Congrats to our Safety Idol: Bobby Wheeler!

The Safety Team is proud to recognize Bobby Wheeler, who has earned the distinction of being our very first RFC Safety Idol. Bobby’s unwavering commitment to safety, especially safe driving, is something we can all admire and learn from. As one of our valued sales representatives at VSS International, Bobby has been based out of our West Sacramento plant for the past eight years, and his role has him routinely on the road. In 2025 alone, Bobby accumulated an impressive 39,298 miles behind the wheel.

With that many miles comes exposure to unpredictable situations, often caused by unsafe driving behaviors from other motorists or pedestrians. One such near miss happened on February 5, 2026, while driving northbound on I-5. Bobby encountered a sudden and dangerous situation when two semi-trucks ahead of him collided in dense fog. The heavy fog had caused visibility to deteriorate rapidly, and one semi-truck unexpectedly struck another in the same lane, creating a multi-vehicle crash on the highway. In the minutes leading up to the incident, Bobby recognized the worsening conditions and proactively reduced his speed from 65 MPH to approximately 55 MPH while also increasing his following distance. These proactive, defensive driving decisions gave Bobby the critical time and space needed to react safely and avoid becoming involved in the crash, safely pulling off the roadway, and prevent the risk of being rear-ended by approaching vehicles. In a more recent incident, on March 24, 2026, Bobby was traveling through a residential area with a coworker. As he approached a four-way intersection, a person riding an electric bicycle suddenly entered the intersection directly in front of them. Thanks to Bobby’s dedication to maintaining a safe driving speed, staying alert, and scanning ahead, he was able to respond quickly and avoid what could have been a truly tragic outcome. Bobby’s actions reflect the standard we expect from every employee; planning for the unexpected, staying alert, and never compromising on safety.

Bobby, thank you for making safety your top priority every day and for setting such a high standard for all of us. Your actions serve as an inspiration, and we’re proud to recognize you as our RFC Safety Idol.

Congratulations and thank you for your outstanding commitment!