Finalists compete for big cash prizes in annual owner-operator contest

user-gravatar Headshot
Updated Sep 15, 2021

Glen Horack, Bryan Smith and Douglas Schildgen are finalists for the 2020 Owner-Operator of the Year award, announced the Truckload Carriers Association.

The winner will receive a $25,000 cash prize and the other two finalists will receive $2,500 each. The Company Driver of the Year winner in TCA’s parallel driver program will receive the same amount.

(from left) Owner-operator finalists Glen Horack, Douglas Schildgen and Bryan Smith(from left) Owner-operator finalists Glen Horack, Douglas Schildgen and Bryan Smith

Horack, of Elkland, Missouri, is leased to Prime, based in Springfield, Missouri. Schildgen, of Waterloo, Iowa, is leased to Warren Transport, also based in Waterloo, Iowa. Smith, of Asbury, Iowa, is leased to Tucker Freight Lines, based in Dubuque, Iowa. Horack and Smith are former finalists for the award.

The winners will be announced April 20 at TCA’s annual meeting. Originally scheduled for Jan. 23-26 in Nashville, Tennessee, the meeting is now set for April 17-20 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Thanks to Driver of the Year program sponsors Cummins and Love’s Travel Stops, each grand prize winner will receive $25,000, while the two runners-up in each division will win $2,500.Thanks to Driver of the Year program sponsors Cummins and Love’s Travel Stops, each grand prize winner will receive $25,000, while the two runners-up in each division will win $2,500.

The finalists were selected based on their safety record, efforts to enhance trucking’s image, and contributions to their local communities.

Overdrive co-produces the owner-operator award with TCA. Truckers News, a sister brand of Overdrive, co-produces the company driver award. Finalists for that award are:

  • Betty Aragon of Tucumcari, New Mexico, who drives for Wilson Logistics, Inc., Springfield, Missouri.
  • Dennis Cravener of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who drives for Givens Transportation, Chesapeake, Virginia.