The Women In Trucking Association has revealed the four professional drivers selected as finalists for its 2026 Driver of the Year award. The recognition, sponsored by Walmart, highlights women behind the wheel who demonstrate strong safety records while helping strengthen the trucking industry’s reputation with the public.
The winner will be announced during the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event on March 27 at the Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
Each of the finalists brings a unique background to the industry, with careers that include safety leadership, driver mentoring, and outreach efforts that highlight the importance of professional drivers across the country.
Ingrid Brown
Ingrid Brown of Boone, North Carolina, has spent more than four decades building a career in trucking centered on safety and leadership. Over her 46-year career, she has worked as both a driver and an industry advocate while continuing to stay active behind the wheel.
Brown operates as an independent owner-operator through Rollin’ B LLC while also serving as operations manager for a refrigerated fleet. She continues hauling freight for Blackjack Express LLC, including oversize, heavy haul, and refrigerated loads.
Her safety advocacy reaches beyond her day-to-day work. Brown serves as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Voice of Safety for the Our Roads, Our Safety campaign and has appeared in national public service announcements, billboards, radio programming on SiriusXM, and social media outreach efforts.
Her previous honors include the 2015 NASTC America’s Road Team and Woman Driver of the Year recognition, the 2025 NASTC Ambassador of the Year award, and the 2018 TA Petro Citizen Driver Award.
Brown has also been involved with the Women In Trucking Association since 2007 as one of its charter members and currently serves on the organization’s board of directors. After surviving melanoma, she has also focused on raising awareness about the disease while mentoring new drivers entering the industry.
Fabiola Campos-Buenavista
Fabiola Campos Buenavista built her trucking career through determination and a strong commitment to learning the craft. When she joined FedEx Freight, she had limited driving experience, but by age 22, she was already operating a tractor-trailer and beginning a career focused on safety and driver development.
In 2014, she became the first female driver development instructor at FedEx Freight. Since then, she has trained more than 40 drivers, helping new operators build the skills and confidence needed to handle commercial equipment safely.
Campos Buenavista is known for taking a hands-on approach when working with trainees and takes pride in helping new drivers find success in the industry.
Beyond the cab, she serves as a FedEx Road Team Captain and participates in outreach efforts that include school safety education programs and disaster relief initiatives.
Gina Jones
Gina Jones entered trucking after a long career in retail management and chose to pursue a commercial driver’s license at age 50 so she could join her husband Steve on the road.
Since then, she has built an impressive safety record that includes more than 1.5 million accident-free miles.
Her driving career has earned several recognitions, including the 2024 TA Citizen Driver Award, the Werner Safe Driver Award, and membership in the NTA President’s Safe Driver Club.
Jones also became active in industry advocacy. In 2025, she was invited to speak at the White House about the real-world impacts of electric vehicle mandates on trucking operations.
She previously served as an ATA America’s Road Team Captain from 2022 through 2023 and has remained involved in mentoring future drivers through school visits and recruitment efforts.
Jones and her husband also participate in Werner’s Operation Freedom Fleet program, driving a specially wrapped truck while supporting the 50 Mile March. When she is not on the road, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and riding her Harley.
Kellylynn McLaughlin
Kellylynn McLaughlin brings more than a decade of professional driving experience across multiple sectors of the industry. Her background includes dry van operations, driver training, equine transportation, and over-the-road hazardous materials hauling with Clean Harbors Environmental Services.
Earlier in her career, she served as the first Driver Ambassador for Women In Trucking. In that role, she traveled across the country speaking about the role drivers play in the economy and encouraging more people to consider trucking careers.
Before entering the industry, McLaughlin earned a degree from Oklahoma State University, served in the Peace Corps, and worked internationally for a nonprofit organization.
She continues to advocate for professional drivers by sharing industry perspectives through speaking engagements, interviews, and advisory work.
Her involvement includes participation in several industry groups, such as the FMCSA Women of Trucking Advisory Board, the TAT Advisory Council, and the Travel Centers of America Women’s Safety Advisory Panel.
The 2026 Driver of the Year announcement later this month will highlight one of these four finalists whose work behind the wheel and within the industry continues to shape the future of trucking.
