NTTC names Driver of the Year champion finalists

The search for the tank truck industry’s next ambassador is well underway.

National Tank Truck Carriers this week revealed the eight champion finalists who are competing for the title of 2025-26 Professional Tank Truck Driver of the Year—and the right to represent the industry on the national stage during their one-year term. This year’s finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

• Jarrod Alsobrooks, SWTO
• Andrew Givens, ADM Trucking
• Joseph Hafford, Kenan Advantage Group
• Jorge Hernandez, Certified Express, Inc. (CEI)
• Bruce Jones, G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation
• Michael Key, Kenan Advantage Group
• Anthony Rocha, Foodliner
• Scott Tempus, Quest Liner

“This program has grown to be nothing short of exceptional,” Ryan Streblow, NTTC president and CEO, told Bulk Transporter. “This year’s finalists, pulled from a huge number of applications that were submitted, are a great representation of our industry. There’s a excellent cross reference of drivers hauling a wide variety of commodities, from fuel to food-grade products, chemicals, and dry bulk. And when you look at the caliber of these drivers, it speaks volumes to the level of professionalism in the tank truck space.”

The eight champion finalists, including two back-to-back finalists—G&D/Hoffman’s Jones and KAG’s Key—next will head to Arlington, Virginia, in late January to make their cases to a panel of judges that again will include Rebecca Brewster, American Transportation Research Institute president and chief operating officer; Dan Horvath, American Trucking Associations COO; Jason McDaniel, Bulk Transporter editor; and two of ATA’s elite America’s Road Team Captains. The finalists will be judged on their knowledge of the tank truck industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s messages, overall safe driving record, and their positive community efforts outside of their driving responsibilities.

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NTTC will crown the winner at its 2026 Annual Conference, set for April 20-22, 2026, in Baltimore, Maryland.

“Clearly, the training and education, and the level of professionalism they must maintain day in and day out to haul these vital commodities, sets our drivers apart,” Streblow said. “And it doesn’t matter if they’re hauling a hazardous or non-hazardous material, it’s been shown time and time again that it takes a higher-level professional to excel in this space and, quite frankly, this program is amazing.

“It’s one of the few—if not the only one—in which candidates are judged by their peers as they go through the process.”

See also: Schroyer has stories for days

The 2025-26 grand champion will represent NTTC at safety-focused events throughout the year, sharing NTTC’s mission of safety and education with the general public. The reigning Tank Truck Driver of the Year is Grammer Logistics’ Mark Schroyer. Previous winners 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
• 2024-25: Mark Schroyer, Grammer Logistics

“Mark is doing an exceptional job, not only within our segment of trucking, but across the board, with his involvement and representation at other events, including FFA [Future Farms of America] in Indiana,” Streblow said. “He’s currently on his way to Arlington National Cemetery to help deliver wreaths for Wreaths Across America. So, it’s special, not only for Mark, but for our industry and our association, to have him represent us. He has a tremendous amount of knowledge from his time in this industry—and he has been a spectacular ambassador.”