Five Good Things: Truck drivers and the rest of the industry impact safety and community
Five drivers recognized as 2026 TCA Drivers of the Year
During the annual closing banquet at the Truckload Carriers Association's (TCA) Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, TCA revealed and celebrated the five winners of the 2026 TCA Professional Drivers of the Year.
These drivers were recognized for their contributions to the trucking industry, their commitment to safety, and their leadership both on and off the road. Each driver received $20,000 and was greeted with a standing ovation during the awards ceremony. You can learn more about their journeys here.
The 2026 TCA Professional Drivers of the Year are:
- Tommy Cash, CAST Specialty Transportation
- Nick Barboza, Covenant Logistics Group
- Marcia Luchenbill, Knight Transportation
- Richard Fertig, Smith Transport
- Jesus Acevedo-Soto, Swift Transportation
"We’re incredibly proud to see these drivers receive such an esteemed honor," Todd Wilson, VP of sales at Love’s Travel Stops, one of the award sponsors, stated. "Their consistent commitment, integrity, and work ethic set a powerful example each day. They represent the values we stand for at Love’s, and we’re honored to champion their continued influence within the trucking industry."
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund launches free cervical cancer screening program for female OTR drivers
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) launched free cervical cancer screenings for female over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers nationwide.
Female OTR drivers can request a cervical cancer screening kit directly through SCF’s website. Once a driver selects the cervical cancer screening option, her information is routed directly to a St. Christopher health and wellness case manager. The case manager completes the registration process and coordinates shipment of the kit to the driver’s preferred location, whch could be a home address, carrier terminal, or P.O. box.
Drivers complete the screening in the privacy of their own space and return it using a preaddressed, stamped envelope. Results are delivered within 7–10 days. If a test returns positive, the driver is offered a free Telehealth appointment for follow-up consultation.
“Access to preventative care can be incredibly challenging for women who spend weeks at a time on the road,” Lindsey Bryan, health and wellness manager at St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, states. “By offering free, discreet, at-home cervical cancer screening kits, we’re removing barriers and meeting female drivers where they are. Early detection saves lives, and we want every woman in trucking to have access to that peace of mind.”
Cervical cancer is highly preventable and treatable when detected early. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 14,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed annually in the U.S. The five-year survival rate is approximately 91% when caught early but drops significantly if the disease spreads.
Daimler Truck and employees donate about $319,756 with Daimler Truck ProCent
Daimler Truck continued its joint commitment of employees and company management in 2025 with "ProCent." Together, they donated about €275,000 (~$319,756) to charitable organizations and initiatives in various countries.
A total of 51 projects worldwide received funding amounts ranging from €270 ($314) to more than €35,000 ($40,696)—including educational programs for disadvantaged children and young people, sustainable environmental projects, and support for people in emergency situations.
ProCent originated from an idea by the General Works Council: Employees voluntarily waive the cent amounts of their monthly net salary; these amounts are collected, totaled, and then doubled by the company.
Daimler Truck ProCent supported the St. Maria Kindergarten in Hockenheim, Germany, by providing a fleet of children’s vehicles. These vehicles serve as play and learning tools to promote young children’s motor skills and offer additional opportunities for outdoor physical activity.
The organization Future for Kids–Kenya e.V. received a school bus in Kenya through funding from Daimler Truck ProCent. The vehicle provides transportation for about 400 schoolchildren.
Daimler Truck ProCent supported the local German Red Cross association in Kernen im Remstal, Germany, by equipping its rescue dog unit with modern GPS trackers. These devices allow tracking of the dogs during search operations, increasing both efficiency and safety in locating missing persons.
Stranded in Idaho, a family finds unexpected kindness through a Chevron employee
After their rental car had been hit head-on by another vehicle, the Waterford family was stranded in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. A tow truck took them to Valley View Chevron, leaving the family standing in the rain with all their luggage. Malissa, her husband Jason, and their 17-year-old daughter Ella were shaken. Jason's arm was injured, and they had a flight to catch soon.
Everyone walked away from the accident, but the Waterfords were stranded in a place they didn’t know, more than 40 miles from the Boise airport, and far away from their home in Bloomington, Indiana.
"When we got to the gas station, it was still just a lot of panic and uncertainty," Malissa said. "As that adrenaline began to wear off, we began to realize how much physical pain all of us were in."
Isaiah McCowan was a few hours into his cashier shift when he spotted the Waterfords walking in. He immediately knew something was wrong. "They were definitely in shock, and the dad was holding his arm. I wanted to make sure everything was okay," he said.
McCowan sprang into action. He helped the family carry their suitcases to a table and brought ice for Jason’s injured arm.
Malissa tried booking rides to the Boise airport. One canceled. She tried again. Another. Then another. The location was too remote. Her concern grew as the time for her family’s flight approached.
"I said, 'Give me a second,'" McCowan recalled.
He started calling people he knew. His father-in-law, who owns a sawmill down the road, didn’t hesitate. Within minutes, he pulled up. It was still snowing, so McCowan bagged their suitcases in trash bags to keep them dry and helped load them into the open truck bed.
"He just did what would maybe seem like very simple things," Malissa said. "But they completely changed the story for us."
The Waterfords made their flight and landed at home in Indiana at 1:30 in the morning. All three had concussions. Malissa suffered permanent hearing loss from the airbag impact and needed physical therapy for impaired vision. Jason had road rash and whiplash.
Six weeks later, they’re still recovering. But when Malissa thinks about that day, what stands out isn’t the pain—it’s McCowan.
"From now on, when we’re on a road trip, if we pull off and there’s a Chevron station, you can guarantee that’s where we’re stopping," she said.
CVSA opens nominations for 2026 International Driver Excellence Award
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is now accepting nominations for its International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA), an annual award that recognizes an extraordinary professional commercial motor vehicle driver and their commitment to public safety.
Nominees for this award must be individuals who have gone above and beyond the performance of their duties as a CMV driver, distinguishing themselves beyond the call of duty through safe operation and compliance carried out with distinction for an extended period of time. The nominated individual must be of character beyond reproach with no disqualifying past behavior as indicated in the award criteria.
Nominees must have:
- At least 25 cumulative years of crash-free driving in a CMV with a clean driving record for the past three years
- No felony convictions
- No safety-related driving suspensions in the past three years
- No driver violations in the past three years, excluding form and manner violations
This award program is open to the entire commercial motor vehicle industry. Individuals do not need to be a member of CVSA to be nominated.
This year’s IDEA recipient and a guest will receive a complimentary flight to Orlando International Airport and a one-room, two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando to attend the CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. On September 23, the IDEA winner will be recognized at the annual conference awards luncheon and awarded $5,000 and a crystal trophy.
CVSA’s online nomination form enables individuals to fill out the application and submit the required supporting documentation. The deadline for nominations is May 8.
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.