Medline’s private trucking fleet, MedTrans, recognized nine drivers at its fourth annual National Truck Rodeo, bringing together competitors from across the country to demonstrate their driving skills and commitment to safety.
The competition followed a series of local and regional events held throughout 2026, with finalists advancing to compete in three vehicle categories: Class A trucks, Class B trucks, and parcel delivery trucks. Each category awarded cash prizes to its top three finishers.
The event also highlighted the experience within MedTrans’ workforce, with winners ranging from a driver who joined the company less than a year ago to veterans with more than three decades behind the wheel.
National Winners Take Home $15,000 in Prize Money
The national competition awarded $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second, and $1,000 for third in each of the three categories.
Gerald Britt of Olive Branch, Mississippi, earned the Class A championship. Britt has more than 38 years of professional driving experience and was competing in his second MedTrans rodeo. He described the victory as an unforgettable accomplishment after nearly four decades on the road.
Jose Ortiz of Modesto, California, finished second. Ortiz has driven professionally for more than 30 years, including eight with MedTrans. Third place went to Harold Thornton of Richmond, Virginia, who has six years of driving experience and has worked for the company for three years.
In the Class B division, Timothy Fuller of Attleboro, Massachusetts, claimed first place. Fuller began his professional driving career in the early 1990s and has spent nearly eight years with MedTrans. He credited the company’s training and support from colleagues for helping him prepare for the competition.
Hector Mares of Denver placed second in his third appearance at the rodeo, while Phillip Alongi of Kansas City, Missouri, took third. Alongi has 11 years of professional driving experience and six years with Medline.
Newer Driver Earns Top Honors in Parcel Division
The parcel truck competition produced a first-place finish for Roy Aguilar of Gresham, Oregon, who joined MedTrans just 10 months before the event.
Aguilar said the experience strengthened his confidence and encouraged him to pursue a Class A license as the next step in his driving career.
Randall Lloyd of Graham, North Carolina, finished second. With 37 years of professional driving experience, Lloyd described the recognition as an opportunity to be acknowledged among the company’s safest drivers.
Third place went to Robert Hoefer of Mayview, Missouri, who has spent four of his 17 years in professional driving with MedTrans.
The range of experience among the parcel winners was one of the event’s notable results, placing a relatively new employee alongside two longtime professionals on the national podium.
Regional Competitions Lead to National Finals
MedTrans began its rodeo program with local competitions at Medline’s 45 U.S. distribution centers. Regional events followed, giving employees and their families opportunities to participate in the celebrations.
Drivers who won their regional categories received $1,500 and advanced to the national competition, where they competed for additional prize money.
The annual event is part of Medline’s employee recognition program for its private fleet of more than 2,100 drivers. The Northfield, Illinois-based company distributes medical and surgical supplies to healthcare facilities throughout the country and reports that its transportation network supports next-day delivery to 95% of its U.S. customers.
Jeff Brennan, Medline’s vice president of transportation, said the competition recognizes the skills drivers demonstrate in their daily work while giving teams an opportunity to learn from one another.
“The National Truck Rodeo gives us an opportunity to recognize the skill and commitment to safety our drivers demonstrate every day,” Brennan said.
Now in its fourth year, the competition continues to recognize employees across different vehicle classes, with the 2026 winners representing nine communities nationwide.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: November 2, 2026
Source: Truckers News
Image Source: Medline, Truckers News
