Five military veterans who transitioned into trucking careers were named finalists for the 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award, marking the largest finalist group in the program’s history.
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
