The finalists were announced Sept. 23 at Kenworth’s manufacturing plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, after an unusual three-way tie expanded the field beyond the three drivers typically selected. One of the five will ultimately receive a new Kenworth T680, with the winner scheduled to be announced Dec. 14 at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Meet the Five Finalists

The 2026 finalists are Mo Arzola of Patriot Group International, Monica Brooks-Buck of Werner Enterprises, Daniel Doss of Melton Truck Lines, Brandon Ward of Werner Enterprises and Gary Williams of Stevens Transport.

Arzola, Brooks-Buck and Doss initially received scores that placed them in the final round. Fastport President Brad Bentley then announced that the judges’ scoring had resulted in a three-way tie, adding Ward and Williams to the group.

Ties have expanded the finalist field to four in previous years, but the 2026 results created the first five-person finalist group in the award’s 11-year history.

The finalists were selected from this year’s Elite 11 semifinalists, all of whom are military veterans who moved into civilian careers in trucking.

From the Elite 11 to the Final Five

The 2026 selection process began in March when nominations opened to employers and commercial driver training schools. The field was narrowed to 11 semifinalists in August before the judges selected the finalists.

Before the finalist announcement, members of the Elite 11 gathered Sept. 22 at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, for a tour and evening banquet. The following day, they traveled to Kenworth’s Chillicothe plant, where they toured the production facility before the Final Five were announced.

The Driving for Excellence Award was launched in 2015 through a partnership between Kenworth, Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program. The annual program recognizes military veterans who have successfully transitioned into careers as professional truck drivers.

Public Voting Opens in October

The five finalists will now move into the final stage of the competition ahead of the December announcement.

Public voting will be part of the selection process, with voting expected to open in October. Additional details will be posted through Transition Trucking when voting becomes available.

The 2026 winner will be announced Dec. 14 at West Point and receive the keys to a new Kenworth T680.

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: September 29, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: Greg Thompson, The Trucker

The post Five Veteran Drivers Named Finalists for 2026 Transition Trucking Award appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Al-Kadhim, who lives in Macomb, Michigan, was selected in recognition of his military service, work in trucking and continued involvement with organizations supporting veterans and military families.

From Military Service to Trucking

Before immigrating to the United States, Al-Kadhim worked as an interpreter and translator alongside U.S. Marine Corps and Army units during combat operations.

After becoming a U.S. citizen, he enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard and trained as a truck driver. He later built a career as a commercial driver and trainer, with a focus on preparing professional drivers for work on the road.

His experience behind the wheel eventually led to plans for a trucking business of his own, and the Cascadia will provide the equipment needed to begin taking that next step.

“What started as a passion for giving back to my community from behind the wheel can now be turned into providing me with the tools to build my own business,” Al-Kadhim said.

Keys to Progress Provides the Truck

Progressive awarded the Freightliner through Keys to Progress, a vehicle donation program that supports veterans and veteran-focused organizations.

Karen Bailo, president of Progressive Commercial Lines, said Al-Kadhim’s military service and work since leaving active service contributed to his selection for the program.

Several organizations also participated in the donation process. Velocity assisted through its commercial vehicle network, while 1-800-Charity Cars provided support with the vehicle donation, title, and registration process. Insurance Auto Auctions and veteran-owned Veracity Research Co. Investigations also contributed to the program, including assistance with recipient selection.

For Al-Kadhim, the truck provides a way to move from working as an experienced commercial driver and trainer toward operating a business of his own.

“I am deeply grateful to Progressive for believing in me and allowing me to pursue my dream of owning my own trucking business,” he said.

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: September 23, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: Progressive, Truckers News

The post Michigan Truck Driver Receives Freightliner to Help Launch His Own Business appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Now, the creation has made its way into the Museum of the City of New York. The exhibit, titled “He Built This City,” opened in February and will remain on display through Oct. 12.

A Childhood Idea Took Shape Decades Later

Macken’s interest in recreating the city began when he was a child growing up in Queens. During an elementary school trip, he visited the Queens Museum and saw the Panorama of the City of New York, a massive scale model created for the 1964-1965 World’s Fair.

He did not begin building his own version until his 40s, after moving with his family from Long Island to the Albany area.

Starting with Rockefeller Center, Macken gradually expanded across Midtown Manhattan and eventually into all five boroughs, as well as parts of New Jersey and Long Island. Midtown alone took about 10 years to complete, while the Empire State Building proved particularly difficult because Macken wanted to capture the details of its Art Deco design.

Despite the scale of the finished project, he had no professional background in architecture, design, or model building. Most of the structures were created from basic balsa wood and foam board purchased from hobby stores.

More Than 800,000 Structures Fill the Model

The finished city spans more than 300 large foam boards that connect like puzzle pieces. Each inch represents approximately 160 feet, allowing Macken to recreate everything from Manhattan skyscrapers to single-family homes in Queens.

Major landmarks include the Statue of Liberty, Yankee Stadium and the Brooklyn Bridge, but the model also reflects Macken’s personal memories of New York.

Some parts intentionally preserve places that no longer exist. A childhood diner remains in Queens despite a high-rise now occupying the site, while the former Kosciuszko Bridge still connects Brooklyn and Queens. Macken also included both the original World Trade Center towers and newer buildings constructed in Lower Manhattan.

Those choices turned the project into something more personal than a precise recreation of the city at one point in time, blending present-day New York with places Macken remembered from earlier in his life.

A Hobby Followed Him Beyond the Basement

As the project expanded, Macken devoted much of his free time to it. He brought building materials on family trips to the New Jersey shore and worked on pieces during downtime while driving a bus on weekends.

Over time, the process became considerably faster. Buildings that initially took hours became familiar enough for Macken to construct much more efficiently as his experience grew.

Even after decades of work, completing the model was never his primary motivation. Macken said he enjoyed the building process itself and rarely thought about when the project might finally be finished.

TikTok Put the Project in Front of Millions

The model remained largely a private creation until Macken’s daughter encouraged him to share it on TikTok. Videos of the miniature city quickly gained attention, receiving more than 10 million views in a single week.

The Museum of the City of New York discovered the project through those videos and contacted Macken about displaying it publicly.

Visitors to the exhibit can now walk around the enormous model and use provided binoculars to search for neighborhoods, landmarks, and other familiar places throughout the miniature city.

When the exhibit closes in October, Macken hopes the model will find another place to be displayed. He is not finished building, either, with plans to add more than 50 structures and expand farther into New Jersey and Long Island.

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: September 23, 2026

Source: The Trucker

The post Truck Driver’s Massive Model of New York City Lands in Museum Exhibit appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The options remain limited, and services differ considerably from one clinic to another. For drivers traveling through parts of Florida and Virginia, however, there are currently several locations where an appointment or walk-in visit can be handled without finding somewhere else to leave the truck.

Drivers Health Clinic in Wildwood, Florida

Drivers Health Clinic operates inside the TA Travel Center at 556 E. State Road 44 in Wildwood, just off I-75. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., accepts walk-ins, and has access to the travel center’s truck parking.

Services at the Wildwood location include DOT physicals, urine drug testing, breath alcohol testing, HbA1c testing, drug and alcohol consortium membership, and medical weight-management services. Because appointments are not required during regular weekday hours, drivers have some flexibility to fit a visit around when they will actually be passing through the area.

The location specifically accommodates big rigs, eliminating the parking issue that can make an otherwise convenient medical office difficult to use with a tractor-trailer.

Drivers Health Clinic in Lake City, Florida

The provider’s second location, Drivers Health Clinic in Lake City, operates inside the TA Travel Center at 14197 S. U.S. Highway 441. Located near I-75 and I-10 in northern Florida, the clinic follows the same Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule as Wildwood.

Walk-ins are accepted, and current services include DOT physicals, urine drug testing, breath alcohol testing, HbA1c testing, consortium membership, and medical weight-management services. Ample truck parking is available at the TA, with the clinic specifically noting that big rigs are welcome.

Both Florida locations share the same phone number, so drivers looking for a particular service can confirm availability before deciding which stop works better with their route.

MobiHealthUSA in Ashland, Virginia

Drivers traveling I-95 north of Richmond have a broader healthcare option at Mobile Health USA,  located inside the TA Travel Center at 10134 Lewistown Road in Ashland, Virginia, near Exit 89.

In addition to DOT and non-DOT physicals and drug testing, MobiHealthUSA provides acute sick visits for minor illnesses including colds, sore throats, and urinary tract infections. The practice also offers direct primary care memberships for patients who want ongoing access to primary care rather than a single occupational-health visit.

Hours vary throughout the week, while Saturday and Sunday visits are available by appointment. Truck parking is available at the TA, allowing drivers to reach the clinic without arranging transportation from a separate parking location.

Planning a Medical Stop During a Run

The biggest difference among these clinics is not simply where they are located, but what can be handled once a driver gets there. The Florida locations concentrate heavily on DOT physicals and occupational services, while MobiHealthUSA adds basic sick visits and ongoing primary care.

That makes it important to match the stop to the reason for the visit. A medical card renewal or drug test may be available on a walk-in basis in Florida, while treatment for an illness requires a provider offering broader medical care. Services such as vaccinations should be confirmed directly because they are not consistently listed among the current offerings at these locations.

Hours can also change, and availability for a particular service may differ from the clinic’s general business hours. Checking the provider’s current schedule before building the visit into a route can help determine whether the stop will actually work that day.

For drivers outside these areas, the same approach can make other medical appointments easier to manage. Looking for a provider near a travel center, large commercial parking area, or other truck-accessible property can narrow the search before an appointment is booked. When a DOT physical is involved, the examiner also needs to be currently listed on FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do truck stop clinics require appointments?

It depends on the provider. Drivers Health Clinic currently accepts walk-ins at both Wildwood and Lake City from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. MobiHealthUSA publishes weekday clinic hours and offers weekend visits by appointment.

What should drivers bring for a DOT physical?

Requirements can depend on medical history, but drivers should expect to bring their driver’s license, current medication information, and any medical documentation relevant to the examination. Drivers Health Clinic also recommends bringing a CDL, valid photo ID, and applicable records for items such as glasses or hearing aids.

MobiHealthUSA provides more detailed preparation requirements for certain medical conditions, including documentation related to CPAP use, diabetes, and some cardiac conditions. Checking those requirements before arriving can prevent an exam from being delayed because records are missing.

How long does a DOT physical take?

Drivers Health Clinic says most DOT physicals at its Florida locations are completed in under an hour, although the actual visit can take longer when additional documentation or evaluation is required.

Can drug testing be completed during the same stop?

Both Drivers Health Clinic locations currently offer urine drug testing in addition to DOT physicals, and walk-ins are accepted during regular business hours. MobiHealthUSA also offers DOT and non-DOT drug testing at its Ashland location.

Are these clinics only for DOT physicals?

No. The services depend on the provider. Drivers Health Clinic offers several occupational and health-related services beyond physicals, while MobiHealthUSA also treats some minor illnesses and provides direct primary care.

Do truck stop clinics accept insurance?

Payment policies vary by clinic and by the type of visit. Drivers Health Clinic notes that DOT physicals are typically not covered by insurance and directs drivers to contact the clinic for current pricing. Drivers seeking other medical services should confirm insurance and payment policies directly with the provider before the visit.

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: September 15, 2026

The post Your Guide to Truck Stop Clinics Offering DOT Physicals and Medical Services appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Offline access matters, too. Downloading a book before heading out means a weak signal doesn’t interrupt it halfway through a chapter. With Audible, Libby, Spotify, and Everand all offering offline listening, the better comparison comes down to how many books you can get, what happens when you hit a limit, and how much you’re paying each month.

Audible Is Better for Long Books You Want to Keep

Audible Premium costs $14.95 per month and includes one credit each month. That credit can be used on a title from Audible’s full collection regardless of the audiobook’s length or listed price, and the book remains in the account after the membership is canceled.

That makes the credit particularly useful for longer titles. A book with a 30-hour runtime still uses one credit, so there is no need to ration listening time or stop midway through the month. Premium also includes access to Audible’s separate Plus Catalog without using the monthly credit.

Audible Standard costs $8.99 per month and includes one monthly selection, but the terms are different. Access to that selection lasts only while the membership remains active, and unused selections do not roll over.

Both plans support offline downloads. Premium costs more, but the ability to keep credit purchases makes the difference more meaningful for anyone building a collection rather than simply looking for something new to play each month.

Libby Is Worth Checking Before Paying for a Book

A library card may already provide access to thousands of audiobooks through Libby. There is no subscription fee, and borrowed titles can be downloaded to the app before leaving Wi-Fi.

The catch is availability. Libby does not have one national collection because each participating library buys and manages its own digital catalog. Loan periods, hold limits, and the number of books that can be checked out at once also vary by library.

That can make a difference when lining up the next few books before a trip. Available titles can be downloaded and ready to go, but a popular release with a long hold list is not much help when you want to start it today.

For books that are available, however, Libby is difficult to beat on price. It also pairs well with a paid service rather than necessarily replacing one. Borrow what’s available and save the paid subscription for books the library doesn’t have or can’t provide soon enough.

Spotify Is Useful Until a Long Book Eats Up the Monthly Hours

Spotify Premium Individual includes 15 hours of audiobook listening each billing cycle. Eligible Duo and Family plans also include audiobook time for the plan manager.

The limitation becomes obvious with longer titles. Start a 22-hour audiobook with a fresh monthly allowance, and the included hours will run out before the book does. Spotify offers additional listening time, but buying extra hours changes the cost of finishing the title.

Unused audiobook hours also do not carry into the next billing period. For someone already paying for Spotify for music and podcasts, the included time can still be a good way to work shorter audiobooks into the rotation without another subscription.

Before starting a longer book, checking its runtime is worthwhile. Fifteen hours goes much further with a nine-hour thriller than a 30-hour biography.

Everand Gives Frequent Listeners More Monthly Choices

Everand uses monthly unlocks rather than Spotify’s hourly allowance or Audible’s traditional credit model.

Standard costs $11.99 per month and provides one unlock. Plus increases that to three for $16.99, while Deluxe includes five for $28.99. The plans also include a separate collection of books, audiobooks, and podcasts that can be accessed without using an unlock.

The three- and five-unlock options are where Everand becomes more interesting for someone regularly finishing multiple books. There is no need to stretch one monthly selection across the entire billing period when several titles are included in the plan.

There is an important difference from Audible, though. Everand unlocks provide access while the subscription remains active. Audible books purchased with Premium credits stay in the member’s library after cancellation.

Everand supports offline downloads, so several books can be loaded onto a phone ahead of a run rather than depending on cellular service along the way.

How the Audiobook Apps Compare

Which One Gives You the Most Listening for Your Money?

Libby is the easiest place to start because checking the library costs nothing. If the books you want are available, they can be downloaded and queued without adding another monthly bill.

Audible Premium has an advantage with long titles and new releases you want immediately. One credit covers the entire audiobook, and there is no penalty for choosing a 30-hour book instead of one that lasts eight. Spotify works almost the opposite way: its included hours are useful for shorter books, but runtime becomes important as soon as a title approaches the monthly limit.

Everand is more competitive for someone moving through several books a month, particularly at its three- and five-unlock levels. It also works well for anyone switching between ebooks and audio rather than using a service exclusively for listening.

Using more than one app can make more sense than trying to find a single winner. Check Libby first, use Spotify’s included hours when a book fits within them, and save a paid audiobook credit for something unavailable at the library or long enough to make an hourly allowance impractical.

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: September 14, 2026

The post Comparing the Best Audiobook Apps for Truck Drivers appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Some of those habits have a clear connection to commercial driver training. Truck drivers learn to scan well ahead, check their mirrors frequently, signal and brake early, plan routes around road and weather conditions, and pay close attention to height and weight restrictions. Judging by the responses from our community, those practices can be difficult to switch off once the workday ends.

The Mirrors Are Still Getting Checked

Several drivers said frequent mirror checks have become automatic, even when they are driving a personal vehicle. Brian Piper summed up his preference as “Mirrors over backup cameras every time,” while Dave Ripley said he finds himself “constantly looking in my mirrors.”

That habit comes straight from the demands of operating a large vehicle. FMCSA advises commercial drivers to check their mirrors every eight to 10 seconds to stay aware of vehicles entering blind spots, with additional checks before changing lanes, turning or merging.

Drivers Are Looking Farther Down the Road

The view through the windshield changes after spending years driving professionally. Debra Cullimore said she likes to “always know what’s happening a mile down the road,” while Shannon Yoder watches traffic three cars ahead and Lee Cavanagh is “always looking ahead for an out.”

Truck drivers learn to scan well beyond the vehicle immediately in front of them. Looking farther ahead gives a driver more time to spot changing traffic, work zones, and other hazards before they require a sudden reaction.

A Car Can Still Feel Like It Has a Trailer

Wide turns were one of the most recognizable habits in the responses. Jeremy Ivany said he catches himself “making wide turns in my 4 wheeler,” and Baswell Bobbie Jo said she still looks for a trailer in the rearview mirror while making wide turns in her car.

The extra room is necessary in a tractor-trailer because large vehicles have a much wider turning radius than passenger cars. Once that judgment becomes second nature, switching to a much shorter vehicle does not always convince the brain that the trailer stayed behind.

Backing In Becomes the Default

Chad Wolters said, “I back into every parking spot,” while Dima A Grig combines backing into spaces with another trucking habit: arriving early everywhere. Renate Caldwell takes a slightly different approach and looks for pull-through parking spots whenever possible.

For drivers accustomed to maneuvering a tractor-trailer into docks and tight parking areas, the way a parking space is approached can become something they think about before the vehicle ever stops. Annie Allen said she even catches herself passing warehouses and distribution centers and judging the available backing room, noticing whether a dock looks tight or has plenty of space.

Bridge Heights and Road Signs Are Hard to Ignore

Truck drivers cannot treat every road as suitable for their vehicle, and that awareness can remain even when clearance is no longer a concern. Adam Ferris said he still watches bridge heights, while Trish West said she reads road signs at home and notices both “no truck” signs and posted bridge heights.

There is good reason for that attention on the job. Commercial routes can include low-clearance structures, weight restrictions and roads where trucks are prohibited, making signs and route conditions something drivers learn to watch closely.

The Truck Is Gone, but the Shifter Apparently Is Not

Some habits are pure muscle memory. Orly Ramirez said he is “always looking for a clutch” regardless of the vehicle, while Lou Dombrowski said that when he starts his car, he still reaches over for the sticks and puts his left foot toward a clutch that is not there.

Charlene Becker has a similar list of habits that followed her into a personal vehicle, including expecting the Jake brake to engage when she lets off the throttle and reaching for the brake knobs instead of putting the vehicle in park. Those reactions may no longer match the vehicle being driven, but years of reaching for the same controls can make it happen before there is time to think about it.

Early Braking and Early Lane Changes Stick Around Too

The extra space required to stop and maneuver a truck also showed up repeatedly in the comments. Bryan Benjamin Pierce said he hits the brakes early even in his personal pickup, while Lorraine Storey said she slows well before a stop sign and activates her turn signal about half a block ahead.

Lance Poole still moves into the lane he needs about half a mile ahead of time when driving his pickup. Early braking, signaling, and lane positioning are all habits that give a driver more time and space to maneuver a large vehicle.

Some Habits Have Nothing to Do with Driving

Not every answer involved what happens behind the wheel. Bill Dunn said trucking gave him “an amazing ability to pack up everything I need for a week in under 20 minutes,” a skill that makes sense after repeatedly preparing to spend days away from home.

Ron Householder said being on time or early for appointments followed him beyond trucking, along with the patience to wait once he gets there. Bobby McQueen had another familiar side effect of years on the road: passing warehouses and telling his wife, “I delivered there!”

Taken together, the responses show how much of professional driving becomes automatic with time. Long after the truck is parked, drivers may still be checking mirrors, reading bridge heights, planning several moves, and wondering whether they could back into a dock they have absolutely no reason to enter.

If you want to join more conversations like this, follow the Truck Drivers USA Facebook community and share your own take with drivers from across the country.

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: September 3, 2026

The post Trucking Habits That Follow Drivers Long After They Leave the Cab appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

CHP Helps Mark the Milestone

CHP officers at the Cottonwood facility, located along Interstate 5 in Northern California, joined the celebration for Mitchell. Walmart employees, local first responders, and members of the chamber of commerce were also there to recognize the longtime driver.

The setting made the recognition especially fitting, with the celebration taking place at a facility dedicated to commercial vehicle enforcement and highway safety.

A Career Milestone on the Road

Four million accident-free miles is a career achievement few drivers reach. For Mitchell, the milestone marked years spent covering the road for Walmart Transportation without an accident.

The Cottonwood CHP shared the occasion as a chance to recognize Mitchell and his accomplishment, bringing together people from both the trucking community and the surrounding area to celebrate with him.

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: September 3, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: CHP

The post Walmart Driver Celebrates 4 Million Accident-Free Miles in California appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Who Can Be Nominated

The award is open to professional drivers and diesel technicians under 30 who demonstrate strong safety performance, professionalism, career growth, leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to their work. Nominees do not need to hold management positions or have lengthy industry experience to be considered.

After nominations close, a selection committee made up of trucking industry leaders will review the submissions. Selected nominees will be named NEXT Top Talent Finalists, with one professional driver and one diesel technician ultimately chosen as Grand Champions. The finalists and Grand Champions are scheduled to be announced October 27.

Last Year’s Award Recognized 56 Finalists

The program launched in 2025 and recognized 56 professional drivers and diesel technicians from carriers, regional fleets, local operations and maintenance organizations across the country.

Isaiah Hicks-Dixon of Old Dominion Freight Line was named the inaugural Grand Champion Professional Driver after beginning his career with the company as a dock worker in 2019 and later moving into linehaul driving. Joe Reed of Kenan Advantage Group was selected as the Grand Champion Diesel Technician after advancing to the position of Shop Foreman for KAG Energy in North Canton, Ohio.

Finalists Receive Company Recognition

In addition to the national recognition, finalists receive personalized banners featuring their photo and company logo that can be displayed at terminals, shops and other workplaces. Next Generation in Trucking said some of the banners from last year remain on display at participating companies.

The 2026 NEXT Top Talent Award is sponsored by Fullbay and Advanced Training Systems. Companies can submit nominations through the Next Generation in Trucking Association beginning September 1, with the nomination period closing October 9.

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: September 3, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: Next Gen Trucking

The post NEXT Top Talent Award Opens Nominations for Trucking Professionals Under 30 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The annual award honors a commercial driver who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to highway safety, professionalism and excellence throughout their career.

Cash will be recognized during the CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, where he is scheduled to receive the award on Sept. 23.

More Than 3.6 Million Crash-Free Miles

According to CVSA, Cash has accumulated more than 3.6 million crash-free miles during his professional driving career while hauling a wide range of freight, including fuel, refrigerated products, flatbed freight and bulk commodities.

For the past 23 years, 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.

Cash is one of only 36 drivers in the United States authorized to transport transuranic radioactive waste from Department of Energy sites to the WIPP facility, a role that requires an extensive background review and an exceptional safety record.

Extensive Level VI Inspection Record

Transporting radioactive materials also means operating under one of the trucking industry’s most rigorous inspection programs.

During the past three years, Cash has completed more than 195 CVSA Level VI inspections. Those inspections are conducted before a shipment begins and require the driver, vehicle, and cargo to meet strict safety standards before being allowed on the road.

Cash estimates he has completed well over 1,000 Level VI inspections during his time working in the WIPP program.

Mentor and Leader Within the Industry

In addition to his driving responsibilities, Cash serves as a senior lead driver within the WIPP program, where he helps evaluate applicants, trains newly hired drivers, and mentors other professional drivers.

Mike Savage, director of safety for CAST Specialty Transportation, said Cash’s performance has helped raise expectations throughout the company.

“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.

CVSA President Maj. Erick McGuire of the Florida Highway Patrol also praised Cash’s long-standing commitment to safety and mentorship, saying his career reflects the highest standards of professionalism within the commercial motor vehicle industry.

A Career Built on Safety

Cash said he was honored to learn he had been selected for this year’s International Driver Excellence Award.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I was very happy, very pleased and, of course, very honored.”

When asked what advice he would offer other professional drivers, Cash emphasized the importance of maintaining awareness.

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

In addition to this latest recognition, Cash has previously been named CAST Specialty Transportation’s Driver of the Year and was recognized earlier this year as one of the Truckload Carriers Association’s 2026 Professional Drivers of the Year.

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 28, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: CAST Transportation, The Trucker

The post CAST Specialty Driver Tommy Cash Receives 2026 International Driver Excellence Award appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

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

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