Last year’s winner Daryl Tolle (CVSA)
For more than a century, truckers have kept America moving. Every day, millions of drivers crisscross the highways, delivering goods, stocking store shelves, and ensuring that businesses and communities stay supplied. Among these hardworking men and women, a select few rise above the rest—drivers who don’t just clock miles but set the gold standard for safety, professionalism, and dedication. CVSA wants to find one of these elite drivers.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has officially opened nominations for its 2025 International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA). This prestigious honor is reserved for a commercial motor vehicle driver who has demonstrated exceptional safety, professionalism, and reliability. Unlike other awards that may recognize a company’s achievements or fleet performance, IDEA is about honoring the individual—the one driver who embodies the best of the trucking industry.
Winning this award isn’t just about spending decades on the road—it’s about spending those years doing things right, putting safety first, and consistently demonstrating excellence.
Are You Among the Best?
Truck driving is not just a job—it’s a profession that demands skill, patience, and discipline. Keeping a rig between the lines for hundreds of thousands of miles while dealing with unpredictable weather, distracted motorists, and tight deadlines is no easy feat. That’s why CVSA is looking for a driver who has done it all—without a single crash.
To even be considered for this elite award, a driver must have:
- At least 25 years of crash-free commercial driving. That’s over two decades of perfection—no fender benders, no near-misses, no insurance claims. Just safe, professional driving.
- A clean record for the last three years. Safety isn’t just about the past—it’s a daily commitment.
- No felony convictions. Trust and integrity go hand in hand with excellence.
- No safety-related suspensions in the last three years. Consistency is key.
- No driver violations in the past three years. The only exceptions? Minor paperwork-related form and manner violations—because, let’s be honest, no one becomes a trucker for the paperwork.
Unlike many industry awards, IDEA is not limited to CVSA members. Any professional commercial driver—whether they drive for a major carrier, an independent fleet, or operate as an owner-operator—can apply.
This award isn’t just for good drivers. It’s for the best.
What’s in It for the Winner?
A title like this deserves more than just a pat on the back. Winning the International Driver Excellence Award means earning the trucking industry’s highest individual honor. It means being recognized as the best driver on the road today. And, of course, it comes with some serious perks.
The 2025 IDEA recipient will receive:
- An all-expenses-paid trip to Denver, Colorado for themselves and a guest.
- Two nights at the Sheraton Denver Downtown—a well-earned break from the road.
- A $5,000 cash prize—because excellence deserves a reward.
- A crystal trophy—a symbol of their achievement that will last a lifetime.
- Industry-wide recognition at the CVSA Annual Conference on September 24, 2025.
- A special feature in CVSA’s Guardian magazine, cementing their legacy in trucking history.
More than that, winning cements a driver’s name among the legends of the highway. It’s a distinction that sets them apart—not just in their company, but across the entire trucking industry.
How to Apply (or Nominate Someone Great)
Do you know a driver who meets these incredible standards? Or maybe you are the one everyone should be talking about? Either way, the process to apply or nominate a driver is simple.
First, fill out the online nomination form. Make sure to include all the required supporting documents. These documents help CVSA confirm the nominee’s driving record and ensure they meet the eligibility requirements. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 9, 2025—so don’t wait too long.
Once all the nominations are in, CVSA’s IDEA Program Committee will carefully review, verify, and authenticate each one. After this, the CVSA Executive Committee will select the winner. The official announcement will come through CVSA’s news channels, website, and social media, giving the winner the recognition they deserve.
This isn’t just another industry award. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be recognized as the best in the business.
Past Winners: The Legends of Trucking
Every year, IDEA honors a driver whose dedication to safety stands above the rest. In 2024, Darryl Tolle from Ryder System Inc. took home the award after 41 years on the road and 3.6 million accident-free miles. His story is proof that the best drivers aren’t just keeping their trucks on the road—they’re setting the highest standards for safety and professionalism.
His achievements were widely celebrated across the trucking industry:
CVSA Honors Darryl Tolle – 2024 IDEA Winner The Trucker’s Feature on Ryder’s Darryl Tolle PrePass Safety Alliance Announcement
Tolle’s success shows that the best drivers don’t just make a difference for their companies—they make a difference for the entire industry. Will you be the next name on this list?
An Award Backed by Industry Leaders
The PrePass Safety Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to highway safety and efficiency, sponsors the International Driver Excellence Award. This partnership ensures that the best drivers get the recognition they deserve.
Truckers often operate behind the scenes, making sure the country keeps moving. While many industries take their workers for granted, IDEA reminds us that trucking excellence matters. Every day, thousands of drivers navigate busy highways, unpredictable weather, and distracted motorists. The best of them do it flawlessly.
This award exists to celebrate those drivers—the ones who keep safety at the forefront while still getting the job done.
Ready to Make History?
Do you have a flawless driving record? Have you spent decades mastering your craft? Or do you know someone who fits this description?
Now’s the time to act. Submit a nomination, recognize the best, and help honor a driver whose excellence has set the standard for the industry.
A quarter-century of safety deserves more than just recognition—it deserves the highest honor in trucking.
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Sources:
CVSA Official Page for IDEA Award & Past Winners
2025 IDEA Award Nominations Now Open
Safety, Service & 3.6 Million Miles: The 2024 IDEA Winner
IDEA Award & Resources – CVSA