The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has named Tommy Cash of CAST Specialty Transportation Inc. as the recipient of the 2026 International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA), recognizing his more than four decades of safe driving, commitment to mentoring fellow drivers, and more than 3.6 million crash-free miles.

Cash will be honored during the CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando in September, where he will receive a $5,000 award and a crystal trophy during the organization’s awards luncheon on Sept. 23.

The annual International Driver Excellence Award recognizes a professional commercial motor vehicle driver who demonstrates exceptional commitment to highway safety, professionalism and career achievement.

More Than Two Decades Transporting Radioactive Waste

Throughout his driving career, Cash has hauled a wide variety of freight, including fuel, milk, refrigerated freight, flatbed loads and bulk commodities. For the past 23 years, however, he has specialized in transporting legacy radioactive waste for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) program near Carlsbad, New Mexico.

The WIPP facility is the nation’s only permanent repository for transuranic radioactive waste generated through U.S. atomic energy defense activities. According to CVSA, Cash is one of just 36 professional drivers in the United States authorized to transport those shipments between Department of Energy facilities and the WIPP site.

Selection for the role requires an exceptional driving record and extensive background screening because of the highly regulated nature of the cargo.

More Than 1,000 Level VI Inspections

Transporting radioactive materials also subjects drivers to one of the trucking industry’s most rigorous inspection programs.

During the past three years alone, Cash has completed more than 195 CVSA Level VI inspections. Unlike standard roadside inspections, Level VI inspections are conducted before radioactive shipments begin their trip and include detailed examinations of the driver, vehicle, and cargo. Any defect must be corrected before the shipment is allowed to proceed.

Cash estimates he has completed well over 1,000 Level VI inspections during his 23 years transporting radioactive waste.

A Career Built on Mentorship

In addition to his driving responsibilities, Cash serves as a senior lead driver within the WIPP program, where he evaluates driver applicants, conducts road tests, trains newly hired drivers and mentors fellow professional drivers.

CVSA said his willingness to share knowledge and help develop future drivers was an important factor in this year’s selection.

“Mr. Cash represents the very best of the commercial motor vehicle industry,” CVSA President Maj. Erick McGuire of the Florida Highway Patrol said in announcing the award. “His extraordinary career reflects an unwavering commitment to safety, professionalism and mentorship. More than four decades of crash-free driving, millions of safe miles, and his willingness to share his knowledge with new and incoming professional drivers make him the perfect person to receive the International Driver Excellence Award.”

Mike Savage, director of safety for CAST Specialty Transportation, said Cash’s performance has helped shape the company’s hiring and training programs.

“In fact, Tommy has set the bar so high that we’ve had to adapt hiring and training standards further to keep up with his superior performance,” Savage said.

Advice for the Next Generation of Drivers

Cash credited much of his success to the people who trained him early in his career.

“I was taught by great teachers,” he said after learning he had been selected for the award.

When asked what advice he would give other professional drivers, Cash emphasized maintaining awareness beyond the immediate area around the truck.

“Be aware not just of what’s right in front of your truck, but what’s ahead of your truck — further down the road — and what’s going on behind your truck too,” he said.

Outside of trucking, Cash supports the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and participates in the Department of Energy’s WIPP community outreach program, helping educate communities and first responders about the transportation of radioactive waste.

His previous honors include being named CAST Specialty Transportation’s Driver of the Year and earning recognition as one of the Truckload Carriers Association’s 2026 Professional Drivers of the Year.

The 2026 International Driver Excellence Award is sponsored by PrePass Safety Alliance. Nominations for the 2027 award are expected to open in spring 2027.

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: August 24, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: CVSA