Who are the rising professionals already making a difference in heavy-duty trucking?
Heavy Duty Trucking is accepting nominations for its 2026 Emerging Leaders awards, recognizing talented professionals under 40 who are demonstrating leadership, delivering results, and helping move the trucking industry forward.
Eligible nominees must work for a for-hire, private, government, or vocational fleet operating Class 7 or 8 trucks.
Emerging Leaders can come from any area of a fleet’s business, including:
- Fleet or company management
- Maintenance
- Safety and compliance
- Operations
- Sales and marketing
- Information technology
- Driver recruiting and retention
Nominees should hold a leadership position, but they don’t need an executive title. An Emerging Leader could be anyone from a shop foreman or safety manager to a member of the C-suite.
A strong nomination will explain how the candidate:
A strong nomination will explain how the candidate:
- Is making a meaningful impact on their fleet
- Has demonstrated initiative and leadership
- Has built a strong record of success
- Is contributing to the future of the trucking industry
Don’t let a deserving leader go unrecognized. Submit your nomination by October 15, 2026.
Those selected as HDT Emerging Leaders will be featured online and in the December 2026 issue of Heavy Duty Trucking.
Questions? Contact HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge at dlockridge@truckinginfo.com.