At its 2026 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville, the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), part of the American Trucking Associations, presented its prestigious Silver Spark Plug award to four individuals whose work continues to influence fleet performance across the country.

Recognizing Excellence Behind the Scenes

The Silver Spark Plug is considered TMC’s highest individual honor, awarded to professionals who have made lasting contributions to commercial vehicle maintenance and technology.

“The Silver Spark Plug is given to individuals who demonstrate professional excellence in commercial vehicle maintenance as our industry’s highest honor,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “Our winners this year represent the highest level of expertise and ability in our industry. We are pleased to recognize them with this award.”

2026 Silver Spark Plug Recipients

This year’s award winners represent a cross-section of the industry, from fleet management to diagnostics and association leadership:

• Scott Bartlein, Truck Fleet Management
• Taki Darakos, PITT OHIO
• Mark Zachos, DG Technologies
• Jack Legler, TMC/ATA

For drivers and fleet operators, these are the kinds of professionals working behind the curtain to keep equipment reliable, compliant, and moving efficiently.

Why This Matters to Drivers and Fleets

While drivers are the face of the industry, maintenance teams, engineers, and technical leaders are what keep trucks on the road. The work recognized by TMC directly impacts uptime, safety, and operating costs across fleets of all sizes.

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear highlighted how critical these roles are to the broader supply chain:

“TMC’s members keep our industry moving, and these four individuals represent the highest level of professional excellence the council strives for,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear.

“More than half of the 8.4 million people employed by the trucking industry do something other than drive a truck, and without them, our nation’s goods would not be delivered to our stores, hospitals, and factories,” Spear continued. “These individuals are examples to all of us in this industry, and we are proud to honor them with this award.”

A Standard for the Industry

Leadership within TMC also emphasized that the award reflects more than just technical skill. It represents a long-term commitment to improving how the industry operates.

Radu Mihai, TMC’s 2025–26 general chairman, praised the recipients for their continued impact:

“The Silver Spark Plug honors TMC members who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to improving our industry,” Mihai said. “I congratulate all these winners for their achievement and commitment to the ideals of TMC.”

Looking Ahead

As trucking continues to evolve with new technology, tighter regulations, and increased demand for efficiency, the role of maintenance and technical expertise is only becoming more important.

Awards like the Silver Spark Plug highlight the individuals pushing those standards forward—ensuring fleets stay safe, compliant, and ready for whatever comes next on the road.

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NASTC President David Owen kicked off the Thursday, October 23, program by recognizing the 2025 “America’s Best Drivers” team, which consists of twenty outstanding professional truck drivers nominated by NASTC member companies. Together, these drivers represent an incredible 585 years of combined over-the-road experience and an astonishing 51,442,500 accident-free miles.

Owen also presented this year’s Best Broker award to S-2 (Solutions Source), a long-standing member of NASTC’s Best Brokers group. “No NASTC member has ever lost a dime working with one of our Best Brokers,” Owen said, reflecting on the program’s strong reputation since its creation in 1991.

Honoring the New NASTC Transportation Ambassadors

In a new initiative for 2025, NASTC introduced three Transportation Ambassadors, individuals who’ve gone above and beyond to represent trucking in a positive light. The inaugural honorees included Tony Justice, Ingrid Brown, and Lindsay Lawler, all known for using their platforms to champion professional drivers and tell the real story of life behind the wheel.

“We have a real problem in trucking. We’re politically incorrect,” Owen said during the ceremony. “The only people who appreciate us are the people inside this industry, and one of the challenges we have is trying to create a realistic view of big trucks. The people we’re recognizing tonight are people who’ve really helped do that, giving of themselves 100 different ways to help us show what you guys are all about.”

While longtime advocate and driver Ingrid Brown was unable to attend due to health reasons, Owen paid tribute to her years of leadership and public advocacy for truckers. “I’ve known her for probably 25 years,” he said. “She’s been a voice for truck drivers and a bridge to the public, showing what trucking really means.”

Music, Radio, and Trucking Come Together

Both Lindsay Lawler and Tony Justice attended the Nashville event in person. “This award brings together my professional lives, which are music, radio, and trucking,” Lawler said. “I agree wholeheartedly with you, Dave, that I think we do a really great job telling each other how great trucking is, but we need to get the outside world to see it, too.”

Justice, who spent years on the road before turning to music, echoed that sentiment. “My heroes have always been truck drivers,” he said. “My dad was one. I don’t remember a time in my life when both [music and trucking] weren’t a part of my life.” He thanked the small fleet owners and pro drivers in attendance, adding, “You guys are the ones that don’t wait around for people to pat you on the back. This country can’t survive without you.”

America’s Best Drivers: The 2025 Honorees

Each of the 20 drivers honored this year represents the very best in safety, professionalism, and long-term commitment to trucking. Their accident-free mileage numbers speak volumes about their dedication:

• Travis Lauer, Alpha Drivers Transportation – 16 years, 1.4M miles
• Aaron Hayes, Black Diamond Transport – 24 years, 3.08M miles
• Brian Pregler, Capela Transport – 16 years, 1.7M miles
• Jack Rensing, Circle R Xpress – 49 years, 4M miles
• Roger Zima, Foltz Trucking – 42 years, 5M miles
• Baldo Reyes, Four Star Greenhouse Sales & Trans – 25 years, 2.21M miles
• Richard Johnson, Gold Standard Transportation – 54 years, 1.6M miles
• Mike Adcock, Hahn & Phillips Grease Company – 47 years, 4.8M miles
• Violet Holmes, Kisatchie Midnight Express – 38 years, 400K miles
• Jerry Ballo, Long Haul Trucking – 18 years, 2.2M miles
• William Edgin, Millwood Trucking – 25 years, 3M miles
• Christopher Lanning, Naeve Inc. – 20 years, 2M miles
• Charles Yahnke, Ohio Eastern Express – 25 years, 3.5M miles
• Justin Baldwin, Pleasant Valley Transport – 17 years, 1.5M miles
• Ken Schulz, QLF Transportation – 30 years, 3.2M miles
• Billy Ross, Southern Illinois Motor Xpress – 22 years, 2M miles
• Doug Hartman, Spoerl Trucking – 41 years, 2M miles
• Calvin Dean, TAC Transport – 25 years, 3.75M miles
• Jonathan Rejman, Venice Enterprise – 26 years, 1M miles
• Dan Stilp, Waletich Transportation – 29 years, 3.1M miles

Each of these drivers represents what’s best about small trucking — independence, resilience, and a shared commitment to keeping America’s freight moving safely and efficiently.

NASTC also confirmed that its 2026 Annual Conference will return to Nashville next year, running October 29–31.

Source: Overdrive

Image: Overdrive

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