Florida Trucking Association

09/14/2026

FDOT is proud to recognize Truck Driver Appreciation Week!

Truckers are an essential part of Florida's transportation network, delivering goods that keep our communities and economy moving. We appreciate their dedication and remain committed to investments that improve safety, strengthen freight movement, and support the industry's continued success.

09/14/2026

FTA is celebrating Truck Driver Appreciation Week by showcasing the very best, a collection of legendary drivers. These twelve drivers, Florida's 2026 Drivers of the Month, put a combined 31.3 million safe miles on the road in 2025, the kind of track record safety education and everyday professionalism are built on. Follow along this week to catch them all.

⭐Israel Martinez (Trans-Phos Inc.) — 3 million safe miles driven
⭐Clifford P. Manrodt (Publix Super Markets) — 2.5 million safe miles driven
⭐Tommy L. Stiglet (Florida Rock & Tank Lines) — 3.1 million safe miles driven
⭐Frances Jean Bentley (Publix Super Markets) — 1.8 million safe miles driven
⭐Terry Self (Trans-Phos Inc.) — 2 million safe miles driven
⭐Robert J. Deroy (Ryder System, Inc.) — 2.1 million safe miles driven
⭐Oscar Torres (Publix Super Markets) — 2.4 million safe miles driven
⭐Timothy Baker (Florida Rock & Tank Lines) — 3.5 million safe miles driven
⭐Michael Smith (Trans-Phos Inc.) — 3 million safe miles driven *Driver of the Year*
⭐George Moore (UPS) — 1.5 million safe miles driven
Keith Radford (Publix Super Markets) — 2.4 million safe miles driven
⭐David Leverette (Trans-Phos Inc.) — 4 million safe miles driven

09/14/2026

Thank you to America’s truck drivers for keeping our supply chain moving

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week celebrates the millions of professional truck drivers who deliver America’s freight - food, fuel, and medicine - safely and securely every day.

Did you know? 150+ trucking firms operate in and around Jacksonville’s port, helping us keep cargo moving from ship to shelf.


American Trucking Associations
Florida Trucking Association

09/14/2026

September 13th-19th is National Truck Driver Appreciation week, where we celebrate the 460,110 men and women who make up the Florida trucking industry, representing 1 in every 19 jobs in our state. This week arrives at a critical moment, with driver training standards under scrutiny nationwide.

Our latest issue is especially timely. Cover story: Tra Williams, President of FleetForce Truck Driver Training, on how his team trains thousands of qualified drivers a year — a blueprint worth reading.
Also inside: safety trends from CVSA, a recap of state and federal advocacy, Truck Driving Championships highlights, our Technician of the Year, and Moves & News.

Read the full issue:https://www.floridatrucking.org/floridatrucknews

09/11/2026

We support FMCSA's continued focus on driver training standards and roadway safety. For the Florida students caught in the transition following recent provider removals, we've compiled publicly available resources: Florida's education oversight body, the federal training registry, and Florida's workforce development network, from Florida Department of Education , Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and CareerSource Florida.

Learn more:

Please click the link to complete this form.

09/02/2026

⏰ One week on the clock. Applications for the 2026 FTA Technician of the Year Award close September 9.

Techs keep the wheels turning every single day, and now's the time to put them in the driver's seat of some well-earned recognition.

Don't let this deadline pass you by. Nominate your technicians today.

👉 Submit your nomination: https://form.jotform.com/262223717287056

09/01/2026

Florida Trucking Association is bringing members together this fall for actionable insight into the forces shaping our industry — at the federal, state, and regional level.

Fall Round Up | October 28–29 | Aloft Lake Nona

Sessions include:

🔹 Regulatory Briefing — Robert Kynoch, FLHSMV
🔹 Economy Forecast — Emily Clayton, ATA
🔹 Legislative Outlook — Chris Dudley, The Southern

More speakers and sessions, including a keynote, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Whether you're tracking new regulations, watching the economic outlook, or want to know what's ahead in Florida politics, this is where Florida's trucking industry gets in the driver's seat for what's next.

Register now: https://www.floridatrucking.org/fallroundup

08/31/2026

Last month, Florida Trucking Association members and industry leaders gathered in Fort Lauderdale for our 2026 Annual Conference presented by FleetForce, featuring updates from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Chief Derek Barrs, Brokerage Blueprint from J.W. Taylor, and sessions on safety, compliance, and recruiting the next generation of drivers.

Catch the recap below, and join us for the next big event: Fall Round-Up, October 28 & 29.

08/28/2026

FTA's 2.0 Leadership Class is your on-ramp into the future of Florida trucking:access to advocacy work, relationships, and a seat at the table. Applications are open now through September 25.

New class members get introduced on stage at Fall Round-Up, October 28–29 in Lake Nona.

learn more at: https://www.floridatrucking.org/2point0

08/27/2026

Meet Dustin Perkins, Florida's first-ever Technician of the Year.

Dustin, a Fleet Refrigeration Technician – Certified A Class with Publix Super Markets in Lakeland, took home the inaugural trophy, a set of tires provided by Conlan Tire Co. and a Snap-on gift card at FTA's 2025 Fall Round-Up. With 16 years in the industry, ASE certifications, and a U.S. Marine Corps background, Dustin represents the skilled technicians who keep Florida's fleets moving every single day.

Now it's someone else's turn in the spotlight. Applications for the 2026 Technician of the Year Award are open now. Don't let a well-deserved technician on your team miss this opportunity.

👉 Nominations are due Sept. 9: https://form.jotform.com/262223717287056