Pilot has opened nominations for its 2026 Road Warrior contest, giving one professional truck driver the chance to receive a customized Kenworth W990 and $50,000.
Nominations opened September 1 and will remain open through September 18. The contest is part of Pilot’s Driver Appreciation Month activities taking place throughout September.
Road Warrior Winner Will Receive a Custom Kenworth W990
This year’s winner will receive a Kenworth W990 customized by the Diesel Brothers. The truck features a 52-inch flat top sleeper with a Diamond VIT interior and is powered by a PACCAR MX-13 engine producing 510 horsepower and 1,850 lb-ft of torque through a PACCAR TX-18 transmission.
The truck will be awarded along with a $50,000 cash prize. Pilot plans to announce the 2026 Road Warrior winner in October.
Nominations Focus on Safety and Service
Pilot is looking for professional drivers who demonstrate professionalism, safety, and service. The nomination form asks for information about the driver’s safe miles, awards or recognitions, military service, and contributions to their community or the trucking industry.
Both the person submitting the nomination and the nominated driver must be at least 18 years old and U.S. residents. Nominations can be submitted through Pilot’s Road Warrior contest page through September 18.
Last Year’s Winner Logged More Than 5 Million Safe Miles
The 2025 Road Warrior award went to Stacy Batiste of Lafayette, Louisiana. The Marine Corps veteran was selected from thousands of nominations after accumulating more than 5.1 million accident-free miles during a 33-year trucking career.
Batiste was nominated by longtime friend Kenneth Clay and received a customized Kenworth along with $50,000. Pilot said his record also included mentoring other professional drivers during his career.
Pilot Adds September Rewards for Professional Drivers
Pilot is also offering weekly Driver Appreciation Month rewards through its app. Professional drivers can receive three free drinks and one select snack each week during the promotion by saving the available offers to their professional driver myRewards account.
The offers are available at participating U.S. Pilot, Flying J, and One9 locations. Pilot is also holding events at select travel centers with giveaways, samples, and other promotions throughout the month.
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 8, 2026
Source: The Trucker
Image Source: Pilot
