TCA, Overdrive Magazine, and Truckers News Unveil 2019 Driver of the Year Grand Prize Winners
2019 Company Driver of the Year: Don Lewis of Wilson Logistics and 2019 Owner Operator of the Year: Kevin Kocmich of Diamond Transportation System, Inc. wins prestigious contests
Kissimmee, Florida:
On Tuesday evening, during the closing banquet at the Truckload Carriers Association’s Truckload 2020: Orlando, TCA and its partners, Overdrive Magazine and TruckersNews.com, and its long-time sponsors, Cummins Inc. and Love’s Travel Stops, announced the winners of the 2019 Driver of the Year Contests.
The 2019 Company Driver of the Year award was presented to Don Lewis of Republic, Missouri, who drives for Wilson Logistics, of Springfield, Missouri. The 2019 Owner Operator of the Year was presented to Kevin Kocmich of Litchfield, Minnesota, who is leased to Diamond Transportation System, Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin. Both drivers received a $25,000 cash prize for their achievements.
View photos from the awards presentation.
The annual contests, sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana, recognize the top owner operators and company drivers in the U.S. and Canada who provide reliable and safe truck transportation in moving the nation’s goods.
Prior to the announcement, Love’s Travel Stops Vice President of Sales Jon Archard said of the company driver finalists, “To be on this stage tonight, each driver has shown an unwavering focus on safety, professionalism, and leadership both on the road and in their local communities.”
In 1976, Lewis started his career as a professional truck driver and today has nearly 6 million accident-free miles, 2.6 million of those with Wilson Logistics. He has received numerous accolades and recognition, and gives back to not only his community, but takes pride in helping other drivers while out on the road.
“He has dedicated his life to the trucking industry over his 4 decades of service by remaining safe through 5.7 million miles, training new professional drivers, and sacrificing his personal life to remain dedicated to trucking,” said Wilson Logistics’ President and CEO Darrel Wilson. “The simplest word to summarize who Don is as a professional driver and his career is, remarkable. Don’s personality, professionalism, and commitment to safety is to be remarked upon as a true professional company driver.”
Cummins Inc. Vice President of Sales Amy Boerger said of the owner operator finalists, “These individuals are all intelligent small business owners, and they also help to keep our roads safe and environment clean. Our communities are all better due to their time and engagement.”
Kocmich has been behind the wheel of a truck for more than three decades and has amassed more than 3 million accident-free miles. Aside from his list of accomplishments, he takes pride in being a mentor to new and potential owner operators at the company.
“Kevin is always safe and courteous on the road; he takes the extra time to secure his loads properly, recheck the points of contact and properly measures and scales his loads,” said Diamond Transportation System, Inc.’s President Jon Coca. “Not only is he both safe and provides the best service, he’s a great representative. We truly wish we could have 100 owner operators just like Kevin.”
Each of the runners-up in both categories received checks for $2,500: Company drivers Robie Jensen of Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc. and Randy Kuryk of Bison Transport, and owner operators Jesse Dennis, leased to Prime Inc., and Robert and Tracy Roth, leased to Erb International, Inc.
To learn more about the contests or to nominate a deserving driver in the Summer of 2020, visit www.truckload.org/DOY.
View photos and updates from Truckload 2020: Orlando by following the hashtag #2020TCA on social media networks.