Entry deadlines for two of the premier Truckload Carriers Association contests are quickly approaching. Nominations for the 2020 Driver of the Year contests and Best Fleets to Drive For contest are still being accepted, but only for a few more days.
The 2020 Driver of the Year contests recognize drivers in the company driver and owner-operator categories. For the Company Driver of the Year contest, the driver must have worked for an over-the-road carrier for three years and driven at least one million consecutive accident-free miles. The Owner Operator of the Year contest is open to an owner-operator that owns no more than five power units, drives full time, and gives back to their community.
Each entry can nominate up to five professional truck drivers for the 2020 Company Driver of the Year Contest and/or 2020 Owner Operator of the Year Contest by Aug. 31.
The contests are made possible by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), its partners Overdrive Magazine and TruckersNews.com. The annual contests, sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana, recognize the top owner operators and company drivers in the U.S. and Canada who provide reliable and safe truck transportation in moving the nation’s goods.
The 2019 Driver of the Year Contests’ winners were awarded during Truckload 2020: Orlando. The Company Driver of the Year award was presented to Don Lewis of Republic, Missouri, who drives for Wilson Logistics, of Springfield, Missouri. The 2019 Owner Operator of the Year was presented to Kevin Kocmich of Litchfield, Minnesota, who is leased to Diamond Transportation System, Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin. Both drivers received a $25,000 cash prize for their achievements.
Runners-up in both categories will receive checks for $2,500.
To nominate a deserve driver, or to learn more about the contests, visit www.truckload.org/DOY.
The annual Best Fleets to Drive For contest nominating deadline is also fast approaching. Nominations for this award are due by Sept. 4, 2020.
The award, produced by CarriersEdge in partnership with Truckload Carriers Association, is an annual survey and contest that identifies the for-hire carriers providing the best workplace experiences for their drivers.
Best Fleets to Drive For is open to any for-hire carrier operating 10 trucks or more in the U.S. or Canada. To participate, the company must be nominated by a company driver or owner-operator currently working with the company.
To nominate a fleet, visit: www.BestFleetsToDriveFor.com.
By nominating a fleet, a driver is recognizing the positive things about the company’s culture such as outstanding compensation, safety practices, benefits, equipment, training, etc. Companies must accept the nomination and provide details of their operation through the survey, which will dig deeper into its policies and practices, bringing to light the things it does that are innovative and/or successful.
TCA membership is not required.
Participants will answer questions about their current human resources practices, both electronically and through phone interviews with senior management and a random sampling of their drivers. The Top 20 winners, and two overall winners, from each respective category (small and large), will be recognized Jan. 23-26, 2021 during Truckload 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.
“This program evolves every year to reflect changes in the industry, and this is no different. Throughout the pandemic we’ve seen fleets go above and beyond to support their drivers, and we’re excited to start capturing more of those details through this process,” said CarriersEdge Chief Executive Officer Jane Jazrawy.
“The Best Fleets to Drive For program is one with which each and every carrier wishes to align themselves,” said TCA President John Lyboldt. “Year after year, we’re honored to showcase these very deserving fleets. Especially this year, we want to recognize those that have provided an excellent workplace for those drivers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”