GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Clay County resident and commercial truck driver braves a Jacksonville-to-Tallahassee commute every day and is celebrating a quarter of a century of safe driving.

Alise Lyke, a Green Cove Springs resident and Orange Park High graduate, is celebrating 25 years of safe driving with UPS. Originally a criminal justice major, a conversation with a convincing friend pivoted her toward UPS in 1990.

“A good friend of mine approached me with a job and an opportunity, I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” she said.

Money and benefits are one thing, but Lyke favored the company’s strict regimen. She likes being involved in how people and business function.

“You always know what you’re supposed to be doing,” Lyke said. “I like knowing I’m a big part of helping people moving these products from point A to point B.”

As April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Lyke said, vision and space for tractor-trailer drivers is important. She advised against tailgating and passing trucks on the right.

“Make sure the driver in that truck can see you, that is the biggest thing,” Lyke added.

She’s the second Jacksonville female tractor-trailer driver to join UPS’ Circle of Honor, drivers who have delivered packages for 25 years or more without an incident. She’s among 44 women inducted into the Circle of Honor last year.

Throughout her career, drivers have one observed ride a year and drivers must take a Depth-of-Knowledge assessment.

Mail goes all over the state in a day and the way the carrier functions isn’t as much of a logistical nightmare as it sounds, Lyke said.

“It’s amazing how they get it down to such an art,” she said. “It’s almost failproof.”

Lyke prefers highway driving to maneuvering through cities. Lyke used to drive the minefield that is Interstate 4 and her commute now is a bit better, she said.

“On I-10 once you get past Macclenny, it’s quiet,” Lyke said. “There’s no traffic, that’s what you want, boring. The highlight of my day is new billboard.”