HONORING VETERANS IN COMMERCIAL TRUCKING
Kenworth, Fastport, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes initiative have announced the 11 semi-finalists for the 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award, recognizing military veterans who have successfully transitioned from military service into professional trucking careers.
Now in its 11th year, the nationally recognized program celebrates veterans who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, professionalism, and leadership after entering the commercial trucking industry. The initiative also highlights the vital role trucking plays in providing meaningful civilian career opportunities for former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award was created to recognize veterans who have successfully applied the discipline, leadership, and work ethic developed during military service to careers as professional commercial drivers.
Each year, trucking companies, CDL training schools, private fleets, instructors, and individuals from across the United States nominate deserving veterans who have made exceptional transitions into the transportation industry. The 2026 semi-finalists represent four branches of the U.S. military and were selected from nominations submitted nationwide.
Transitioning service members can accelerate their commercial driving qualifications by enrolling in a fast CDL-A trucking school with job placement, helping translate military operational discipline into high-paying civilian freight careers.
MEET THE 2026 SEMI-FINALISTS
The list reflects a broad cross-section of the trucking industry, with finalists representing major for-hire carriers, private fleets, and graduates from a variety of commercial driver training programs and U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeships.
| Semi-Finalist | Military Service | Current Employer | CDL Training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Barber | U.S. Army – Sergeant First Class (E-7) | Prime Inc. | Prime Inc. |
| Brandon Ward | U.S. Navy – Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) | Werner Enterprises | Roadmaster Drivers School (Orlando), U.S. DOL Apprenticeship |
| Mohammad Arzola | U.S. Marine Corps – Sergeant Major (E-9) | HEB | California Career Schools |
| Juan Rosado Lozada | U.S. Marine Corps – Lance Corporal (E-3) | Roehl Transport | Troops Into Transportation, Fort Benning |
| Kishawn Forbes | U.S. Navy – Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) | Melton Truck Lines | Florida State College at Jacksonville |
| Gary W. Williams | U.S. Army – Command Sergeant Major (E-9) | Stevens Transport | Southern Careers Institute |
| Monica Brooks-Buck | U.S. Army – Sergeant First Class (E-7) | Werner Enterprises | Truck Driver Institute (Saucier), U.S. DOL Apprenticeship |
| Jenn Wilken | U.S. Army – Staff Sergeant (E-6) | Prime Inc. | Prime Inc. |
| Daryus Jones | U.S. Army – Private First Class (E-3) | Anheuser-Busch | Tulsa Technology, U.S. DOL Apprenticeship |
| Daniel Doss | U.S. Air Force – Staff Sergeant (E-5) | Melton Truck Lines | Troops Into Transportation, Fort Benning, U.S. DOL Apprenticeship |
| Michael R. Bivens | U.S. Marine Corps – Staff Sergeant (E-6) | Stevens Transport | Tennessee Truck Driving School, U.S. DOL Apprenticeship |
Drivers seeking structured schedules and steady routes close to home after service can explore local CDL-A truck driving jobs USA or regional CDL-A truck driving jobs to establish balanced civilian lifestyles.
RECOGNITION EVENTS & PUBLIC VOTING
The semi-finalists will be honored during a two-day recognition event on September 22–23 in Columbus, Ohio.
September Recognition Event Highlights:
- A formal recognition dinner at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum
- A guided tour of Kenworth's flagship manufacturing plant in Chillicothe, Ohio
- The official announcement of the top finalists advancing to the final stage
Following the announcement of the finalists, public voting will open from November 1 through Veterans Day on November 11. While public votes do not solely determine the outcome, they play a crucial role in the Selection Committee's final evaluation of each veteran's leadership and community impact.
The recipient of the 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award will be announced on December 14 during the Veteran Ready Summit at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Professional haulers navigating long-distance interstate runs while participating in national industry initiatives rely on steady freight lanes through OTR CDL-A jobs across the USA.
KENWORTH T680 GRAND PRIZE & OWNER-OPERATOR OPPORTUNITIES
For the 11th consecutive year, Kenworth will award the program's grand prize—a new, fully equipped Kenworth T680 designed specifically for long-haul professional drivers.
Kenworth T680 Grand Prize Specifications:
- 76-inch high-roof sleeper cab
- PACCAR MX-13 fuel-efficient engine
- PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission
- PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles
- Complete integrated PACCAR Powertrain package
The award gives the winning veteran the ultimate launchpad to begin or expand an independent business as a fleet owner. Drivers interested in launching their own trucking business or building wealth with top-paying carriers can explore premier positions in owner-operator CDL-A trucking jobs USA.
To project potential net earnings and equipment expenses as an independent operator, drivers can utilize an interactive truck driver salary calculator to benchmark weekly gross pay and operating costs.
Skills developed through military service—including discipline, leadership, teamwork, and operating complex heavy machinery—translate directly to commercial driving excellence. As the Transition Trucking program enters its second decade, it stands as a shining example of how the trucking industry welcomes and empowers American veterans.