TAMPA, Florida—Usher Transport’s Dave Powell wasn’t eager to give up the title. He even jokingly wrote “Dave wins again” on the envelope he handed to National Tank Truck Carriers President and CEO Ryan Streblow on stage. But after 45 years in a truck—and coming up just short to Powell last year—Mark Schroyer was beyond prepared for his turn to represent the tank truck industry.
Schroyer, an owner-operator with Grammer Logistics since 1986, emerged from another impressive crop of eight Champion Finalists as the 2024-25 Professional Tank Truck Driver of the Year on Wednesday here during the 2025 NTTC Annual Conference at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street hotel.
“We’ve been waiting for this,” Grammer CEO Scott Dobak told Bulk Transporter. “We were disappointed Mark didn’t get it last year, but there are so many qualified drivers. You look at all the drivers who were here today and it’s hard to pick one over the other. But I think so highly of Mark that I could not be happier for him to receive this recognition. It’s well deserved.”
Schroyer is Grammer’s first NTTC Driver of the Year, and it isn’t hard to see why he finally claimed the William A. Usher Sr. trophy for one of NTTC’s oldest for-hire carrier members in his second straight year on stage. The 64-year-old chemical hauler boasts 3.4 million accident-free miles as a tanker driver—and he estimates he’s covered closer to 5 million miles in his long career. Schroyer already owns multiple driver of the year awards with Grammer, and he’s a certified Master Truck Driver with the Indiana Motor Truck Association.
“He’s a great guy, a great leader—and a great advocate for our industry,” said James Winton, Grammer chief operating officer.
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The Ohio native emerged from a field of Champion Finalists filled with inspirational career and personal and stories. This year’s finalists included Custom’s Darrin Guillory, Highway Transport’s Ed Heard—another two-time finalist—G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation’s Bruce Jones, Kenan Advantage Group’s Michael Key, ADM Trucking’s Travis King, SWTO’s Jwill Kosier, and Groendyke Transport’s Heath Lietzke.
“These drivers represent the very best of their profession,” Streblow said. “They’re everyday heroes whose dedication, professionalism, and passion set the standard for us all. I’ve had the privilege of learning their stories and each one reflects a deep commitment to excellence. They’ve faced adversity with strength, navigated challenges with determination, and above all prioritized safety in everything they do. But what sets them apart is the heart they bring to the job everyday. They don’t just move product, they bring reliability, passion, and human connection to every mile they drive.
“They’re not just drivers—they’re the pillars of our community.”
Or, put more succinctly by keynote speaker Jimmy Johnson, an NFL Hall of Fame coach who led the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl championships: “How ’bout them tank truckers!”
Schroyer, who started driving at 16 and went to work full time as a trucker when he graduated high school, thanked the Lord for keeping him safe, his family for supporting him on so many trips away from home, and Grammer for giving him the opportunity to do what he loves. “I’d like to thank Grammer for the years they’ve been good to me, stood behind me, and believed in me, to get me to the point where I am now,” he said. “I’ve seen 48 states and three providences in Canada through the windshield of a truck, and it’s been amazing.”
NTTC’s 11th Tank Truck Driver of the Year grew emotional when thanking his late father, George Schroyer—who also leased on with Grammer in 1986—for inspiring his love of truck driving, and trucks. Schroyer, whose first truck was a 1968 GMC 9500, and his brothers have an extensive antique truck collection, and he’s a past president of the American Truck Historical Society.
“During my stint driving a truck, there have been so many changes in the industry—and all for the better,” he said. “A lot of people will argue with me, saying they don’t like a lot of new things, like electronic logging devices. But I told my crew yesterday, if I had to go back to paper logs I’d retire today.”
Schroyer also used his time on stage to lament the state of U.S. roads and bridges and pitch a new TV show about restoring his 1943 Peterbilt chain-drive tractor. “I see all these shows on TV where they restore cars. My dream is to find to a producer, redo that truck, and show it to everybody on TV,” he said. “It was built for the government during World War II, and it’s still got a little oval plaque on the dash that shows it was built for Marinship Shipyard in Sausalito, California.”
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In the meantime, Schroyer will spend the next year serving as the industry’s ambassador, a role for which Winton says he’s ideally suited. And he’s already accustomed to advocating for drivers as part of Grammer’s Independent Contractor Council. “Mark leads by example,” Winton said.
“He has a soft voice—but he says a lot when he speaks.”
Streblow concurred.
“He’s committed to safety, not just in words but in every action,” Streblow summarized. “He hauls the most sensitive products with the most serious responsibility, and he carries himself with humility, honor, and a deep love for the industry he grew up with.”
The Usher trophy annually goes to the driver who best demonstrates knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s messages, and overall safe driving record. This year’s panel of judges included Rebecca Brewster, American Transportation Research Institute president and COO; Dan Horvath, American Trucking Associations senior vice president of regulatory affairs and safety policy; America’s Road Team Captains Pete Palczynski and Anthony Tirone, two Walmart Transportation drivers who previously pulled tank trailers; and Jason McDaniel, Bulk Transporter editor.
Previous winners of the NTTC Driver of the Year award, which is sponsored by Great West Casualty Company, include:
- 2013-14: James Starr, Groendyke Transport
- 2014-15: Bobby Weller, Hahn Transportation
- 2015-16: Darryl Nowell, Eagle Transport
- 2016-17: Todd Stine, Carbon Express
- 2017-18: Paul Emerson, Foodliner
- 2018-19: Barbara Herman, K-Limited Carrier
- 2019-20: Program suspended due to pandemic
- 2020-21: Ron Baird, G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation
- 2021-22: Thomas Frain, Highway Transport
- 2022-23: Kenneth Tolliver, G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation
- 2023-24: Dave Powell, Usher Transport
Powell helped Schroyer don his championship jacket, proving he was, in fact, willing to share the honor. And Schroyer ended his acceptance speech with this sage advice for future NTTC Driver of the Year hopefuls: “Hard work is a choice,” he concluded. “Attitude is a choice, discipline is a choice, excellence in a choice—and there are no shortcuts for safety and success.
“You must work for it.”
