Five Good Things: Industry celebrates top drivers, dealers, and technical talent shaping 2026 trucking
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund to host annual silent auction at the Mid-America Trucking Show
The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) will once again serve as the beneficiary of the annual silent auction at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), taking place March 26–28, 2026, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
Held during the MATS Opening Night Reception, the silent auction brings together industry leaders, exhibitors, and attendees in support of SCF’s mission to provide financial assistance and health and wellness resources to truck drivers and their families during times of illness or injury. The event builds on the momentum of last year’s auction, which raised more than $13,500 for the nonprofit and drew participation from donors, bidders, and volunteers across the trucking industry.
“Last year’s silent auction was an incredible example of what happens when our industry comes together for drivers in need,” Courtney Niemann, executive director of SCF, stated. “The generosity we saw—from donated items to competitive bidding—directly translated into meaningful support for truckers and their families. We’re excited to bring that same energy back to MATS this year.”
The silent auction will feature a wide range of items and experiences donated by industry partners, with all proceeds benefiting SCF. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid during the opening night reception, which traditionally includes food, beverages, live entertainment, and networking opportunities.
“Owner-operators and professional drivers are the backbone of our nation’s supply chain, but they often don’t have a safety net when unexpected health issues arise,” Norita Taylor, SCF board president and director of public relations at the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, stated. “The silent auction at MATS is a powerful reminder that this industry stands behind its drivers. Every bid placed, and every item donated, helps ensure that professional drivers have somewhere to turn when illness or injury takes them off the road.”
Averitt’s Travis Richardson earns Driver of the Year award at 2026 Pinnacle Awards
Averitt’s Travis Richardson, a lead driver with its On Tour Logistics (OTL) production and event service unit, received the Driver USA award at the 2026 Pinnacle Awards, held during the Live Production Summit January 8–10 in Palm Springs, California.
The Pinnacle Awards are presented annually as part of the Live Production Summit, a professional conference focused on global live events, touring, and entertainment production. The three-day event brings together industry professionals for panel discussions, training sessions, networking, and collaboration opportunities. Pinnacle Award nominees are submitted by members of the Live Production Summit community, and winners are selected through voting by registered summit attendees.
Richardson was nominated and selected for the Driver USA award in recognition of his professionalism and performance in supporting national touring operations. Toby Eaton, another OTL driver with Averitt, was also nominated for the award.
“Travis’ recognition by his peers at the Live Production Summit reflects the level of service and reliability he brings to every tour,” Danny Crooks, VP of corporate transportation at Averitt, stated. “We’re proud of Travis and Toby for representing Averitt and OTL so well within the live production community.”
International Motors honors 2025 dealers of the year
International Motors recently unveiled the International and IC Bus Dealer of the Year award winners at its annual dealer meeting this week in Orlando.
The 2025 Dealer of the Year award winners were selected based on their performance in several criteria, such as vehicle sales, parts sales, International S13 Integrated Powertrain sales, and service dwell time. Growth in key areas such as market share, customer experience survey results, and leveraging solutions through International Financial are additional data points used to make Dealer of the Year selections.
"The annual International dealer meeting is always an exciting event because it brings our network together," Dan Kayser, EVP of commercial operations at International, said. "Our truck and bus dealers are our closest partners, and they work hard every day to give customers a dependable, consistent experience. This event celebrates that partnership and the strength we have when we're aligned as one International."
Winners of the award include:
- 2025 International U.S. and Canada Dealer of the Year: Wieland Truck and Trailer
- 2025 International Latin America Dealer of the Year: Capasa
- 2025 IC Bus Dealer of the Year: Midwest Transit Equipment
"Being named Dealer of the Year is an incredible honor, and I'm proud of what our team accomplished this past year," Rob Cleary, dealer principal at Wieland Truck and Trailer, said. "Customers expect a partner who can support them across their entire operation, and our team takes that responsibility seriously. I'm looking forward to celebrating with them at the dealership and seeing what we achieve in the year ahead."
Peterbilt celebrates first Master Technician graduate
Peterbilt recently recognized its first Master Technician, Michael Fitzpatrick of Ohio Peterbilt.
The Peterbilt Master Technician designation is the highest level of technician achievement, representing a highly trained professional who has completed the most advanced level of education offered to diagnose, maintain, and service Peterbilt vehicles. A master technician possesses in-depth knowledge of all major vehicle systems and is also recognized for their diagnostic problem-solving abilities and leadership skills.
“We congratulate Michael Fitzpatrick on this significant achievement as our inaugural Peterbilt Master Technician,” Danny Landholm, Peterbilt director of dealer network development, stated. “He has demonstrated exceptional expertise, leadership, and mastery of advanced diagnostic and repair skills needed to support today’s increasingly complex vehicle technologies and the evolving needs of our customers.”
Achieving Peterbilt Master Technician status requires hands-on experience, completion of coursework, and demonstrated proficiency in diagnosing and resolving critical vehicle system issues. As trusted technical leaders, master technicians address complex truck, engine, and electrical repairs and serve as mentors to other technicians to ensure vehicles meet Peterbilt’s high standards of performance and reliability.
“Earning the Master Technician designation is a proud moment in my career, and the training has prepared me to deliver an even higher level of service,” Michael Fitzpatrick, Peterbilt Master Technician, stated. “I’ve focused on understanding how advanced vehicle systems work together across the entire truck. This is knowledge I can apply every day and share with other technicians so we can continue improving together.”
The National Geographic Society and PepsiCo fund global research to help accelerate regenerative agriculture
The National Geographic Society and PepsiCo recently unveiled five new grants to fund on-farm research that supports practical advancements in regenerative agriculture, from rewilding prairies to leveraging AI to translate complex genomics into tangible farming guidance. The research will target food crops in climate-stressed production hot spots around the world. The scientists were selected from a pool of talented researchers with proposals in 140 countries. They join a global community of National Geographic Explorers—scientists, conservationists, educators, and storytellers who illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.
The research is funded as part of Food for Tomorrow, a collaboration between the society and PepsiCo, which aims to harness the power of science, storytelling, and education to inspire positive change throughout the global food system, with a focus on regenerative agriculture. Launched in 2025, the pilot supports an inaugural set of 10 explorers diving into the future of food: Their efforts encompass on-farm scientific research, imagery, and stories of regenerative farmers leading change in their communities.
PepsiCo has been working to scale regenerative agriculture globally and recently expanded a global goal to spread the adoption of regenerative, restorative, or protective practices across 10 million acres by 2030.
"The global food system is under increasing pressure from climate change and extreme weather, and meeting this moment requires supporting the people at the heart of it—the farmers,” Jim Andrew, EVP and chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo, stated. “Farmers get one chance each season to make a crop succeed. That’s why strong, science-backed practices matter. By continuing to demonstrate what works, we can give farmers the confidence that regenerative agriculture not only helps build a more resilient food system but also strengthens their livelihoods.”
About the Author
Jenna Hume
Digital Editor
Digital Content Specialist Jenna Hume joined FleetOwner in November 2023 and previously worked as a writer in the gaming industry. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Truman State University and a master of Fine Arts degree in writing from Lindenwood University. She is currently based in Missouri.