by trucknews.com October 27, 2026
A truck driver with approximately 275,000 safe miles and a 20-year-old diesel technician specializing in complex engine repairs have been named grand champions of the 2026 NEXT Top Talent Awards.
The Next Generation in Trucking Association announced that Christopher Mauricio of Crawford Trucking in Des Moines, Iowa, and Greydon Souza of Advantage Truck Group in Raynham, Mass., received the top honors in the professional driver and diesel technician categories, respectively.
The awards, sponsored by Fullbay and Advanced Training Systems, recognize 57 young trucking professionals under 30 from 25 companies for their safety records, technical skills, leadership and contributions to the industry.
Mauricio joined Crawford Trucking in January 2024 through its driver training program. Since then, he has driven approximately 275,000 miles without a reported safety incident, competed in the 2026 Iowa Truck Driving Championships and become involved in the company’s safety program.