2026 Transition Trucking finalists named ahead of West Point vote

Kenworth, Fastport and Hiring Our Heroes have named five finalists for the 11th annual Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award, which spotlights military veterans building careers in trucking. Public voting runs Nov. 1-11, and the winner will be announced Dec. 15 at West Point.

Why it matters: - The award highlights how military veterans are moving into commercial trucking and how fast that transition can happen. - The grand prize is a Kenworth T680 truck, plus cash prizes for the runner-up and other finalists. - The program also elevates Registered Apprenticeship as a major path into the industry.

What happened: - Kenworth Truck Company, Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program announced the five finalists for the 11th annual Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award. - The finalists were selected after a nomination and review process that ends with a public vote. - The finalists are Mohammad Arzola, Monica Brooks-Buck, Daniel Doss, Brandon Ward and Gary W. Williams. - The finalists represent four branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. - The announcement followed a recognition dinner for 11 semi-finalists in Columbus, Ohio, and a visit to Kenworth’s manufacturing plant in Chillicothe, Ohio. - The semi-finalists also recorded interviews for the National Veterans Memorial and Museum’s StoryCorps archive.

The details: - Mohammad Arzola served 27 years in the Marine Corps, earned the Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon, and now drives for Patriot Group International. - Monica Brooks-Buck retired from the Army after nearly 25 years, joined Werner Enterprises in September 2025 and is a registered apprentice there. - Daniel Doss served 10 years in the Air Force, graduated from Troops Into Transportation and joined Melton Truck Lines in September 2025 as a flatbed driver and registered apprentice. - Brandon Ward served more than 22 years in the Navy, graduated from Roadmaster Drivers School in Orlando in September 2025 and joined Werner Enterprises later that month as a registered apprentice. - Gary W. Williams retired from the Army after 31 years, graduated from Southern Careers Institute in January 2026 and joined Stevens Transport weeks later. - Six of the 11 semi-finalists left military service at E-7 or above, including two sergeants major. - Sixty percent of nominations came from drivers completing or finishing a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship program, and five of the Elite 11 are apprentices today. - Kenworth’s 2026 grand prize is a T680 with a 76-inch sleeper and PACCAR Powertrain, including the PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. - The truck also includes DigitalVision Mirrors, Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control Stop and Auto Go, and Lane Keeping Assist with Torque Assisted Steering. - The sleeper includes a Diamond VIT charcoal interior, heated and cooled leather seats, a factory-installed refrigerator and a rotating work table. - The runner-up will receive $10,000, and the remaining finalists will each receive $5,000. - All five finalists and the overall winner will also receive prize packs from Road Dog Care Co., OOIDA and Truck Parking Club. - The finalists will visit the United States Military Academy at West Point in December for Veteran Ready Summit events before the winner is announced.

Between the lines: - The finalist slate is older and more senior than prior classes, which suggests the program is drawing veterans with deeper leadership experience. - Registered Apprenticeship is becoming a more visible pipeline into trucking, not just a side path. - The award is designed to celebrate one winner, but the cash prizes and West Point programming also recognize the full finalist group.

What's next: - Public voting runs from Nov. 1 through Nov. 11. - The Selection Committee will use the public vote as part of its final deliberations. - The winner will be announced Dec. 15 at the Veteran Ready Summit at West Point. - The finalists will travel to West Point in December for program events ahead of the announcement.

The bottom line: - The 2026 contest is both a veteran career showcase and a truck-industry recruiting story, with apprenticeship and public voting playing a bigger role than ever.