memo.

While the precise amount of nuclear waste he’s transported is unknown, estimates based on waste management regulations suggest he has carried tens of thousands of 55-gallon drums, totaling millions of gallons of radiated sludge. Regardless of the exact figures, it’s evident that Cash’s award was well-earned.