Forward's 5th annual Drive for Hope Golf Tournament raises $700,000 for Hope For The Warriors

Forward Air Corporation’s 5th Annual Drive for Hope Golf Tournament raised $700,000 for Hope For The Warriors, marking the most successful year in the event's history. The milestone brings the total funds raised through the Drive for Hope event to more than $2.4 million since 2022.

"It is an honor to help empower the incredible work HOPE does to help our veterans and their families rebuild, reconnect, and thrive,” said Shawn Stewart, president and CEO of Forward. “I'm incredibly proud of what our team, our partners, and our community have built together over these five years and excited to see where we take it in the next five years.”

The 2026 Drive for Hope event kicked off with a dinner, silent auction, and live auction at Glass Cactus. The celebration continued with the golf tournament at Cowboys Golf Club, bringing participants together on the course to support Hope For The Warriors' mission to restore a sense of self, family, and hope for post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families.

"We continue to be inspired by the growth of this event and the strength of our partnership with Forward," said Robin Kelleher, CEO of Hope For The Warriors. “For years, the Forward team has shown up alongside us with a genuine commitment to strengthening military families. What makes this partnership so meaningful is that it goes far beyond fundraising—it’s a shared belief in what’s possible when companies, communities, and organizations come together.”

WIT reveals finalists for 2026 Influential Woman in Trucking Award

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) recently revealed three finalists for the 2026 Influential Woman in Trucking Award. Established in 2010, the award honors female leaders who are shaping the future of trucking and inspiring others through innovation, leadership, and a commitment to advancing women in the industry.  

This year's finalists represent a range of leadership roles across the industry who have made a measurable impact on their organizations and communities. The 2026 Influential Woman in Trucking award finalists are: 

• Angela Lentz, chief people officer, Daimler Truck North America (DTNA)
• Mari Roberts, SVP of North America supply chain centers of excellence, PepsiCo 
• Sauny Tucker, CEO, Tucker Freight Lines 

Lentz leads the people and culture strategy for DTNA. She serves on the DTNA Operating Committee, the company’s senior leadership body for North America, and on Daimler Truck’s global Human Resources Operating Committee. Lentz builds leadership on connection and trust. Known for her transparent style and passion for developing others, she has built a reputation as a mentor and advocate for employees across the organization.

Roberts and her team deliver operational excellence across PepsiCo’s manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, fleet, and integrated business solutions. She has held leadership positions in multiple employee resource groups at Frito-Lay, including the Women's Inclusion Network and PepsiCo Asian Network, and served as executive sponsor for the EQUAL ERG.

Tucker leads safety, human resources, recruiting, and marketing, while helping guide Tucker Freight Lines’ continued growth and expansion. As the company has grown, Tucker has remained grounded in something much harder to measure: knowing the people behind the business. She is known for an open door, a willingness to listen, and a leadership style that pairs compassion with accountability. 

The award finalists will participate in a panel discussion at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo taking place October 25-28 in Dallas, Texas, followed by the winner announcement. 

Melton Truck Lines Driver honored as TCA Highway Angel for helping four crash victims in Kentucky

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named Sammie Phillips, a driver for Melton Truck Lines, a TCA Highway Angel for his response after witnessing a rollover crash in Kentucky.

On August 14, Phillips was traveling near Lexington, Kentucky, when he saw an SUV carrying four young adults lose control and roll multiple times.

Phillips activated his emergency lights, pulled his truck over, and ran toward the wreck. The SUV had rolled three or four times and came to rest on its passenger side. Phillips climbed onto the vehicle and tried to reach the occupants.

“By the grace of God, I climbed on top,” he said. “I was like, ‘I ain’t gonna be out here opening the back latch, so let me climb on top and open one of the doors.’”

Two of the four occupants told Phillips they were injured, while the other two had scrapes and bruises. Phillips said he did not hesitate to help.

Law enforcement arrived shortly afterward and helped get the occupants out of the vehicle. Phillips remained at the scene to help and provide information to responding officers.

When asked why he stopped rather than calling 911 and continuing on his route, Phillips said he thought about his own family.

“What if that was one of my family members?” he said. “I’d want somebody to stop.”

Isuzu donates new N-SERIES NRR truck to South Greenville Fire District

Isuzu North America recently donated a new Isuzu N-Series NRR gas-powered truck to the South Greenville Fire District. The donation will provide the district with a resource to support its community outreach, fire safety education, and public engagement initiatives.

Representatives from Isuzu North America Corporation and the South Greenville Fire District celebrated the donation with a vehicle presentation ceremony. Fire District officials received a thorough walkaround showcasing the new truck and body's features, functions, and benefits.

The Isuzu NRR gas-powered chassis has a 19,500-lb. GVWR, best-in-class maneuverability and visibility thanks to its compact, low cab-forward design. Morgan Truck Body built the body as a special build at its Orrville, Ohio, facility, and it is constructed of Morgan Plate (a proprietary sidewall material) that is lightweight and durable, providing long-term quality. It also has an Interlift liftgate by Palfinger for easier loading and unloading. This combination provides the South Greenville Fire District with a flexible platform for transporting materials, equipment, and displays to community events and educational programs throughout the area.

The truck’s graphics, featuring the South Greenville Community Risk Reduction branding, will also help create a recognizable presence for the South Greenville Fire District at public events, schools, neighborhood programs, and other community gatherings.

“Isuzu believes that being part of a community means more than simply doing business there. It means finding meaningful ways to contribute,” said Hiroki Motohashi, president and COO of Isuzu North America. “The South Greenville Fire District plays an essential role in protecting, educating, and bringing this community together. We are honored to provide a truck that can help extend the reach of those efforts, and we look forward to building a lasting relationship with Greenville County as Isuzu establishes an even greater presence in the region.”