Heavy Duty Trucking has named the 2021 Emerging Leaders, an annual award bestowed upon a group of young trucking industry leaders working at fleet companies and already making a difference in their fields.
HDT Announces 2021 Emerging Leaders
HDT has named eight Emerging Leaders, an annual award bestowed upon a group of young trucking industry leaders working at fleet companies and already making a difference in their fields.

HDT has named eight Emerging Leaders, an annual award bestowed upon a group of young trucking industry leaders working at fleet companies and already making a difference in their fields.
Graphic: HDT
The award honors leaders under 40 who are making a difference in both the trucking industry and within their work for a for-hire, private, government, or vocational fleet. These leaders are influential in the trucking industry, innovative and successful. They can point to outstanding accomplishments and demonstrate excellent leadership qualities.
This year’s Emerging Leaders demonstrate the ability to adapt, find their own space in fast-growing fleets, and embrace the pace of trucking.
HDT 2021 Emerging Leaders

Chris Aranda, VP of Sales, Nussbaum Transportation
Nurcan “Nunu” Dueman, Product Manager, Digital Platforms, Werner Enterprises
Alan Harff, OSHA and Safe Operations Manager, PGT Trucking
Jeff Hollenbeck, Director of Operations, Barnhart Transportation
Maggie Nichols, VP of Transportation Services, Iron Woman Construction and Environmental Services
Leah Parrott, Communications Manager, Contract Freighters Inc.
John Peterson, Safety Manager, Nationwide Rail Services
Morgan Viard, Terminal Manager and Dispatcher, REV LNG & REV Hoopes Trucking
HDT’s 2021 Emerging Leaders were profiled in the December 2021 issue of Heavy Duty Trucking. Bios of the winners will released online when the digital edition of the magazine goes live in mid-December.
More Fleet Management

How Fleets Can Avoid Equipment Blind Spots in Disaster Response
When the unexpected happens, how you react to, and deal with operational blind spots is critical. Here’s how to keep you recovery on track, when nothing is normal.
Read More →
AI Security Risks for Trucking Fleets: What to Know About Deepfakes and Agentic AI
As fleets adopt artificial intelligence for routing, maintenance, and load matching, new security risks are emerging. Learn where the vulnerabilities are and how to put the right controls in place.
Read More →
FMCSA’s Motus System Is Coming. What Fleets Need to Know Now
The long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls.
Read More →
Cargo Theft Incidents Fall in Q1, but Organized Crime and Impersonation Drive New Risks
CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.
Read More →
Nominations Open for HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Read More →
New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
Read More →
March Truck Tonnage Posts Strongest Annual Gain Since 2022
A modest sequential increase capped the strongest quarterly performance in years, signaling continued freight momentum in early 2026.
Read More →
Ohio Turnpike Targets $5.2 Million in Unpaid Tolls from Trucking Firms
More than 300 carriers across 26 states have been sent to collections as the Ohio Turnpike cracks down on toll evasion and delinquent payments.
Read More →
'Beyond Compliance,' Regulations, Driver Coaching on ATRI’s 2026 Research List
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Read More →
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis on the Growing Need to Replace Old Trucks
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis says it's time for fleets to get back to the fundamentals of good maintenance practices. And that includes replacing older, inefficient equipment.
Read More →
