17th Annual Awards Program Recognizes Today’s Industry Professionals for Exceptional Safety, Performance, and Teamwork Across Diverse Fleet Sectors
Lytx® Inc., an industry pioneer of video and safety-driven efficiency, has proudly announced the 2026 Driver & Coach of the Year Awards. This annual recognition highlights the safest drivers and most impactful coaches who set the standard for performance and leadership within the transportation industry. Celebrating its 17th year, this program stands as fleet management’s longest-running awards initiative, highlighting Lytx’s ongoing dedication to safety and leadership.
The award recipients illustrate the powerful dynamic between drivers and coaches, emphasizing the lasting impact of positive recognition and meaningful coaching conversations. These individuals prove that excellence in safety is a collaborative effort that benefits other drivers and local communities.
A full list of the 2026 Driver & Coach of the Year winners can be viewed here.
Chris Cabrera
“This year’s nominees and winners not only keep our roads safer, but they also set a powerful example of teamwork and commitment,” said Chris Cabrera, Chief Executive Officer at Lytx. “As the company who first established this type of awards program in our space, we are proud to celebrate all of the safety professionals whose dedication and leadership inspire other members of the fleet community to strive for excellence day in and day out.”
The 2026 program saw a record-setting number of nominations, with a 95% increase from last year. Nominees for outstanding performance were submitted by both colleagues and supervisors within the Services/Utilities, Transit/EMS, Trucking/Freight, Distribution/Retail, and Waste/Construction/Concrete sectors.
Winners in all industry groups receive monetary prizes and recognition certificates. First-place winners also receive a trip for two to attend the Lytx Protect Conference® in San Diego, CA from May 2-5, 2026.
| Industry | Driver Awards | Coach Awards |
| Services/Utilities | 1st: Tommy Negahnquet (AmeriGas Propane)
2nd: Kenneth Williams (City of Kansas City) 3rd: Brandon Ratterree (Rottler Pest Solutions) |
1st: Jazzy Lineberger (Dycom Industries, Inc.)
2nd: Christopher D’Anna (Washington Gas) 3rd: Zackariah Xavier (Brink’s Inc.) |
| Transit/EMS | 1st: Lester Tukiendorf (Transit Team Inc.)
2nd: Russ Ximenez (MV Transportation) 3rd: Andrea Tubbs Hilliard (Transdev North America Inc.) |
1st: Brandon Skidmore (MV Transportation)
2nd: Eduardo Bustamante (Transdev North America Inc.) 3rd: Alicia Edenburg (Transit Team Inc.) |
| Trucking/Freight | 1st: Gayland Larsen (Barney Trucking, Inc.)
2nd: Tamara Land (Ryder System, Inc.) 3rd: Kurt Scott (Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.) |
1st: Teresa Patterson (J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.)
2nd: Diane Taylor (Barney Trucking, Inc.) 3rd: Fernando Martinez (Hub Group) |
| Distribution/Retail | 1st: Marty Vigil (UPS)
2nd: Joseph Medel (Harbor Wholesale Grocery Inc.) 3rd: Robert Trzecki (Linde Gas & Equipment Inc.) |
1st: Ronald Schafer (Vulcan Materials Company)
2nd: Kerri-Kaye Lamb (UPS) 3rd: Jasper Horn (Imperial Dade) |
| Waste/Construction/ Concrete | 1st: Stephen Drussell (Waste Connections, Inc.)
2nd: Curtis Hale (CEMEX) 3rd: Billy Johnson (GFL Environmental) |
1st: Marina Hernandez (Baldwin Paving Co, Inc.)
2nd: Patricia Hernandez (Waste Connections, Inc.) 3rd: Jason Van Achte (GFL Environmental) |
