Finalists Announced for 2026 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award

CHILLICOTHE, OH. , Sept. 28, 2026 – Finalists for the 11th annual “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award were recently announced by Kenworth Truck Company, Fastport, and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program.

This distinguished award celebrates military veterans who have successfully transitioned into professional truck driving careers. Following a thorough nomination and review process and culminating with a final public vote, the program will honor and reward America’s top rookie military veteran drivers.

In Ohio last week, 11 semi-finalists — the “Elite 11” — were distinguished guests at a recognition dinner held at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus.

The following day, the Kenworth truck manufacturing plant in Chillicothe hosted the event where finalists were announced, along with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Kenworth’s flagship manufacturing facility. While in Columbus, the drivers sat for interviews with the award program and recorded their stories for the museum’s StoryCorps archive.

In the weeks leading up to the Ohio events, the semi-finalists appeared on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Radio and sat for long-form interviews with PodWheels, which were featured in The Trucker. This year’s class is the most senior in the program’s history, with six of the eleven semi-finalists leaving service at E-7 or above, including two Sergeants Major.

Registered Apprenticeship again shaped the field: 60% of the nominations received came from drivers who are completing or have completed a U. S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship program, and five of the Elite 11 are apprentices today. window. googletag = window. googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag. cmd. push(function() {var gptSlot = googletag.

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Marine Corps (E-9), Patriot Group International Sergeant Major Mohammad “Mo” Arzola enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1997 and served 27 years as a machine gunner, drill instructor and senior enlisted leader, with assignments including 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, and multiple aviation commands as squadron sergeant major.

He deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, earning the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon. A San Antonio native, Mo graduated from California Career Schools and logged more than 100,000 safe miles to earn the Spirit of HEB Award before driving for Patriot Group International. Finalist #2 Monica Brooks-Buck, U. S.

Army (E-7), Werner Enterprises Monica Brooks-Buck is a retired U. S. Army veteran with nearly 25 years of service, including more than 20 years in logistics as a 92Y supply specialist and an Army Master Driver.

She graduated from the Truck Driver Institute in Saucier, Mississippi, and joined Werner Enterprises in September 2025, where she is a registered apprentice in the Werner Enterprises Truck Driver Apprenticeship. Monica drives as part of a professional team with her husband while pursuing studies in information technology.

She belongs to the Women In Trucking Association and Disabled American Veterans. Finalist #3 Daniel Doss, U. S. Air Force (E-5), Melton Truck Lines Staff Sergeant Daniel Doss was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and enlisted in the U. S. Air Force in 2015, serving 10 years as a fuels specialist.

He supported humanitarian relief operations following Hurricane Michael, served on the Base Honor Guard rendering final military honors to veterans, and led fuel operations and maintenance teams stateside and on deployment to the United Arab Emirates.

Daniel graduated from Troops Into Transportation at Fort Benning and joined Melton Truck Lines in September 2025, where he drives flatbed as a registered apprentice. He and his wife have three children. window. googletag = window. googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag. cmd. push(function() {var gptSlot = googletag.

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