The 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award has named its Elite 11 semifinalists, giving fleets and driver training schools a veteran recruitment pipeline now dominated by registered apprenticeships. Kenworth, Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes initiative announced the semifinalists Wednesday, according to FreightWaves. The award enters its 11th year with the same grand prize: a new Kenworth T680.
Apprenticeship Is Now the On-Ramp
Registered apprenticeship supplied most of this year's field, FreightWaves reported. Six in 10 nominations came from drivers completing or already finished with a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship program, and five of the Elite 11 are apprentices today. For carriers still building driver-development programs from scratch, the apprenticeship route is no longer experimental; it has become the dominant path into the cab for this cohort of veterans.
Kyle Kimball, Kenworth director of marketing, said, "This year's 'Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence' Elite 11 semifinalists exemplify the dedication, leadership, and commitment to service that military veterans bring to the trucking industry. Kenworth is honored to celebrate 11 years of partnership with Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes initiative, and we look forward to recognizing this exceptional class of semifinalists."
The 2026 Elite 11 Roster
The semifinalists span four branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Nominations arrived from carriers, driver training schools, a private fleet and individuals across the country, according to FreightWaves. The full roster:
| Semifinalist | Military Rank | Employer | Training Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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, Fla. (Registered 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, Miss. (Registered 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 (Registered Apprenticeship) |
| Daniel Doss | U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant (E-5) | Melton Truck Lines | Troops Into Transportation, Fort Benning (Registered Apprenticeship) |
| Michael R. Bivens | U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (E-6) | Stevens Transport | Tennessee Truck Driving School (Registered Apprenticeship) |
What the Winner Drives Home
For the 11th consecutive year, Kenworth is supplying the grand prize. The T680 comes with a 76-inch sleeper and the full PACCAR Powertrain: the MX-13 engine, TX-12 automated transmission and DX-40 tandem rear axles. The spec sheet leans on safety and driver retention features rather than raw hardware, including DigitalVision Mirrors, Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Auto Go, and Lane Keeping Assist with Torque Assisted Steering. Inside, the sleeper carries a Diamond VIT interior in charcoal, heated and cooled leather seats with titanium accents, a factory-installed refrigerator and a rotating work table.
The Road to West Point
Semifinalists will be honored Sept. 22 and 23 with a recognition dinner at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, according to FreightWaves.
For freight forwarders, 3PLs and shippers watching the driver market, the 2026 class signals that registered apprenticeship programs have become the primary recruiting engine for veteran drivers. With five current apprentices in the Elite 11 and six in 10 nominations coming through the U.S. Department of Labor program, carriers investing in apprenticeship infrastructure are aligning with the dominant hiring path for this cohort, according to FreightWaves.
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