The Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) took the opportunity to honor remarkable safety and maintenance leaders at its Annual Awards Ceremony. Held on August 1 at the illustrious La Cantera Resort and Spa in San Antonio during TXTA’s Annual Conference, the event was a testament to the dedication within the trucking sector.
John D. Esparza, TXTA President and CEO, lauded the awardees, stating, “The individuals and organizations honored at TXTA’s Annual Safety and Maintenance Luncheon exemplify excellence in the trucking industry. “Their dedication to ensuring the safe operation of trucks daily is crucial to maintaining an efficient supply chain. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment to both the industry and safety standards.”
Honorees of 2023
TXTA Driver of the Year
- Eddie Camacho, HEB, the prestigious TXTA Driver of the Year Award highlights the exemplary performance of Texas truck drivers, evaluated on criteria such as accident-free miles, consistent road behavior, and experience. The winning driver competes at the national level as TXTA’s representative.
Truck Driving Championship Highlights
- State Grand Champion: Matthew Logan Montandon, FedEx Ground
- Flatbed Winner: Ruben Cortez, HEB
- Step Van: Matthew Logan Montandon, FedEx Ground
- Sleeper Berth: Juan Carrillo, FedEx Ground
- Straight Truck: Clint Anderson, FedEx Express
- Tank Truck: Randolph Gamez, HEB
- Twin Trailers: Christopher Flippin, FedEx Freight
- 5-Axle Van: Andres Garcia, FedEx Freight
- 4-Axle Van: Mario Gonzales, Jr., HEB
- 3-Axle Van: Olamide Olayiwola, FedEx Freight
Honoring Safety Excellence
- Distinguished Safety Award: Alan Riddick, TNT Crane & Rigging. This award recognizes individuals for their exceptional commitment to fleet safety, showcasing remarkable leadership and dedication to ensuring safe practices on the road.
TXTA Truck Safety Contest Champions
- Grand Champion: Groendyke Transport
- First place in Intercity under 2.5 million miles: W.M. Dewey & Son, Inc.
- First place Intercity 2.5-5 million miles: Grammer Logistic
- First place Intercity 5-10 million miles: Groendyke Transport
- First place Intercity over 20 million miles: Walmart Transportation
- First place Local Under 1 million miles: W.M. Dewey & Son, Inc.
- First place Local 5 to 10 million miles: Groendyke Transport
- First place Local Over 10 million miles: Chalk Mountain Services of Texas, LLC
This contest acknowledges TXTA member companies demonstrating professional driving standards as evidenced by their outstanding accident frequency records.
Celebrating Technicians in 2024
Sponsored by Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies and Yokohama Tires Corp.
Top 5 Technicians:
- 1st Place: Corey Tegeler, Old Dominion Freight Lines
- 2nd Place: Willie Bean II, Love’s Travel Stops
- 3rd Place: Rudy Laguna, HEB
- 4th Place: Chris Gerrald, Top Guys Diesel
- 5th Place: Brandon McNeill, Old Dominion Freight Lines
Source: Truckers News
