Driver of the Year
Nominations are open for the 2025 Driver of the Year Award
The Ohio Trucking Association (OTA) is proud to honor the industry’s safest commercial drivers with the 2025 Driver of the Year Award. This award recognizes professional drivers who demonstrate an exceptional safety record, strong dedication to their profession, and a commitment to enhancing road safety.
Our selection process evaluates key aspects of a driver’s career, including total miles driven, equipment operated, years with their current employer, overall driving experience, accident history (preventable and non-preventable), and involvement in industry or community activities. A distinguished panel of judges will review all nominations and select twelve finalists. The 2025 Driver of the Year will be announced at the Awards Celebration on Friday, March 13, at The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center in Lewis Center, Ohio.
The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, January 30, 2026. Driver of the Year nominees must be employed by or leased to an Ohio Trucking Association member company. Please CLICK HERE to nominate your driver online or CLICK HERE to download the application. Please contact Bradie Berry if you have any questions.
Congratulations to Steve Brand, the 2024 Ohio Driver of the Year!
The Ohio Trucking Association is proud to announce Steve Brand, a professional driver with FedEx Freight, as the recipient of the 2024 Ohio Driver of the Year award. With a remarkable career spanning decades and nearly 5 million accident-free miles, Steve Brand embodies the very best of the trucking industry. His outstanding safety record, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the profession have earned him this prestigious honor.
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