Five Good Things: Industry recognized for heroism, precision skills, and safety leadership across North America

Eugenia Churilov of Kriska Transportation Group named 2026 TCA Safety Professional of the Year

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) recently awarded Kriska Transportation Group’s Eugenia Churilov, CDS, director of safety, compliance, and security, as its 2026 TCA Safety Professional of the Year Award winner. The announcement was made during the general session at the association’s annual Safety & Security Meeting in Oklahoma City.

This honor is bestowed upon a trucking industry professional whose actions and achievements enhanced safety on North America’s highways.

Churilov has helped build and strengthen a culture of safety, compliance, and accountability across both Canada and the U.S. while overseeing safety operations for five trucking entities within the Kriska Transportation Group. Under her leadership, multiple companies have earned top industry honors, including first-place recognition in the TCA Fleet Safety Awards and consecutive grand champion titles for Mill Creek and Liberty Linehaul West.

Churilov currently serves as chair of the Toronto Regional Fleet Safety Council after previously serving as vice chair and joining the organization’s executive board. She also chairs the NATMI Canadian Curriculum Committee and works with industry task forces dedicated to modernizing safety training and compliance education for carriers throughout North America.

Known for her expertise in regulatory compliance, calm leadership during major company consolidations, and unwavering support for drivers and staff, Churilov has earned a reputation as one of the industry’s most trusted and respected safety professionals. Her leadership style emphasizes teamwork, accountability, mentorship, and continuous improvement, helping create safer operations and stronger safety cultures throughout the organizations she serves.

Drivers compete at 2026 Nebraska Truck Driving Championships

Fans recently cheered on Nebraska’s truck drivers at the 2026 Nebraska Truck Driving Championships (NTDC). The drivers represented every type and size of trucking company, ranging from competitors with decades of experience at NTDC to brand-new rookies. Ten truck classifications navigated difficult driving challenges, with the winning drivers inching out their closest competitors.

Along with the driving course, the drivers competed in pretrip inspections, written exams, and oral interviews with the Nebraska State Patrol. The competitors faced six problems on a course designed to challenge the skills they use in the industry that delivers more than 88% of the nation's goods. 

Awards were presented based on scores in the four test areas: written examination, personal interview, pretrip inspection, and driving test. Companies with three or more drivers competed for team awards, given to the company whose drivers scored the highest overall average.

The 2026 grand champion was Paul Badgett of FedEx Freight, and Logan Booker of Walmart Transportation earned the Rookie of the Year Award (first-time participants with the highest overall score in all four parts of the competition). For the second straight year, the Professional Excellence Award, given to the driver with the highest written test, was earned by Todd Gimpel with FedEx Freight.

Logan continued his winning streak by receiving the Kurt Everett Vehicle Condition Award. Named in honor of a long-time Championships committee member, the award goes to the driver with the highest score on the pretrip inspection.

Drivers who have competed or volunteered at the Championships for at least five years compete for the Jerry Wessel Award. Named after a long-time NTDC leader, this award honors the driver who receives the highest rating for professionalism, industry knowledge, and attitude exhibited during the event. This year's winner was Joseph Busch, representing ABF Freight.

The first-place winner in each class advances to a national competition. Nine class winners will attend the American Trucking Association's National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh on August 11-14. The mixer truck class first-place winner advances to the National Mixer Driver Championship in Nashville in October. You can read the full list of winners here. 

STA and Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers partner to prevent human trafficking and fraud within trucking

The Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) and Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers recently launched a province-wide campaign to help combat exploitation and human trafficking, fraudulent activity, and the use of fraudulent documents within the trucking industry.

The initiative features four bold “See Something, Say Something” decal designs that will be placed on the rear of commercial truck trailers operating across Saskatchewan. The campaign encourages drivers and the public to report suspicious activity anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.

“The trucking industry travels every highway and into every community in this province,” Susan Ewart, executive director of STA, said. “Our members are in a unique position to help raise awareness and be part of the solution. This campaign reinforces our commitment to safety, professionalism, and accountability.”

Human trafficking and document fraud are complex crimes that often go unnoticed. By turning trailers into mobile awareness messages, STA and Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers aim to increase reporting and strengthen community vigilance.

“Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers is proud to partner with the Saskatchewan Trucking Association to combat human trafficking through increased awareness and reporting," Sergeant James Flynn, police coordinator for Crime Stoppers Saskatchewan, said. "This initiative is not only directed at the transportation sector but also toward the general public to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and take appropriate action by reporting suspicious activity.

"Human trafficking is often hidden in plain sight. We urge anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously. Timely information can assist law enforcement in identifying offenders and safeguarding victims."

NAFA names 2026 Class of Fellows, honoring leaders in fleet management

NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association, recently revealed its 2026 Class of NAFA Fellows, recognizing five professionals whose leadership, service, and contributions have made an impact on NAFA and the fleet management profession.

The 2026 Class of NAFA Fellows includes:

• Clyde “Dale” Collins, CAFM, fleet maintenance supervisor for Prince William Water: With more than 30 years of fleet experience, Collins has been active in NAFA since 2008, serving in chapter, regional, and national leadership roles, including as a NAFA board member and now as membership committee chair.
• Patti Earley, CAFM, fleet fuel manager for Florida Power & Light: With more than 30 years of fleet management experience, Earley has been a longtime leader within NAFA, serving as president, board member, educator, and advocate for professional certification and development across the fleet industry.
• Bryan Flansburg, CAFM, location manager for First Student: Flansburg brings 40 years of transportation experience and has served NAFA in appointed and elected roles at the local and national level, including as NAFA president.
• Bob Mossing, global fleet safety manager for Diebold Nixdorf: A longtime fleet safety advocate and industry educator, Mossing has served two terms on the NAFA Board of Directors and continues to contribute as chair of the NAFA Editorial Committee and member of the Government Affairs Committee.
• Cedric Roberts, CAFM, director of fleet management for the city of Birmingham, Alabama’s equipment management department: Roberts is a fleet leader focused on sustainability, workforce development, and professional advancement, serving on NAFA’s Membership Committee, CAFM Commission, and Southeast Region Leadership Council.

“These five professionals reflect the leadership, service, and commitment that define the NAFA Fellows Program,” Ray Brisby, CAFM, past NAFA board president and chair of the Fellows Selection Committee, said. “Their contributions to NAFA and the fleet profession have helped strengthen our industry, and we are proud to recognize them as the 2026 Class of NAFA Fellows.”

Melton Truck Lines Driver James Brown named TCA Highway Angel for actions following Arkansas crash

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) named James Brown, a driver for Melton Truck Lines, a TCA Highway Angel for his actions following a crash near Little Rock, Arkansas.

On May 22, Brown was driving through rain about 40 miles east of Little Rock when he witnessed another truck lose control.

“It was raining pretty hard that day,” Brown recalled. “My visibility was probably 25 to 30 feet from my truck. I had slowed down to about 50 or 55 because in that kind of weather, you should be.”

As Brown watched, the truck sped past him before leaving the roadway and overturning.

“I thought he was going to keep it upright,” Brown said. “But when he came back onto the asphalt, I figured he overcorrected. The truck slid about 65 to 75 feet.”

Brown pulled his truck to the shoulder and ran to the wrecked vehicle. As he helped the driver escape, he noticed a piece of metal lodged in the man’s leg.

“Before I could tell him, ‘Don’t pull that out,’ he pulled it out,” Brown said.

The object had severed a major artery, causing severe bleeding. Drawing on skills he learned during 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Brown took action.

“I had battlefield medical training,” he said. “I cut a seatbelt up, and we made a tourniquet and got it on his leg.”

Brown’s quick thinking slowed the blood loss and stabilized the injured driver until emergency responders arrived.

“He was conscious when I got there,” Brown said. “By the time I got the tourniquet on, he was still conscious, but he wasn’t making much sense. He had lost quite a bit of blood.”

Brown believes the tourniquet made the critical difference.

“With an injury like that, you’ve got about 90 seconds before somebody bleeds out,” he said. “Had we not done something, he’d have been dead by the time help got there.”

After first responders arrived, Brown remained at the scene for nearly two hours, providing witness statements and assisting investigators before continuing on to complete his delivery.

“If that had been me in that truck, I would hope somebody would stop and help,” he said. “My wife, my children—I’d hope somebody would stop and do the same for them.”