Charlie Wade places first at SWANA International Road-E-O

Showcasing his skill and extensive experience, driver Charlie Wade of GFL’s Wilson, North Carolina, branch placed first in the front-end loader competition at this year’s SWANA International Road-E-O in Dublin, Georgia!

Wade competed against approximately 30 contestants who represented public and private waste collection agencies at the annual event held by the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).

“It was amazing and a great atmosphere,” Wade said. “There were people competing from all over the United States.”

Wade brings a wealth of experience to the Road-E-O circuit. He’s been competing in local Road-E-Os for 30 years and has attended the SWANA International Road-E-O seven or eight times.

Before being awarded the trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize for his first place win, Wade had to put his front-end loader through a series of events. The events included backing his truck up in an alley and stopping as close to a wall as possible, and maneuvering his truck between two sets of tennis balls so that the truck’s front and rear wheels didn’t touch the balls.

When asked if he practices beforehand, Wade said, “I just try to get through the goosebumps and when I’m ready to go, I just go.”

One of the things he enjoys the most about competing in Road-E-Os is that his family can go with him. Wade’s five children are grown up but they still enjoy watching him compete.

Wade has been involved in the waste business all his life, working at GFL for 10 years. His father owned a solid waste company in the 1970s and 1980s and that’s where Wade began driving, receiving the nickname “Baby of the Trash.”

“My dad’s company was commercial and we operated in the downtown part of DC,” Wade said. “I drove roll-off first, then I moved to front-end.”

All of his brothers were in the business but they later moved to other occupations. Wade, however, found his niche and has made the waste business his lifelong career.

“Having been in the profession as long as I have, I’d say working at GFL is a good career. The pay’s good, it’s challenging, it’s exciting, and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Wade said.

He says the employees in the waste business are like a family, similar to firefighters or police officers. Wade is very proud of one of his sons who is a firefighter.

“Guess where he learned to drive?” Wade joked.

One of the most appealing things about his job is that every day is different and Wade has to deal with new situations and solve new challenges every day. He also loves interacting with the kids on his route.

“I love the kids,” Wade said. “They see me coming and they’ll just come running and go crazy and I stop and wave at them. They really make my day.”

Congratulations again on your victory and your amazing career, Charlie!

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