Five Good Things: Trucking awards multiply

Semi-finalists announced for the 2025 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award

Kenworth, Fastport, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative recently announced 12 semi-finalists for the 2025 “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award. Established in 2016, the award honors the achievements of veterans transitioning into careers in the transportation industry. This year’s semi-finalists represent a wide range of U.S. military service branches, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.

• Kathleen (Kat) Carreto, U.S. Army National Guard (E-5), Roehl Transport
• Bradley Lecky, U.S. Army (E-4), Crawford Electric, a Sonepar USA Company
• Federico Hudson, U.S. Air Force (E-7), Van Wyk
• Gaylon Hensley, U.S. Army (E-7), Melton Truck Lines
• Daniel Hemphill, U.S. Army (E-4), Wayne R. West Trucking 
• Mark Scriven, U.S. Army (E-6), Stevens Transport
• Joseph Barotti, U.S. Air Force (E-6), U.S. Marine Corps, Werner Enterprises
• Nicholas Baughan, U.S. Army (E-5) and Army Reserve, Werner Enterprises
• Macy Mattice, U.S. Army (E-4), Melton Truck Lines
• Ryan Gordon, U.S. Army (E-5), Prime, Inc.
• Precious Cannon-Scott, Air National Guard, (E-4) Prime, Inc. 
• Charles Jones, Jr, U.S. Army (E-7), Roehl Transport 

Under the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” recognition program, Kenworth will provide the grand prize for the 10th consecutive year. This year’s award is a T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and a Paccar powertrain featuring the Paccar MX-13 engine, Paccar TX-12 automated transmission, and Paccar DX-40 tandem rear axles. 

“This year’s ‘Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence’ award semi-finalists exemplify the dedication, leadership, and commitment to service that military veterans bring to the trucking industry,” said Kyle Kimball, Kenworth director of marketing. “Kenworth is proud to partner with Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative for the 10th year, and we look forward to recognizing the distinguished semi-finalists who continue to serve our country through excellence behind the wheel.”

As part of the 10th annual award program, each semi-finalist will attend a ceremony at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum on September 18 in Columbus, Ohio. The following day will include a tour of the Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing plant, where semi-finalists will be recognized, and finalists will be announced. Finalists and the ultimate winner will be part of a veteran-focused week that includes a Veteran-Ready Summit and award announcement in December. A public vote will occur online from November 1 until Veteran’s Day.

Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for helping extinguish vehicle fire

The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Flavio Ortega De Cespedes of Cutler Bay, Florida, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to help extinguish a vehicle fire. De Cespedes drives for ABF Freight out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

On June 24, around 2:20 p.m., De Cespedes was heading back to Miami from Big Pine Key on the Overseas Highway and came across a vehicle that was on fire near Bahia Honda Key. He pulled his truck to the side of the road, grabbed his fire extinguisher, and ran over to the vehicle.

“I used my fire extinguisher to help kill the fire,” he said. “Then I helped control the traffic.”

De Cespedes and another driver who stopped and had an additional fire extinguisher were able to keep the flames under control until emergency personnel arrived and took over.

“I had to do something,” he said. “If there’s something I can do to help people, I do it.”

Greyhound’s Crawford Lassiter is CVSA’s 2025 International Driver Excellence Award recipient

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recently announced that Greyhound motorcoach operator Crawford Lassiter has been selected as this year’s International Driver Excellence Award recipient. With 45 years of incident-free professional driving experience behind the wheel, Lassiter has driven more than 2.5 million safe miles.

Lassiter, an Army veteran, has been working with Greyhound for the past 45 years. He has a passion for roadway safety and driver training. Not only is Lassiter an experienced motorcoach operator, he is also head driver safety instructor, spending hours of his time on the road and in the classroom teaching, mentoring, and helping new Greyhound operators and even new operators from other companies.

“Crawford embodies professionalism, pride, and care for our passengers,” said Greyhound’s Regional VP Matthew Maglio, who nominated Lassiter for the award. “He’s not just a safe driver; he’s a mentor, a standard-bearer for the company and the whole industry, and he’s just a true team player who is always ready to help his students and colleagues.”

Lassiter found out he was nominated for the International Driver Excellence Award at the same time he found out he received the award. “The vice president called me up and told me he had nominated me, and that I had received the award,” Lassiter said. “I was overwhelmed and so happy. I couldn’t believe it.”

“It’s drivers like Crawford who are bridging our legacy and our future,” Maglio noted. “His dedication, his accident-free record, and his commitment to training the next generation show what it means to raise the bar for intercity travel.”

How has Lassiter managed to have all those safe driving miles over all those years? As an experienced driving safety instructor, his answer reflected his training experience. “I use the Smith5Keys. Aim high in steering. Get the big picture. Keep your eyes moving. Leave yourself an out. And, make sure they see you.”

Lassiter will attend the CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Denver, Colorado, in September, where he will receive $5,000 and a crystal trophy at the awards luncheon.

See also: What do truck drivers want?

Nominations open for 2025 Influential Woman in Trucking Award

The Women In Trucking Association, in partnership with TrueBlue’s Centerline Drivers, recently called for nominations for the 2025 Influential Woman in Trucking Award.

Now in its 15th year, this award honors women who make or influence decisions in the trucking, transportation, logistics, or supply chain sectors. Eligible nominees must demonstrate leadership, vision, and a proven record of mentorship, while also serving as role models for others—especially women—across the industry.

“This award is more than just a recognition—it’s a celebration of the bold, forward-thinking women who are shaping the future of transportation,” said Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, president and CEO of WIT. “We are thrilled to once again spotlight their accomplishments and elevate the voices of women who are making a difference across our industry.”

Nominations are open now through September 18 and can be submitted online.

The winner will be announced during the 2025 Accelerate! Conference & Expo to be held November 9-12 in Dallas, Texas. Finalists will participate in a panel discussion on November 11.

Past recipients of the Influential Woman in Trucking Award include some of the most impactful leaders in the trucking industry:

• 2024: Tracy Rushing, executive director of safety and recruiting, RE Garrison Trucking
• 2023: Shelley Simpson, president, J.B. Hunt Transport Services
• 2022: Trina Norman, Southern California feeder operations manager, UPS
• 2021: Lily Ley, VP and CIO, Paccar
• 2020: Kristy Knichel, president, Knichel Logistics, and Jodie Teuton, co-founder, Kenworth of Louisiana

KAG awards scholarship money

The Kenan Advantage Group recently highlighted the recipients of its KAG Scholarship Award. The award was designed to recognize academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and school and community involvement among dependents of KAG employees, the carrier reported. Twenty students from across the country have been awarded scholarships to help offset the cost of college or vocational school.

The 2025 KAG Scholarship recipients include:

• Juan Garcia
• Joshua Blake
• Gianna Leonino
• William Prato
• Jillian Burnett
• Jenna Veney
• Holden Nist
• Claire Hane
• Elijah Cole
• Hailey Thompson
• Joshua Dinkel
• Jordan Harris
• Skyler Slaton
• Mariah Perez
• Aleksandar Grubor
• Tomia Creighton
• London Egan
• Aaron Leckman
• Hanna Krejcarek

Scholarship recipients were selected by an independent committee based on academic performance, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular involvement. Each student will receive a $2,500 scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year.