The Next Generation in Trucking Association is excited to announce the return of the NEXT Top Talent Award, a national recognition program celebrating outstanding professional drivers and diesel technicians under the age of 30 who are already making an impact across the trucking industry.
Following an incredible inaugural year in 2025, nominations for the 2026 NEXT Top Talent Award will open September 1 and close October 9, giving trucking companies across the country the opportunity to recognize the young professionals who are helping shape the future of their organizations—and the industry.
Selected nominees will be recognized as 2026 NEXT Top Talent Finalists, celebrating young professionals across the country who are already making their mark on trucking. From those finalists, one professional driver and one diesel technician will be selected as the 2026 NEXT Top Talent Grand Champions.
The 2026 finalists and Grand Champions will be announced October 27.
Celebrating the Young People Already Moving Trucking Forward
The trucking industry talks often about the importance of attracting the next generation. The NEXT Top Talent Award focuses on something equally important: recognizing the young people who are already here and succeeding.
From professional drivers delivering exceptional service and demonstrating a commitment to safety to diesel technicians keeping fleets moving and growing into leadership roles, young professionals are building meaningful careers throughout the industry.
The NEXT Top Talent Award allows companies to tell those stories—and gives these young professionals the industry recognition they deserve.
“We spend so much time talking about how we attract young people into trucking, but we also need to celebrate the ones who have already chosen our industry and are doing incredible things,” said Lindsey Trent, President and Co-Founder of the Next Generation in Trucking Association. “When we recognize their accomplishments, we’re not only showing them that their work matters—we’re showing other young people what is possible in this industry.”
Building on an Incredible First Year
The NEXT Top Talent Award launched in 2025 and received nominations from trucking companies across the country.
Ultimately, 56 young professionals were recognized as NEXT Top Talent Finalists, representing national carriers, regional fleets, local operations and maintenance organizations.
From those finalists, two individuals received the program’s highest recognition and were named the inaugural Grand Champions:
Grand Champion CDL Driver: Isaiah Hicks-Dixon, Old Dominion Freight Line
Grand Champion Diesel Technician: Joe Reed, Kenan Advantage Group
The stories submitted through the nomination process highlighted young professionals who advanced through their organizations, mentored coworkers, demonstrated exceptional commitment to safety and customer service, took on leadership responsibilities, and became role models within their companies.
Finalists also received personalized recognition, including custom banners featuring their photo and company logo that they could proudly display at their workplace.
Since then, Next Gen Trucking has heard from recipients and companies that have their banners hanging in shops, terminals, and break rooms—continuing the recognition long after the awards were announced.
Whom Should Companies Nominate?
Companies are encouraged to nominate exceptional professional drivers and diesel technicians under the age of 30who are making a difference within their organization.
We are looking for young professionals who:
- Demonstrate exceptional skill, safety, and professionalism
- Show initiative and continued career growth
- Make a positive contribution to their team and company
- Serve as leaders or mentors to others
- Demonstrate a strong work ethic and passion for their career
- Represent the next generation of trucking
Nominees do not have to hold a management title or have decades of experience. We want to hear about the young people who show up every day, take pride in their work, and demonstrate the potential to become future leaders of our industry.
Finalists and Grand Champions
After nominations close, a selection committee of trucking industry leaders will review the submissions.
Selected nominees will receive national recognition as 2026 NEXT Top Talent Finalists. This recognition celebrates a broader group of exceptional young professionals—not just the two individuals ultimately selected as Grand Champions.
From the finalists, the selection committee will choose:
2026 NEXT Top Talent Grand Champion Professional Driver
2026 NEXT Top Talent Grand Champion Diesel Technician
The finalists and Grand Champions will be announced on October 27, 2026.
Help Us Find the NEXT Top Talent
Every trucking company has young professionals whose stories deserve to be told.
Maybe it’s the driver who consistently goes above and beyond for customers. The technician who has quickly become someone everyone in the shop relies on. The employee who has taken initiative and grown within the organization. Or the young professional whose attitude, work ethic, and passion make everyone around them better.
We want to hear their story.
Nominations for the 2026 NEXT Top Talent Award open September 1 and close October 9, 2026.
Nominate an outstanding driver or diesel technician under 30 and help us shine a spotlight on the young professionals who are already proving that the future of trucking is bright.
Nominations Open: September 1, 2026
Nomination Deadline: October 9, 2026
Finalists & Grand Champions Announced: October 27, 2026
Sponsored by Fullbay
Nominate your NEXT Top Talent beginning September 1.
NOMINATION LINK – https://nextgentrucking.org/next-top-talent-award-nomination-form-2026/