Five Good Things: Trucking honors driver leadership and invests in future supply chain talent

Women In Trucking Association reveals 2026 Driver of the Year finalists

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) recently unveiled the four finalists for the 2026 Driver of the Year award. The annual award recognizes female professional drivers who lead the industry in safety standards while enhancing the trucking industry's public image.

The 2026 Driver of the Year finalists are:

• Ingrid Brown: Driver and operations manager of refrigerated freight, Blackjack Express 
• Fabiola Campos-Buenavista: City driver and driver development instructor, FedEx Freight
• Gina Jones: Driver, Werner Enterprises
• Kellylynn McLaughlin: National transportation driver, dump and roll-off, Clean Harbors Environmental Services

Brown, a native of Boone, North Carolina, has built a 46-year career in trucking defined by determination, safety advocacy, and leadership. An independent owner-operator of Rollin’ B, she also serves as operations manager for a specialized refrigerated fleet and continues to drive for Blackjack Express, hauling heavy, oversize, and refrigerated freight. 

Brown serves as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Voice of Safety for the Our Roads, Our Safety campaign and has appeared in national PSAs, billboards, on SiriusXM, and in social media outreach. Her honors include the 2015 NASTC America’s Road Team and Woman Driver of the Year, the 2025 NASTC Ambassador of the Year, and the 2018 TA/Petro Citizen Driver Award. A charter member of WIT since 2007, Brown serves on the WIT Board of Directors. As a melanoma survivor, she also champions awareness and mentoring for the next generation of drivers. Brown was also featured as a FleetOwner Woman in Transportation this year.

Campos-Buenavista’s career in trucking began with determination and a willingness to learn. When she first joined FedEx Freight, she had little driving experience, yet by the age of 22, she was operating an 18-wheeler. 

In 2014, Campos-Buenavista became the first female driver development instructor at FedEx Freight. Since then, she has trained more than 40 drivers, helping them develop the skills, confidence, and discipline needed to operate commercial trucking equipment safely. Today, Campos-Buenavista serves as a FedEx Road Team Captain and is involved in community outreach, school safety education, and disaster relief efforts.

Jones exemplifies safety, leadership, and dedication in the trucking industry. After a career in retail management, she earned her CDL at age 50 to join her husband, Steve, on the road. With more than 1.5 million accident-free miles, Jones has received the 2024 TA Citizen Driver Award, the Werner Safe Driver Award, and the NTA President’s Safe Driver Club Award.

For Jones, 2025 was a banner year, highlighted by an invitation to speak at the White House on the real-world impacts of electric vehicle mandates. As a 2022-2023 ATA America’s Road Team Captain and Werner Road Team alumna, she mentors future drivers through school programs and recruitment. Jones and her husband drive for Werner’s Operation Freedom Fleet in a specialty-wrapped truck and participate in the 50 Mile March. Off the road, she supports charitable causes, enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, and loves riding her Harley. Jones was featured as a FleetOwner Woman in Transportation in 2024.

McLaughlin is a professional driver with more than 10 years of experience in dry-van operations, driver training, specialized equine transport, and over-the-road hazardous materials, hauling with Clean Harbors En

vironmental Services. She previously served as WIT’s first Driver Ambassador, traveling nationwide to educate the public about trucking and promote career opportunities in the industry.

McLaughlin shares the driver's perspective with industry leaders through speaking engagements, interviews, and advisory roles. She has served on several industry groups, including the FMCSA Women of Trucking Advisory Board, TAT Advisory Council, and the Travel Centers of America Women’s Safety Advisory Panel.

The winner will be announced at the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event hosted by WIT on March 27 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Gebrüder Weiss invests in future supply chain leaders with DePaul University scholarship

Gebrüder Weiss, a global freight forwarder with a core business in overland transport, air, and sea freight, and logistics, has established a new five-year scholarship at DePaul University's Richard H. Driehaus College of Business to support undergraduate students preparing for leadership roles in supply chain and logistics. 

Gebrüder Weiss selected DePaul for the partnership because of the university’s approach to supply chain education and the caliber of students it produces. DePaul’s management curriculum exposes students to real logistics challenges, data-informed decision-making, and hands-on learning.

Modupe Sanusi, a senior in DePaul’s Richard H. Driehaus College of Business, has been named the Gebrüder Weis scholarship recipient. Sanusi is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management and is expected to graduate in June.  

“Developing future supply chain leaders requires sustained investment in education and strong alignment between academia and industry,” Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America, stated. “This scholarship reflects our long-term commitment to supporting students who are building the skills and perspective needed to lead complex supply chains. We are proud to partner with DePaul University and to recognize Modupe Sanusi as the first student selected for this program.” 

Averitt reveals winners of Integrated Carrier Awards

Averitt recently unveiled the winners of its second annual Integrated Carrier Awards, recognizing top-performing partners within its integrated services and truckload brokerage network. The awards honor carriers that support Averitt’s non-asset operations across North America and help deliver consistent service for customers. Award recipients are selected based on tracking and visibility, on-time performance, proactive communication, overall carrier quality, and total volume covered. 

“Our carrier partners are essential to the success of our Integrated Services operations,”  Steve McDonald, VP of integrated services, stated. “These awards recognize the carriers that consistently demonstrate reliability, strong communication, and a commitment to service that supports our customers across a wide range of transportation needs.” 

The 2025 Averitt Carrier Award winners are: 

• Top small fleet dry van carrier (under 50 power units): KY Express 
• Top large fleet dry van carrier (50 or more power units): Maybach 
• Top truckload carrier for Mexico: Logimex 
• Top truckload carrier for Canada: Shabad Transport 
• Top flatbed carrier: Nova Lines 
• Top reefer carrier: BH 92 Trucking 
• Top intermodal rail carrier: Triple Crown Services 
• Top drayage carrier: 4D Trucking & Logistics 
• Integrated services provider of the year: Bony Transportation 

Lacy Teague honored as NationaLease Gene Scoggins Award winner at 25th NationaLease Masters Club Awards

NationaLease recently celebrated the 25th Masters Club Awards at The Royalton in Cap Estates, St. Lucia, where 13 sales professionals were recognized for their achievements in 2025. This year marked 25 years since this program was initiated to honor high-performing salespeople in the NationaLease network.

Lacy Teague of Salem NationaLease received the Gene Scoggins Award as the top-performing salesperson of the year. This was Lacy’s 15th consecutive year qualifying for the Master’s Club. He is also a Hall of Fame inductee.

Mike Wall of Aim NationaLease was inducted into the NationaLease Hall of Fame for making Masters Club for the 10th consecutive year. He joins Brian Butterfield, Jay Hagerty, Mark Quick, Fred Schmidt, Matt Svancara, Ray Swesey, Lacy Teague, and Bob Mangan.

You can view the full list of his year’s Masters Club winners here.

“Every Masters Club I’ve been a part of has been special, but celebrating 25 years is truly an occasion to remember,” Joe Gallick, SVP of sales at NationaLease, stated. “We’ve had a lot of great memories over the years, and I’m so grateful to be part of it. I think everyone can agree that 2025 was a tough year for our industry, but this group still found a way to be highly successful, and it’s an honor to recognize their achievements.”

Valvoline launches Happy to Help Fund supporting children’s mental, physical well-being in Lexington, Kentucky

Valvoline recently partnered with the Blue Grass Community Foundation as they launched the Valvoline Happy to Help Fund. This fund will provide financial support for new projects or existing programs that focus on the mental and physical well-being of children and youth.

“We’re pleased to launch the Happy to Help Fund. As a proud Lexington, Kentucky-based company, we are committed to supporting our community. We recognize that many young people are facing challenges with their mental health and overall well-being,” Lori Flees, president and CEO of Valvoline, stated. “This fund is a meaningful step toward investing in Lexington’s future and providing crucial support to local families and organizations.”

This collaboration is part of Valvoline’s commitment to the community. The company's Happy to Help community impact and charitable giving program focuses on children’s health and mental well-being. The Happy to Help initiative has funded a new family respite lounge within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Golisano Children's Hospital, provided suicide intervention training to 53 clinicians with KVC Behavioral Healthcare Kentucky, and donated $100,000 to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to fund mental health grants supporting pediatric patients across the country.