Nominate 2027’s Top Professional Drivers for TCA’s Prestigious Awards
TCA Opens Nominations for 2027 Professional Drivers of the Year
The Truckload Carriers Association is accepting nominations for its 2027 Professional Drivers of the Year program, which will recognize five truck drivers for outstanding performance in safety, professionalism, leadership and community service.
Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 4, 2026. The program is open to drivers employed by TCA carrier member companies, and nominations must be submitted by their employers.
Each of the five selected drivers will receive a $20,000 cash award. Together, the awards represent $100,000 in recognition for drivers whose work has had a meaningful effect on their companies, fellow employees, communities and the broader trucking industry.
The honorees will be recognized during TCA’s 2027 Annual Convention, scheduled for Feb. 28 through March 3 in Las Vegas. The event will bring together trucking company representatives, drivers, suppliers and other industry participants for the association’s annual meetings and awards programs.
What TCA is looking for in nominees
The Professional Drivers of the Year program is intended to highlight drivers whose contributions extend beyond completing trips and delivering freight. According to TCA, nominees should demonstrate a sustained commitment to safe driving, professional conduct, leadership within their organizations and service to their communities.
That focus places driver performance in a broader context. Safe operation is a central part of the work, but the program also recognizes the responsibilities drivers take on while representing their employers on the road, interacting with customers and the public, and supporting other members of their companies.
Nominees must work for a TCA carrier member company. The association’s eligibility requirements and nomination guidelines are available through the program’s website, TCAProfessionalDriversOfTheYear.com. Questions about the program can also be directed to Claire Girard at CGirard@Truckload.org.
Recognition backed by industry sponsors
TCA produces the awards program with sponsorship from Love’s Travel Stops and Cummins Inc. Both companies said the program provides an opportunity to recognize the professional drivers who help keep freight moving across North America.
Jose Samperio, vice president and general manager of North America On-Highway at Cummins, said professional drivers play a critical role in the economy. He described the program as a way to recognize drivers who consistently show professionalism, safety and dedication in their daily work.
Jon Archard, senior vice president of sales at Love’s Travel Stops, said the company’s support reflects its respect for drivers and their role in keeping communities connected. He also pointed to safety, service and excellence as qualities that distinguish the drivers selected for the award.
A broader awards program
The Professional Drivers of the Year program is one of several recognition efforts associated with TCA’s annual convention. The association also conducts its Fleet Safety Awards, which recognize carriers that place first, second or third in mileage-based divisions.
While the fleet awards focus on carrier safety performance, the Professional Drivers of the Year program puts individual drivers at the center. It gives employers a formal way to recognize drivers whose daily decisions and conduct reflect the standards they want to see throughout their operations.
For professional drivers, awards of this kind can also draw attention to work that is often measured primarily through delivery schedules, mileage and operating results. The TCA program specifically includes leadership and community involvement, acknowledging that a driver’s influence may extend well beyond the miles recorded in a company’s systems.
The five 2027 honorees will be announced and celebrated at the Las Vegas convention after the nomination period closes. Program information, including eligibility details and submission guidelines, is available at TCAProfessionalDriversOfTheYear.com.
