The recognition took place during ATA’s 2026 Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition. The winners were recognized at ATA’s 2026 Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition Awards Banquet sponsored by Tenstreet.

The focus wasn’t just on policies or paperwork. The spotlight was on real-world performance, fleets logging millions of miles, drivers maintaining strong safety records, and organizations building habits that reduce risk on the road and in the yard.

Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO, said, “Safety and security in trucking are at the core of everything we do. They are what keep operations running smoothly and, even more important, protect every driver on the road. The professionals in this space play a critical role in the industry’s success. For many, it becomes a long-term commitment to continuously improve standards and prevent risk. At the end of the day, their work goes beyond compliance. They are actively helping to save lives every time a truck travels our roadways.”

Fleets Recognized for Mileage-Based Safety

Awards were handed out based on miles traveled, highlighting carriers that maintained strong safety performance at different operating scales:

• Over 100 million miles: A. Duie Pyle Inc.
• Between 25 and 100 million miles: Red Classic
• Under 25 million miles: Alaska West Express

These categories reflect how safety performance is measured across fleets of different sizes, not just the largest operations.

Individual and Association Honors

The event also recognized standout performance beyond fleet operations.

• 2025 National Driver of the Year: Don Carpenter of Old Dominion Freight Lines
• 2025 Excellence in Safety: Tennessee Trucking Association

Jacob Pierce, executive director of the council, said, “We’re thrilled to honor this year’s recipients. Each plays a key role in building a safer, more resilient culture throughout our industry. From motor carriers to state association leaders and drivers on the road, their commitment is vital to promoting safety, and we deeply appreciate their hard work.”

Why It Matters on the Road

Awards like these point to something bigger than a single event. They reflect how safety shows up day to day, in maintenance checks, decision-making behind the wheel, and how companies handle risk before it turns into a problem.

Recognition programs also set a benchmark. Fleets and drivers can see what strong performance looks like and where the bar is being set across the industry.

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Sponsored by DMC Insurance, the award highlights a single professional driver whose career reflects consistent safety, responsibility, and long-term leadership behind the wheel. ATA explained that the finalists come from a group of state-level Drivers of the Year submitted by their affiliated state trucking associations. “Each candidate’s qualifications and achievements are examined by a group of professional industry judges who narrow down the nominees to a group of finalists,” ATA said.

For drivers out on the road, these finalists represent the kind of steady professionalism and clean records that everyone in the cab can appreciate.

The 2025 Finalists

Steve Brand
With 36 years on the road and 29 of them at FedEx Freight, Brand has stacked up more than 4.8 million accident-free miles. He’s active with America’s Road Team, the FedEx Freight Road Team, and serves as an Ambassador for Truckers Against Trafficking. He was also named the 2024 Ohio Driver of the Year.

Don Carpenter
Carpenter’s career spans 45 years, including the past 11 with Old Dominion Freight Line. He has logged more than 4.5 million accident-free miles. An Army veteran and frequent Truck Driving Championships competitor, he earned the title of 2024 Oklahoma Driver of the Year.

Kevin Flick
Flick has 37 years of experience, 22 of them with Buchheit Logistics. He has collected over 6.1 million accident-free miles. His list of accomplishments includes 11 years in the Missouri Trucking Association’s Chairman’s Safe Driver Club, seven Driver of the Month awards, and being named the 2024 Missouri Driver of the Year.

Williams Jones
Jones brings 51 years of driving experience and 29 years with Walmart Transportation. He has accumulated more than seven million accident-free miles. He was the 2006 Walmart Driver of the Year and continues to train and mentor new drivers. He was also named the 2025 Kansas Driver of the Year.

Duane Staveness
With 33 years in trucking and 25 with FedEx Freight, Staveness has achieved more than 2.55 million accident-free miles. He serves on the Wisconsin Road Team, is a longtime member of the Master Presidents Club for safe driving, and won the 2018 NTDC 5-Axle National Championship. He is the 2025 Wisconsin Driver of the Year.

What Happens Next

The Safety Management Council Awards & Recognition Committee reviews each finalist’s video submission before selecting the winner. The official announcement will be made during ATA’s Safety, Security, and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Oklahoma City from April 1 through April 3, 2026.

Source: The Trucker

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The highly-anticipated winner will be announced at the ATA’s Safety, Security, and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition, happening April 23–25 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Continental Express driver David Wolford, ATA’s 2023 National Driver of the Year. (Source: American Trucking Associations)

Recognizing Excellence on the Road

The ATA National Driver of the Year Award honors an individual for their lifelong dedication to safety and professionalism in the trucking industry. Every year, state trucking associations nominate their top drivers, and the ATA selects finalists through a rigorous evaluation process spearheaded by industry safety professionals.

This year, the following five drivers have risen above the rest, showcasing extraordinary accomplishments:

1. Jay Williams (TCW, Inc.)

• Accident-Free Miles: Over 3 million

• Years in the Industry: 20 with TCW, Inc.

• Awards: TCW 20 Year Safe Driving Award (2023); Tennessee Driver of the Year (2024)

Jay Williams has dedicated two decades of his career to TCW, Inc., driving with unparalleled precision and safety. His track record includes achieving over 3 million accident-free miles, a milestone recognized with several accolades, including the Tennessee Driver of the Year award for 2024.

2. Rollie Fugate (WalMart)

• Accident-Free Miles: 6 million

• Years in the Industry: 47.5 total, 24.5 with Wal-Mart

• Awards: Nevada Driver of the Year (2023)

With nearly five decades behind the wheel and a staggering 6 million accident-free miles, Rollie Fugate represents the gold standard of trucking safety. Now in his 24th year with WalMart, Fugate’s achievements include the Nevada Driver of the Year title.

3. Michael Bortz (Sorensen Transport)

• Accident-Free Miles: 4.85 million

• Years in the Industry: 43 total, 21 with Sorensen Transport

• Awards: Montana Driver of the Year (2024)

Michael Bortz has mastered the art of safe driving over his 43-year career, amassing nearly 5 million accident-free miles. Recognized as Montana’s Driver of the Year for 2024, Bortz has set an impressive industry benchmark.

4. Danny Tankersly (WEL Companies)

• Accident-Free Miles: 4.6 million

• Years in the Industry: 36 total, 14 with WEL Companies

• Awards: WEL Companies Driver of the Year (11-time recipient); WMCA 2023 Driver of the Year

Danny Tankersly’s reputation for safety is legendary. He boasts decades of accident-free driving and multiple honors, including winning WEL Companies’ Driver of the Year Award an astounding 11 times. His contributions were recently acknowledged with the WMCA 2023 Driver of the Year title.

5. Thomas Miller (Prime Inc.)

• Accident-Free Miles: 3.8 million

• Years in the Industry: 25 with Prime Inc.

• Awards: Missouri Trucking Association Driver of the Year (2016, 2023); MOTA Professional Excellence Award (2019); ATA America’s Road Team Captain

With a career defined by excellence, Thomas Miller has accumulated 3.8 million accident-free miles and numerous prestigious awards. From being named Missouri Driver of the Year twice to serving as an ATA America’s Road Team Captain, Miller exemplifies professionalism on the road.

Judging and Selection Process

Each finalist for the National Driver of the Year Award first earns recognition as a state Driver of the Year, nominated by ATA-affiliated state trucking associations. These impressive contenders are evaluated by a panel of industry safety experts who assess qualifications, career milestones, and safety records.

The process also involves reviewing video submissions, allowing judges from the Safety Management Council Awards & Recognition Committee to select the single standout driver worthy of the national spotlight.

Source: Truckers News & American Trucking Associations 

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“The Driver of the Year award honors professional drivers for their commitment to safety and professionalism,” said Jacob Pierce, SMC executive director. “These five candidates have all demonstrated real dedication to this industry over their careers.  On behalf of ATA and the SMC, I want to congratulate them.”

Sponsored by EROAD, the ATA National Driver of the Year Award recognizes a professional truck driver for their outstanding career achievements and unwavering commitment to safety on the road. Nominees are drawn from exceptional state Drivers of the Year put forth by ATA’s state trucking associations. A panel of industry safety professionals meticulously reviews each candidate’s qualifications and accomplishments before selecting the finalists.

The finalists for this year are:

Robert Crater, nominated by the North Carolina Trucking Association, with 41 years of experience and over 2.6 million accident-free miles.

Henry Grider, nominated by the Missouri Trucking Association, boasts 43 years of driving experience, including 15 with Transland, and 1.4 million accident-free miles. Grider is a decorated Army Veteran with numerous honors.

David Wolford, nominated by the Ohio Trucking Association, possesses 20 years of experience, predominantly with Continental Express Inc., and nearly 2.5 million accident-free miles.

Timothy Burnett, nominated by the Trucking Association of New York, has 35 years of driving experience, the last 30 with Walmart Transportation Inc., and an impressive 3.9 million accident-free miles.

Jerry Joyner, nominated by the Kansas Motor Carriers Association, brings 50 years of experience, the last 33 with Walmart Transportation Inc., and an extraordinary 6 million accident-free miles.

The Safety Management Council Awards and Recognition Committee will evaluate each video submission to determine the ultimate winner. The winner will be announced at ATA’s Safety, Security, and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Phoenix scheduled for April 2024.

Source: The Trucker

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