Five Good Things: Driver recognition and a roadside rescue lead a week of giving back

Brown named Women In Trucking Association’s 2026 Driver of the Year

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) recently named Ingrid Brown, driver and operations manager for Blackjack Express, as the recipient of the 2026 Driver of the Year Award.

Brown was among four finalists for the award. The other finalists included Fabiola Campos-Buenavista, driver and driver development instructor, FedEx Freight; Gina Jones, company driver, Werner; and Kellylynn McLaughlin, national transportation driver dump and roll off, Clean Harbors Environmental Services.

“We are proud to recognize Ingrid, whose tireless commitment to excellence, safety, and empowering women in this industry sets a standard that inspires us all,” Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, WIT president and CEO, stated.

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

Brown has earned multiple honors, including the National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) Woman Driver of the Year Award, the TA Petro Citizen Driver Award, and as an Inaugural Inductee at the Mid-America Trucking Show Wall of Fame.

A charter member of the Women In Trucking Association since 2007, Brown is currently serving her second term on the board of directors and as liaison to the Women In Trucking Foundation Board of Directors. A public advocate, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety collaborator, and a three-time melanoma cancer survivor, she has dedicated her life to uplifting her industry, mentoring fellow drivers, and serving her community.

Brown was also featured in FleetOwner's 2025 Women in Transportation issue.

TCA names Maverick Transportation driver Anthony Dunne a Highway Angel

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) recently named Anthony Dunne of Maverick Transportation a TCA Highway Angel for his quick thinking and actions at the scene of a crash in rural Louisiana.

In the early hours of December 9, 2025, Dunne was traveling on Highway 65 near Transylvania, Louisiana, when he encountered a tree branch obstructing the roadway. After maneuvering around the debris, he noticed a damaged truck that had veered off the road. Dunne pulled over to investigate.

“Honestly, I didn’t think that anybody was going to be OK from that one,” Dunne said. “I really thought that was going to be a DOA (dead on arrival) scene.”

He found the driver trapped inside but conscious, so Dunne called 911 and remained at the scene, offering reassurance to the injured driver as they waited for emergency responders.

“He was hurt pretty bad,” Dunne said. “He told me he fell asleep and drifted off the road. The whole side of his cab was opened up like a can of sardines.”

Because of the remote location of the incident, first responders took about 45 minutes to arrive. Dunne remained with the driver throughout that time, ensuring that he was not left alone in a frightening and uncertain situation.

When emergency personnel arrived, they were able to extract the driver, who, fortunately, sustained only minor injuries. 

“I couldn’t just drive by if there was something I could do,” Dunne said.

Homeless teen nominated four times for a free truck

When Aardvark Automotive opened nominations for its annual Wheels to Prosper car giveaway this winter, four people independently wrote in about the same person: an 18-year-old high school student named Mya who has been homeless since her junior year, has no family within a thousand miles, and is still pulling straight A's. Nominations included her school counselor, a community member, and a single mother who recently took the teen into her home. Mya herself submitted her own letter for nomination. None of the four knew the others had applied.

Mya received the keys to a fully restored 2010 Ford F-150 Crew Cab—complete with a brand-new remanufactured engine and a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty—donated by Aardvark Automotive at the shop's Canyon Drive facility in Amarillo.

Mya's living situation with her mother became unworkable during her junior year, and her mother relocated to Ohio—more than a thousand miles away. Since September 2025, Mya has bounced between friends' homes searching for stability. Despite everything, she has maintained straight A's and recently transferred to Midway Alternative School to free up daytime hours to work.

The four nominations arrived over several weeks, each telling a consistent story from a different vantage point. Monica Tijerina, a single mother who took Mya into her home in late December after the teen's classmate told her Mya had nowhere to go, wrote that her boss lets her leave work early so her daughter can pick Mya up from school. "I wish I could help her with a vehicle, but I just don't have the resources," Tijerina wrote.

Community member Monica Kalka described Mya as a kind and loving young woman who relies on others to get to school and work. School counselor Sasha Reilly at Randall High School wrote that Mya shows "remarkable perseverance" and that without a vehicle, Mya cannot secure steady employment or attend required classes, testing, and labs.

In her own letter, Mya wrote: "Without a car, I can't keep a job, which makes it impossible to save money or improve my situation. Despite all this, I am proud to say I am a straight-A student, working hard to build a better future for myself."

"When you see one person nominated four separate times by people who don't even know each other, that tells you everything," said Donna at Aardvark Automotive. "She didn't ask anyone to feel sorry for her. She asked for a chance. That's exactly the kind of person Wheels to Prosper was built for."

Hyundai Hope on Wheels surpasses $300M in lifetime giving to pediatric cancer research

Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and its more than 855 U.S. dealers, recently reached a new milestone, surpassing $300 million in lifetime giving to support childhood cancer research since its founding in 1998.

"Three hundred million dollars in lifetime giving represents the children who are alive today because researchers had the resources to find new treatments," José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said. "The lives of more than 40,000 children have been saved by this work. Hyundai Hope on Wheels has given families hope when they needed it most. Together with our dealer partners, we have been part of this fight for 28 years, and we are not slowing down. Every vehicle sold helps contribute to this worthy cause. Progress for Humanity is the vision that guides everything we build and everything we give."

Since its inception, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has helped drive progress in pediatric oncology, leading to an increase in U.S. childhood cancer survival rates from approximately 75% to 85% and positively impacting the lives of more than 40,000 children nationwide.

In 2026, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will award more than $29 million in grants across North America, including $26 million in the U.S. and $3 million in Canada, with additional funding planned in Mexico. These investments support research, survivorship initiatives, advocacy, and awareness efforts designed to create lasting impact for children and families.

Toyota Tennessee donates $100,000 for STEM education in Jackson-Madison County

High school students across Jackson-Madison County will soon have access to advanced manufacturing technology, thanks to a $100,000 donation from Toyota Tennessee. This grant will support a new STEM lab at Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School to prepare learners for in-demand jobs that are close to home.

“The Toyota EM2 Institute gives students access to real-world skills that open doors to incredible careers right here in West Tennessee, and we see the value of expanding this opportunity to high school students,” Todd Williams, president of Toyota Tennessee, stated.

Classes will focus on advanced manufacturing, robotics, mechatronics, industrial maintenance, and other emerging technologies. In addition to classroom instruction, students will experience real manufacturing environments, collaborate with mentors, and learn technical problem-solving.

“The expansion of the Toyota EM2 Institute to JCM Early College High reflects a shared vision for innovation, workforce development, and long-term community growth,” Dr. Marlon King, superintendent for Jackson-Madison County Schools, stated. “Today’s announcement is further proof of a unified community standing behind its schools. Toyota is more than a global brand—it is a corporate neighbor invested in the future of Jackson-Madison County.”

Enrollment in the high school program is happening now, and classes will begin in fall 2026.