The Louisiana Motor Transport Association Foundation recognized Charles James of New South Express with the 2026 Louisiana Professional Truck Driver of the Year award during its Truck Safety Awards ceremony on June 20 in Lafayette. The ceremony was held alongside the 2026 Louisiana Truck Driving Championships awards program at the Cajundome Event Center. Casey Driggers of Custom Transport was also recognized as the 2026 Louisiana Safety Professional of the Year.

James Honored for Safety Record and Professionalism

According to the LMTA Foundation, James was selected for the driver award based on his safety record and professionalism on the job. Over the past seven years, he has logged roughly 700,000 accident-free miles without a preventable crash, moving violation, or DOT-recordable incident.

In announcing the award, LMTA described James as a reliable driver with a strong commitment to safety and a positive attitude on the job. The association said his professionalism behind the wheel and the way he represents the trucking industry made him a deserving choice for this year’s award.

Award Presented During the Louisiana Truck Driving Championships Weekend

The award was presented during the LMTA Foundation’s annual Truck Safety Awards ceremony, which took place June 20 at the Cajundome Event Center in Lafayette. The event was held in conjunction with the 2026 Louisiana Truck Driving Championships awards ceremony.

LMTA’s Truck Driving Championships serve as the state’s annual skills competition for professional drivers and are part of the association’s larger safety and driver recognition efforts in Louisiana.

LMTA Also Recognizes Safety Professional of the Year

Along with James’ award, the foundation recognized Casey Driggers of Custom Transport as the Louisiana Safety Professional of the Year.

LMTA said Driggers was selected for his work building a stronger safety culture across his company’s operations. According to the association, he oversees safety efforts tied to more than 20 million annual miles and nearly 300 employees. LMTA credited him with implementing training, accountability measures, and safety technology that produced measurable results.

The association also pointed to his focus on driver development, communication, and collaboration with industry and enforcement partners as reasons he was selected for the honor.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: June 30, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: Louisiana Motor Truck Association

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“The LMTA Foundation is proud to shine a spotlight on these companies and their commitment to safety,” said Renee Amar, executive director of the LMTA Foundation. “Their dedication to improving highway safety sets a high standard for the industry and makes a real difference on Louisiana’s and the nation’s roads.”

Recognizing Safety Excellence in the Trucking Industry

The winners represent companies achieving the lowest accident frequency ratios per million miles annually, segmented by mileage and cargo categories. This dedication to safety underscores the commitment these businesses hold toward fostering safer roads across Louisiana and beyond.

All honorees will gather for recognition during the Truck Safety Awards Banquet on March 1 at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge. The banquet will also honor recipients of the Most Improved Award and the coveted President’s Award, for which all category winners are eligible.

Meet the 2025 Louisiana Fleet Safety Awards Winners

Below is the list of this year’s top-performing companies across various categories:

Under 1 million miles | Hazardous/Tank

• 1st place: FreedomTrucks of America

• 1st place: Newman Transport

• 1st place: Occidental Chemical Corporation

• 2nd place: O’Nealgas, Inc.

1,000,000-3,000,000 miles | Hazardous/Tank Materials

• 1st place: Hercules Transport, Inc.

• 2nd place: Texas Transeastern

3,000,000-6,000,000 miles | Hazardous/Tank Materials

• 1st place: Ergon Trucking Inc.

6,000,000-9,000,000 miles | Hazardous/Tank Materials

• 1st place: Dupre’ Logistics

Under 1 million miles | Miscellaneous

• 1st place: Occidental Chemical Corporation

• 1st place: Sabel Steel

• 2nd place: River City Ready Mix

9,000,000-12,000,000 miles | Miscellaneous

• 1st place: Dupre’ Logistics

1,000,000-3,000,000 miles | General Commodities Truckload

• 1st place: New South Express

12,000,000-20,000,000 miles | General Commodities Truckload

• 1st place: C&S Wholesale Service Inc.

• 2nd place: Walmart Transportation

1,000,000-3,000,000 miles | General Commodities LTL

• 1st place: Martin Brower

9,000,000-12,000,000 miles | General Commodities LTL

• 1st place: Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

Under 1 million miles | Household Goods

• 1st place: American Moving and Storage

Under 1 million miles | Heavy Haulers

• 1st place: RedGuard

1,000,000-3,000,000 miles | Heavy Haulers

• 1st place: D & J Construction

Celebrating a Legacy of Safer Highways

The 2025 Louisiana Fleet Safety Awards reflect the commitment of businesses operating in the trucking industry toward building safer roads for everyone. Each winning company serves as an example, setting benchmarks for safety practices and fostering a culture of responsibility.

Source: Truckers News

Image: LMTA, Truckers News

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