When TravelCenters of America  announced its 2016 Citizen Drivers of The Year, three Landstar BCOs received the life-changing news that they would be honored among eight total professional drivers. The Citizen Drivers honor recognizes drivers who earn public respect for the industry through their good citizenship, safety, community involvement, and leadership.

Among the three are Landstar Team Drivers Bill and Robyn Taylor, who not only match the criteria for becoming Citizen Drivers, they are the very definition of outstanding Landstar BCOs, professional drivers and model citizens.

For Bill and Robyn Taylor it’s all about giving back, having positive attitudes and making a difference in other people’s lives. For the last 18 years, they’ve devoted their time to making a difference in their community and being positive role models representing the trucking industry.

Bill had been on the road as an owner-operator for more than a decade before he met Robyn in 1998. Their internet romance turned into true love and the two were soon married. After riding with Bill on a long haul, Robyn decided she no longer wanted to work at her desk, so she changed gears, earned her Commercial Driver’s License and, soon after, found peace on the road as Bill’s team driver.

Since the beginning of their relationship, the couple has worked with the Trucker Buddy International program to mentor more than 18 different classes at three different elementary schools near their home town of Enfield, Connecticut.

“It’s all about giving back to the community,” explains Bill. “Our travels and the stories we share with students, give them a lesson in geography and history. It’s a lot of fun to show them the truck and talk about everything we do.”

The Taylors seem to touch every corner of their community with their positivity and professionalism. They have received numerous honors for their work including a Friends of Education Award and a Congressional Recognition from their local Congressman Joe Courtney.

“We believe in giving back to our community and we just do it. We don’t think it’s anything special, it’s just how we do things,” says Robyn.

The Taylors were so surprised to learn they were being nominated for TravelCenters’ Citizen Driver award that, when Landstar called to inform them of their nominations, they responded “What for?” As the process continued, and the Taylors became finalists, they again responded in disbelief.

“We said, ‘Okay, we made it through the first round, but we won’t win. Then, all of the sudden, they called to tell us we won and we didn’t believe that either,” remembers Robyn.

“It’s been a whirlwind of a year – that is for sure! And we can’t thank all of the people who helped us get here enough,” says Bill.

The Taylors selected their favorite TA Stopping Center in Milldale, Connecticut to be named in their honor. In May, they were surrounded by their family and friends as the sign to the TA Southington was unveiled as the “Bill & Robyn Taylor Travel Center.