The Tandet Group and longtime driver Joseph Bayards have been honored with major wins at the 2025 ISAAC Client Recognition Awards, presented during the ISAAC HORIZON Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.
ISAAC Instruments hosts the annual awards to spotlight fleets and drivers who set the standard for safety, compliance, and driver satisfaction. This year’s program, sponsored by Optimal Dynamics, added two new categories focused on eco-efficiency and driver performance.
According to ISAAC, “For the fourth consecutive year, the Awards have recognized fleets with outstanding performance in safety and compliance, as well as driver happiness. This year’s edition, sponsored by Optimal Dynamics, included two new categories: one for fleets excelling in eco-efficiency and another for drivers with exemplary performance behind the wheel.”
The awards are open to fleets using the ISAAC platform that were fully deployed before June 2024.
A Lifetime Behind the Wheel
Taking home the Driver of the Year Award, Joseph Bayards has been a professional driver for nearly four decades, spending 36 of those years with Tandet Group. In all that time, he’s maintained a spotless record with zero accidents.
“Drivers are at the heart of fleet performance, and ISAAC is happy to highlight their contribution to fleet success and road safety,” the company shared.
Bayards said the recognition hit home after so many years of dedication. “This means a lot to me. Back when I began my career, paper logs didn’t even exist, things have changed dramatically since then! I was always a safe driver, but with the ISAAC Coach it’s easier. It’s user-friendly, and I’m glad I learned how to use it to my advantage.”
Tandet’s Senior Vice President of Innovation, Corey Cox, praised Bayards as the kind of driver every fleet hopes for. “I would think that Joe Bayards is an excellent example of this process in practice,” he said. “Joe has been driving with an incredible ISAAC Coach score of 100% for over 2 years.”
Driving Toward a Greener Future
Tandet Group also took home the Eco-Efficiency Award, marking the first time the fleet has received this recognition. The award highlights fleets that prioritize fuel efficiency and sustainability while using ISAAC’s technology to support safer, cleaner operations.
“Our goal has been and continues to be: have the best-performing, safest drivers on the road,” Cox said. “Our efforts are magnified by every individual in our organization. Being recognized in this way is a validation of these efforts and an example of the dedication of our drivers. There were a lot of fist-pumps when our teams got the news of the award.”
Safety and Compliance Standouts
In the Safety and Compliance Improvement Award for fleets of up to 100 trucks, the winner was Trans-Frt McNamara, a C.A.T. company.
Executive Vice President Karine Goyette credited the entire operation. “Every day, they dedicate themselves to each other and the company. Their strong work ethics and ‘we can always do better’ approach have earned them this award. Showing us that it has been noticed just confirms that this award won’t be our last!”
She added that the company’s safety culture encourages drivers to take ownership of their performance. Many now actively request their safety numbers and feedback, proof that accountability and teamwork are paying off.
For fleets with over 100 trucks, Challenger Motor Freight earned the top safety award.
Safety Manager Nick Sampogna said their success comes down to putting people first. “Winning an award like this is always a powerful reminder that when you lead with care and conviction, you protect what truly matters, our people,” he said. “Not long ago, we stopped a driver for having an expired permit during our routine gate check. Although initially frustrated, he came back and thanked our safety team for catching it later that day after being pulled in for an inspection. It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but it means everything when your drivers know you’re on their side.”
He also credited ISAAC Instruments for tools that have helped strengthen safety, from live HOS tracking and AI video programs to re-torque monitoring and critical event alerts.
Keeping Drivers Happy
The Driver Happiness Award went to Rio Valley Biofuel Transport.
President Jed Smith said the recognition validated their focus on supporting drivers beyond the wheel. “This achievement feels really good,” Smith said. “After so much hard work, it’s incredibly rewarding to see improvement in our workflow, driver retention, and overall morale. I remember the day I knew we’d made the right choice by switching to ISAAC. One of our newer drivers, Eddy—who had come from a big carrier—walked up to my truck and thanked me, saying how much he loved our E-log system.”
Smith added that the new system has eased stress across the board. “Overall, our drivers have reported fewer paperwork headaches that used to affect their bonuses, and greater peace of mind with the visibility of their daily trip flow and site-specific delivery details.”
Technology That Works for Drivers
ISAAC CEO and co-founder Jacques DeLarochelliere said the company takes pride in helping fleets and drivers succeed together.
“The Awards are a highlight for our entire team at our user conference,” he said. “The accomplishments that Award nominees share with us in the process are concrete proof that our platform helps them drive results and positively impacts the day-to-day of their team. And that makes us happy.”
