The Macomb, Michigan, resident plans to use the truck to launch his own trucking business, building on a career that has included military service, commercial driving, and training other professional drivers.

A Career Shaped by Service and Trucking

Al-Kadhim’s connection to the U.S. military began before he immigrated to the United States. He worked as an interpreter and translator supporting U.S. Marines and Army units during combat operations before later becoming a U.S. citizen.

His service continued after arriving in the country. Al-Kadhim enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard, where he trained as a truck driver, an experience that eventually led to a civilian career in commercial trucking.

He went on to become an experienced driver and trainer focused on developing safe, disciplined, and accountable professionals. Al-Kadhim has also remained involved with organizations supporting veterans and military families.

Those experiences helped lead to his selection for Progressive’s Keys to Progress program, which provides vehicles to veterans and veteran-focused organizations.

“We’re proud to recognize veterans whose service continues long after they leave the military,” Progressive Commercial Lines President Karen Bailo said. “Fahad’s journey is one of courage, perseverance, and purpose.”

Freightliner Opens the Door to Business Ownership

For Al-Kadhim, receiving the Cascadia represents an opportunity to build on the career he has already established behind the wheel.

“What started as a passion for giving back to my community from behind the wheel can now be turned into providing me with the tools to build my own business,” Al-Kadhim said. “I am deeply grateful to Progressive for believing in me and allowing me to pursue my dream of owning my own trucking business.”

Progressive said the award was intended to help turn those plans into a reality while recognizing Al-Kadhim’s continued commitment to veterans, professional driving and his community.

Several organizations contributed to the effort, including About Velocity, 1-800-Charity Cars, Insurance Auto Auctions Inc. and Veracity Research Co. Investigations. The veteran-owned Veracity Research assisted with the recipient selection process.

With the Freightliner now providing the foundation for his next step, Al-Kadhim will be able to take the experience he developed through military service, commercial driving, and driver training into a trucking operation of his own.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 25, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: Progressive

The post Army Veteran Receives Freightliner Cascadia to Launch His Own Trucking Business appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Al-Kadhim, who lives in Macomb, Michigan, was selected in recognition of his military service, work in trucking and continued involvement with organizations supporting veterans and military families.

From Military Service to Trucking

Before immigrating to the United States, Al-Kadhim worked as an interpreter and translator alongside U.S. Marine Corps and Army units during combat operations.

After becoming a U.S. citizen, he enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard and trained as a truck driver. He later built a career as a commercial driver and trainer, with a focus on preparing professional drivers for work on the road.

His experience behind the wheel eventually led to plans for a trucking business of his own, and the Cascadia will provide the equipment needed to begin taking that next step.

“What started as a passion for giving back to my community from behind the wheel can now be turned into providing me with the tools to build my own business,” Al-Kadhim said.

Keys to Progress Provides the Truck

Progressive awarded the Freightliner through Keys to Progress, a vehicle donation program that supports veterans and veteran-focused organizations.

Karen Bailo, president of Progressive Commercial Lines, said Al-Kadhim’s military service and work since leaving active service contributed to his selection for the program.

Several organizations also participated in the donation process. Velocity assisted through its commercial vehicle network, while 1-800-Charity Cars provided support with the vehicle donation, title, and registration process. Insurance Auto Auctions and veteran-owned Veracity Research Co. Investigations also contributed to the program, including assistance with recipient selection.

For Al-Kadhim, the truck provides a way to move from working as an experienced commercial driver and trainer toward operating a business of his own.

“I am deeply grateful to Progressive for believing in me and allowing me to pursue my dream of owning my own trucking business,” he said.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 23, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: Progressive, Truckers News

The post Michigan Truck Driver Receives Freightliner to Help Launch His Own Business appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Drivers have until October 31 to submit a nomination, and only one nomination is needed for an eligible fleet to move forward in the program.

Who Can Submit a Nomination

A nomination must come from a company driver currently employed by the carrier or an owner-operator leased to the carrier. Drivers can nominate the fleet they currently work with through the Best Fleets to Drive For website.

Eligible carriers must operate for hire with at least 10 tractor-trailers under their own authority in the United States or Canada. There is no fee to participate, and carriers do not need to belong to an industry association.

Private fleets are not eligible for the program.

What Happens After a Fleet Is Nominated

A nomination starts the process, but it does not automatically put a carrier on the Best Fleets list.

Fleets that choose to participate complete a questionnaire and interview covering compensation, benefits, operations, career development, recognition, and work-life balance. Drivers and independent contractors at participating carriers are then asked to complete a separate survey about their experience with the company.

The number of driver surveys required varies based on fleet size, and individual driver names are not shared with the carrier. Those responses are considered alongside the fleet evaluation, safety performance, and driver retention when determining the results.

Best Fleets Enters Its 19th Year.

CarriersEdge launched Best Fleets to Drive For in 2008, and the 2027 program marks its 19th edition.

The program ultimately recognizes the Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For along with Fleets to Watch and qualifying Hall of Fame carriers. Best Overall honors are also awarded in large- and small-carrier categories.

Drivers who want to recognize their current carrier can submit a nomination through October 31, 2026.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 15, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Source: Best Fleets to Drive For

The post Truck Drivers Can Nominate Their Fleet for the 2027 Best Fleets to Drive For appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Nominations opened September 8 for the 2027 Best Fleets to Drive For program, which evaluates for-hire trucking companies across the United States and Canada based on the workplace experience they provide for company drivers and independent contractors.

Current drivers and independent contractors have through October 31 to submit a nomination, and it only takes one eligible nomination for a fleet to enter the process.

Drivers Start the Nomination Process

Best Fleets to Drive For is produced by CarriersEdge and is entering its 19th year. Unlike programs where companies simply enter themselves for an award, the process has to begin with someone currently driving for the fleet.

Eligible carriers must operate at least 10 tractor-trailers under their own authority and provide for-hire transportation in the United States or Canada. There is no fee for a fleet to participate and no association membership is required.

Once a carrier has been nominated, the company decides whether to continue with the evaluation.

What Happens After a Carrier Is Nominated

Participating fleets complete an extensive questionnaire covering the programs and policies that shape the driver’s experience. The evaluation looks at compensation, benefits, human resources, operations, performance and recognition, career development and work-life balance.

CarriersEdge then conducts an interview with the company to review its responses. Drivers and independent contractors are surveyed separately, giving the people working for the fleet an opportunity to weigh in on their experience.

Those results are evaluated alongside company information and other performance measures to determine which carriers receive recognition.

The driver survey is an important part of that process because a nomination alone does not make a company a Best Fleet. In the 2026 program, 108 fleets were nominated, 48 became finalists, and 4,498 driver surveys were completed before the winners were selected.

Recognition Goes Beyond the Top 20

The 2027 program will recognize a Top 20 along with Fleets to Watch and qualifying Best Fleets Hall of Fame carriers.

Hall of Fame status is reserved for companies with a sustained record in the program. A fleet can qualify after being named a Best Fleet for 10 consecutive years or seven years with at least one overall award, and Hall of Fame companies must continue to requalify.

The 2026 program included carriers from across the United States and Canada, ranging from smaller operations with fewer than 100 drivers to fleets with much larger workforces.

For drivers, that means the program is not limited to the industry’s biggest names. Smaller eligible carriers can be evaluated alongside larger operations based on the programs and working conditions they provide.

Nominations Close October 31

Drivers and independent contractors interested in recognizing their current carrier can submit a nomination through the Best Fleets to Drive For website through October 31.

After nominations close, participating fleets move through the questionnaire, interview and driver-survey portions of the process. The 2027 Top 20, Hall of Fame and Fleets to Watch are scheduled to be announced in January.

Overall winners will be selected from the qualifying fleets later in the program.

For drivers who believe their carrier deserves consideration, the nomination is simply the starting point. The larger evaluation that follows looks more closely at how the company approaches pay, benefits, communication, development, operations and the day-to-day experience of the people behind the wheel.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 11, 2026

Source: Truckers News

The post Drivers Can Now Nominate Their Carrier for the 2027 Best Fleets to Drive For appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

CHP Helps Mark the Milestone

CHP officers at the Cottonwood facility, located along Interstate 5 in Northern California, joined the celebration for Mitchell. Walmart employees, local first responders, and members of the chamber of commerce were also there to recognize the longtime driver.

The setting made the recognition especially fitting, with the celebration taking place at a facility dedicated to commercial vehicle enforcement and highway safety.

A Career Milestone on the Road

Four million accident-free miles is a career achievement few drivers reach. For Mitchell, the milestone marked years spent covering the road for Walmart Transportation without an accident.

The Cottonwood CHP shared the occasion as a chance to recognize Mitchell and his accomplishment, bringing together people from both the trucking community and the surrounding area to celebrate with him.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 3, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: CHP

The post Walmart Driver Celebrates 4 Million Accident-Free Miles in California appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Who Can Be Nominated

The award is open to professional drivers and diesel technicians under 30 who demonstrate strong safety performance, professionalism, career growth, leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to their work. Nominees do not need to hold management positions or have lengthy industry experience to be considered.

After nominations close, a selection committee made up of trucking industry leaders will review the submissions. Selected nominees will be named NEXT Top Talent Finalists, with one professional driver and one diesel technician ultimately chosen as Grand Champions. The finalists and Grand Champions are scheduled to be announced October 27.

Last Year’s Award Recognized 56 Finalists

The program launched in 2025 and recognized 56 professional drivers and diesel technicians from carriers, regional fleets, local operations and maintenance organizations across the country.

Isaiah Hicks-Dixon of Old Dominion Freight Line was named the inaugural Grand Champion Professional Driver after beginning his career with the company as a dock worker in 2019 and later moving into linehaul driving. Joe Reed of Kenan Advantage Group was selected as the Grand Champion Diesel Technician after advancing to the position of Shop Foreman for KAG Energy in North Canton, Ohio.

Finalists Receive Company Recognition

In addition to the national recognition, finalists receive personalized banners featuring their photo and company logo that can be displayed at terminals, shops and other workplaces. Next Generation in Trucking said some of the banners from last year remain on display at participating companies.

The 2026 NEXT Top Talent Award is sponsored by Fullbay and Advanced Training Systems. Companies can submit nominations through the Next Generation in Trucking Association beginning September 1, with the nomination period closing October 9.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 3, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: Next Gen Trucking

The post NEXT Top Talent Award Opens Nominations for Trucking Professionals Under 30 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.