The awards celebrate individuals and companies that have demonstrated outstanding performance in commercial vehicle safety, maintenance and professionalism while highlighting the role that drivers, technicians and fleet safety programs play in reducing crashes and improving highway safety.

“The individuals and organizations recognized at TXTA’s Annual Safety and Maintenance Luncheon represent the very best of the trucking industry,” TXTA President and CEO John D. Esparza said in a statement. “Their commitment to safety, professionalism, and operational excellence helps strengthen our industry and protect everyone who shares the road. We are honored to recognize these outstanding leaders for the example they set every day.”

Driver of the Year Honors Professional Excellence

Kevin Mann Sr. of Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport was named the 2026 TXTA Driver of the Year, an award sponsored by Tenstreet.

The association selects its Driver of the Year from nominees submitted by member companies. Drivers are evaluated using several factors, including accident-free driving history, professionalism, consistency, and years of service. As the state recipient, Mann will represent Texas in the American Trucking Associations’ National Driver of the Year competition.

Safety Leadership Awards Recognize Industry Contributions

Several individuals were recognized for their contributions to safety management and the trucking industry.

Jay Ferguson of McRay Crane & Rigging received the Distinguished Safety Award, sponsored by Bair Hilty P.C. and Transafe Inc., recognizing leadership in promoting fleet safety and protecting lives and property.

The C.H. Cheshire Award, sponsored by Commercial Fleet Data Systems, was presented to Sgt. Tim Davis of the Texas Department of Public Safety for his support of the TXTA Safety Management Council and his efforts to promote safer highways throughout Texas.

Bethany Hobbs of Lee Trans received the Distinguished Award for Excellence in Service, honoring her dedication to the Safety Management Council, the trucking industry and the motoring public.

Robert Pontious of Pressure Systems International earned the Fleet Maintenance Council Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding service and leadership within the commercial vehicle maintenance profession.

Texas Crowns Its Top Truck Driving Champions

The association also announced winners of the 2026 Texas State Truck Driving Championships, where professional drivers compete in written examinations, pre-trip inspections and driving skills competitions.

Matthew “Logan” Montandon of FedEx earned the title of State Grand Champion after also winning the Straight Truck division.

Division champions included:

• Flatbed: Juan Martinez, H-E-B
• Step Van: Joshua Tamayo, FedEx
• Sleeper Berth: Robert Svoboda, Walmart
• Tank Truck: Aryn Pittaway, FedEx
• Twin Trailers: Ronald “Ronnie” Ramon, H-E-B
• Five-Axle Van: Andres Garcia, FedEx Freight
• Four-Axle Van: Edward “Eddie” Camacho, H-E-B
• Three-Axle Van: David McNeeley, Old Dominion Freight Line

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers Recognized

The annual Texas Challenge competition also honored outstanding commercial vehicle enforcement personnel.

Corporal Kaleb Rains of the Texas Department of Public Safety was named DPS Grand Champion, while Justin Scott of the Houston Police Department earned MCSAP Grand Champion honors.

Technician Competition Highlights Maintenance Excellence

TXTA also recognized the state’s top heavy-duty commercial vehicle technicians through its Technician of the Year Contest, which has showcased maintenance professionals since 1982.

Competitors complete hands-on testing and technical evaluations designed to measure diagnostic ability, repair knowledge and problem-solving skills.

The 2026 top finishers were:

1. Wesley Salley, FedEx Freight
2. Chris Gerrald, Industrial Power Truck & Equipment
3. Evan Bailey, Cox Fleet
4. Brandon McNeil, Old Dominion Freight Line
5. Micah Atkins, Industrial Power Truck & Equipment

Truck Safety Contest Recognizes Fleet Performance

Chalk Mountain Services of Texas earned Grand Champion honors in the 2026 TXTA Truck Safety Contest, sponsored by Great West.

The annual competition recognizes member carriers with the lowest overall accident frequency rates while promoting strong safety cultures and proactive fleet safety programs.

Category winners included:

• Intercity Under 2.5 Million Miles: W.M. Dewey & Son Inc.
• Intercity 5-10 Million Miles: ABF Freight
• Intercity Over 20 Million Miles: Old Dominion Freight Line
• Local Under 1 Million Miles: W.M. Dewey & Son Inc.
• Local 1-5 Million Miles: SWTO LLC (7-Eleven)
• Local 5-10 Million Miles: Gulfmark Energy Inc.
• Local Over 10 Million Miles: Chalk Mountain Services of Texas LLC

The Texas Trucking Association said the contest recognizes fleets that achieve the lowest accident frequency rates while demonstrating a long-term commitment to safe operations through training, maintenance, and professional driving practices.

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Last Updated: August 21, 2026

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The event brought together regional winners from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, with drivers competing across nine vehicle classes. First-place winners in each class will represent Texas at the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh this August.

Montandon also won the Straight Truck division, earning both a class win and the overall Grand Champion title.

Texas Champions Will Compete at Nationals

The Texas Trucking Association recognized professional drivers across nine classes during the state championship.

The 2026 winners were:

State Grand Champion: Matthew “Logan” Montandon, FedEx
Flatbed: Juan Martinez, H-E-B
Step Van: Joshua Tamayo, FedEx
Sleeper Berth: Robert Svoboda, Walmart
Straight Truck: Matthew “Logan” Montandon, FedEx
Tank Truck: Aryn Pittaway, FedEx
Twin Trailer: Ronald “Ronnie” Ramon, H-E-B
5-Axle Van: Andres Garcia, FedEx Freight
4-Axle Van: Edward “Eddie” Camacho, H-E-B
3-Axle Van: David McNeeley, Old Dominion Freight Line

Each first-place class winner is scheduled to advance to the national championship in August.

TXTA Highlights Driver Skill and Safety

The Texas State Truck Driving Championship recognizes the professional skills required to safely operate commercial vehicles.

“These championships recognize the exceptional expertise and dedication required to safely operate and maintain commercial trucks on our nation’s roads,” said John D. Esparza, President and CEO of TXTA. “We proudly celebrate these professionals whose work is essential to keeping our economy moving and communities connected every day.”

The event is organized by the TXTA Safety Management Council along with local Safety Councils.

Technician Winners Also Advance

The 2026 Technician of the Year Contest was held alongside the driving championship and evaluated written and technical skills among truck technicians from across Texas.

Wesley Salley of FedEx Freight won first place and will represent Texas at the ATA Technology & Maintenance Council’s National Technician Skills Competition in Pittsburgh this September.

The 2026 Technician of the Year winners were:

1st Place: Wesley Salley, FedEx Freight
2nd Place: Chris Gerrald, Industrial Power Truck & Equipment
3rd Place: Evan Bailey, Cox Fleet
4th Place: Brandon McNeil, Old Dominion Freight Lines
5th Place: Micah Atkins, Industrial Power Truck & Equipment

Texas Winners Head to Pittsburgh

The truck driving class winners will compete at the ATA National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh in August. Salley will represent Texas at the technician skills competition in September.

The Technician of the Year Contest was presented by the TXTA Fleet Maintenance Council and sponsored by Yokohama Tire Corp, Cummins-Meritor, and Pressure Systems International. The Truck Driving Championships were organized by the TXTA Safety Management Council and local Safety Councils, with sponsorship from PrePass, Truck Parking Club, CMI Drug Testing, and TCI Transportation.

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Last updated: June 9, 2026

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The competition drew participation from drivers representing leading organizations, including FedEx Freight, Walmart Transportation, and HEB, the San Antonio-based grocery chain with over 440 stores across Texas and Mexico. HEB drivers notably secured wins in six different vehicle classes, demonstrating their dominance in this year’s event.

Class Winners of the 2025 Texas Truck Driving Championship:

• State Grand Champion: Christopher Flippin, FedEx Freight
• Flatbed: Juan Martinez, HEB
• Step Van: Matthew Logan Montandon, FedEx Ground
• Sleeper Berth: Robert Svoboda, Walmart Transportation
• Straight Truck: Jason Salazar, HEB
• Tank Truck: David Sanchez, HEB
• Twin Trailers: Christopher Flippin, FedEx Freight
• 5-Axle Van: Christopher Pieper, HEB
• 4-Axle Van: Ruben Cortez, HEB
• 3-Axle Van: David Urrea IV, HEB

The competition brought together regional winners from Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, where drivers were evaluated on their ability to handle challenging maneuvering and control tests in various vehicle classes. The first-place winners in each category will now represent Texas at the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) National Truck Driving Championship, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, later this summer.

Recognizing Excellence in Maintenance

Beyond celebrating driver expertise, the event was also named the winner of the 2025 Technician of the Year Contest. After demonstrating exemplary written and technical skills, Corey Tegeler of Old Dominion Freight Line claimed victory. Tegeler will next compete in the ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council’s National Technician Skills Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina, this September.

Honoring the Professionals Behind the Wheel

“These championships highlight the exceptional skill and precision it takes to operate and maintain commercial trucks on our roads safely,” said John D. Esparza, President and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA). “We’re proud to recognize these dedicated professionals who keep our economy moving each and every day.”

The championships are preceded by three regional contests held in the spring, where drivers secure their place in the state championship by finishing in the top three. National qualifiers, including these top drivers, will gather in Minneapolis this August to showcase their skills on the national stage.

The 2025 Texas Truck Driving Championship was a testament to the expertise and dedication of professional truck drivers and technicians, celebrating the individuals who play a crucial role in keeping the economy moving safely and efficiently.

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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

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