Trucker Life · Illinois · November 9, 2026

Illinois Truck Driver Reaches 4 Million Accident-Free Miles

Illustration of a blue semi at a freight terminal with a red carpet laid in front as an older trucker wipes the cab door — Illustration for this story. Not a photo of a specific location.

Image caption: Illustration: AI-generated illustration, not a photo of the people, vehicles or places in this story. It shows a generic semi at a terminal with a red carpet in front.

Shaw Local reporting from La Salle describes an XPO celebration for James "Jim" Cosentino, 67, of Yorkville after 4 million consecutive accident-free miles. The company says only seven earlier drivers in its history have reached that mark out of about 13,000 drivers across North America.

On Thursday morning at the La Salle service center, Cosentino arrived in a new tractor with his name on the door, escorted by La Salle police and Illinois State Police, the report says. The account lists a $25,000 check, a ring for him, a pendant for his wife, a reserved parking spot and an Illinois Senate resolution among the recognitions. Confetti, family and coworkers are described at the event. Chairman and CEO Mario Harik attended, according to the paper.

Habits the driver names

Cosentino, who goes by "Cos," started with the company in October 1985 at the then-new Aurora terminal. He has 41 years with the same carrier. After local pickup and delivery work and night runs to Tomah, Wisconsin, he transferred to La Salle when it opened. He told the paper his approach includes following distance, checking mirrors every five to 10 seconds and keeping a phone out of his hand. "You've got to be driving for everybody else," he said.

La Salle Police Chief Jason Stubler compared 4 million miles to driving around the Earth about 160 times. State Sen. Sue Rezin presented the Senate resolution.

Family credit and unfinished plans

Cosentino credited his wife, Collette, saying she has 4 million miles on her from putting up with him. He could have retired and said he is not done. He keeps the new tractor with his name on the door for the rest of his career, the report says.

His advice to young truckers, the paper reports, is to take it a mile at a time and a day at a time. "Make a safe decision every day so we all can get home safely to our families," he said.