NORTH LIMA — When it comes to the number of miles Jeff Harley has logged as a truck driver, you could say that he’s been to the moon and back between 12 and 13 times.

“He’s steady, consistently honest and an excellent worker,” Mandy McHenry, manager for Yellow Corp’s Youngstown terminal, said.

She was referring to Harley, 66, having logged 3 million miles during his 27 years at the company. In addition, he reached that milestone via countless cross-country trips without a preventable accident or traffic ticket.

“That’s something that definitely needs to be appreciated and understood,” McHenry said.

For his clean work record and commitment to the business, Harley, of Rochester, Pa., was honored during a special ceremony Friday morning at the company, 10855 Market St.

Preceding the event, Harley arrived in his rig at Exit 232 off the Ohio Turnpike from a run to the Cincinnati area in which he was filling in for another driver. At his arrival amid heavy rain and wind, he was met by family members, co-workers and law-enforcement agencies that included the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department and the Beaver Township Police Department, all of which provided an escort to Yellow Corp.

Harley retired after his final trip to Cincinnati on Friday evening.

McHenry called Harley “an exemplary worker,” and touted his work ethic, high priority on safety, ideas for improving the business and ability to increase worker morale.

“He understands how important he is to how our country runs,” McHenry continued.

“I used to go on truck runs with him for about six years,” Harley’s son, Seth, 31, remembered.

The younger Harley added that he also enjoys helping his father with household chores, and is excited about doing more of the same after Harley retires.

“He puts his all into everything he does,” said Harley’s wife, Terry, who added that her husband looks forward to retirement via performing various home projects, traveling and spending additional time with family.

“It’s pretty awesome. I never expected something like this,” Harley said with modesty, referring to the special celebration for him.

Harley added that he’s made numerous friends during his years with the company and that he has no secret for his clean driving record, other than consistently paying attention to the road at all times.

The only downside to his work was being away from family for long stretches, said Harley, who has traveled to all 50 states.

Before starting with Yellow Corp in 1994, Harley was a self-employed truck driver beginning in 1978, he continued.

McHenry classified truck drivers as front line workers, saying they place themselves at risk regularly by delivering food and other essential supplies to prisons, hospice-care facilities, hospitals and other places that have had high rates of COVID-19. Some also make weekly deliveries of COVID-19 testing kits to hospitals, she noted.

“They go into really heavy COVID areas because they have to,” McHenry said, adding that certain restrictions were lifted from drivers because of their importance during the pandemic.

“These guys are on high alert constantly, but too often, they’re underappreciated,” she said.