CarriersEdge announced the winners of its annual Best Fleets to Drive For awards at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC in April. There were three categories for the awards: large carriers, small carriers, and, for the first time ever, the Stratosphere Award.
In the Best Overall Large Carrier category, the Cambridge, Ontario-based fleet Challenger Motor Freight took home the prize. For Best Small Carrier, the South Dakota-based fleet K&J Trucking was announced as the overall winner. And the inaugural winner of the Stratosphere Award went to Garner Trucking, based in Ohio.
Launched in 2008, the Best Fleets to Drive For program recognizes for-hire carriers that provide exceptional workplace experiences for their drivers. The program evaluates fleets nominated by their drivers across multiple workplace categories, including compensation, benefits, professional development, HR strategies, operations, and work/life balance.
The program received 117 nominations this year, with 67 finalists and a Top 20 Carriers list announced in January. The three overall winners were announced in April 8th.
The criteria for choosing the Best Fleets to Drive For, according to CarriersEdge, centered around actionable feedback from employees, a strong company culture, and a foundation of appreciation and kindness. These qualities not only help fleets win awards but also foster environments where drivers feel valued and supported. These three fleets exemplified these qualities.
One of the standout fleets, Challenger Motor Freight, demonstrated the importance of gathering and utilizing employee feedback. Steve Newton, Director of Safety and Driver Development at Challenger, emphasized the company’s philosophy:
“I think that our main pillars for our organization have always been: people, customer, profits,” says Steve Newton, director of safety and driver development for Challenger Motor Freight. “Our philosophy is: if we take care of our people, they’re going to do well by our customers, and then, obviously, the profit comes on later.”
This approach is evident in their “Good to Great” culture improvement journey, which began in 2014. The program involved comprehensive surveys and interviews with drivers and internal employees to identify areas for improvement. This feedback created a roadmap that guided Challenger from good to great.
K&J Trucking, the winner in the small carrier category, underscores the significance of hiring the right people to support and enhance the company’s core values. With four key values—do the right thing, go the extra mile for drivers, own it, and be geared to the community—K&J has cultivated a workplace culture that resonates with both employees and drivers.
Challenger Motor Freight, K&J Trucking, and Garner Trucking have set high standards for others in the industry to follow. Through demonstrating their values in their everyday practices, these companies not only receive recognition but also create environments where drivers feel valued and motivated, ultimately driving their businesses to greater success and safety.