MENU
SEARCHThe 18th annual contest recognizing the best workplaces for truck drivers sees changes to Top 20, Hall of Fame
HDT Graphic
Despite the challenging operating environment trucking has been dealing with, many fleets have not let that diminish their commitment to a driver-friendly workplace culture.
Online driver training provider CarriersEdge recently honored just such fleets in its 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For, recognizing for-hire trucking companies across North America for outstanding workplace experiences for company drivers and independent contractors.
This year’s Best Fleets winners stood out in a challenging operating environment, said the online driver training provider in an announcement, “demonstrating that operational clarity, consistency, and practical engagement strategies remain critical to sustaining strong fleet cultures.”
The 2026 results brought with them new entrants and changes to the Best Fleets to Drive For list. There were four new fleets making the Top 20 for the first time and one new Hall of Fame winner. Eight of last year's Hall of Fame fleets requalified this year.
“This was a demanding year for fleets across the industry,” said CarriersEdge CEO Jane Jazrawy in a news release.
“The fleets recognized in the 2026 Best Fleets programs distinguish themselves not by avoiding challenges, but by responding thoughtfully to them.
"Through clear communication and cost-conscious, driver-focused approaches, this year's Top 20 and Hall of Fame fleets showed that strong cultures can be sustained even in difficult conditions.”
To be considered for the Best Fleets program, for-hire companies operating 10 or more tractor-trailers must be nominated by a company driver or owner-operator currently working with them.
The fleets are then evaluated across a range of categories, including compensation, benefits, HR strategies, professional development, operations, and work/life balance, among other criteria.
Driver surveys are also conducted to collect input from drivers and independent contractors working with the fleets.
Introduced in 2022, the Hall of Fame category honors fleets that have demonstrated sustained excellence over time. To qualify, fleets must be named a Best Fleet for 10 consecutive years, or seven years with at least one overall award. Fleets named to the Hall of Fame must requalify each year.
A new Hall of Fame fleet was added to the list this year: Challenger Motor Freight of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
The Returning Hall of Fame fleets were:
Five Fleets to Watch (honorable mentions) were also identified:
From the Top 20, two overall winners will be unveiled, in large and small fleet categories, at the Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference, March 16–17, 2026, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.
CarriersEdge will also present the Stratosphere Award, which recognizes the top-scoring fleet in the Best Fleets Hall of Fame.
In addition to announcing the overall program winners, the Best Fleets Education & Awards Conference will share full details of the data collected during this year’s edition of the program — stats, trends, and innovative programs from all the Top 20 and Hall of Fame fleets.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued more than 550 notices of proposed removal to commercial driver training providers following a five-day nationwide enforcement sweep. Investigators cited unqualified instructors, improper training vehicles, and failure to meet federal and state requirements.
Read More →
Illinois is the latest state targeted and threatened with the loss of highway funding by the U.S. Department of Transportation in its review of states' non-domiciled CDL issuance procedures. The state is pushing back.
Read More →After a legal pause last fall, FMCSA has finalized its rule limiting non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses. The agency says the change closes a safety gap, and its revised economic analysis suggests workforce effects will be more gradual than first thought.
Read More →
Truck driver ratings reveal the best chain and independent truck stops in the country.
Read More →
6 intelligent dashcam tactics to improve safety and boost ROI
Read More →
Listen as transportation attorney and TruckSafe Consulting President Brandon Wiseman joins the HDT Talks Trucking podcast to unpack the “regulatory turbulence” of last year and what it means for trucking fleets in 2026.
Read More →
A practical look at how artificial intelligence is helping Pilot's trucking fleet move from reactive maintenance to a more proactive approach.
Read More →
Safety, uptime, and insurance costs directly impact profitability. This eBook looks at how fleet software is evolving to deliver real ROI through proactive maintenance, AI-powered video telematics, and real-time driver coaching. Learn how fleets are reducing crashes, defending claims, and using integrated data to make smarter operational decisions.
Read More →
Fleet software is getting more sophisticated and effective than ever, tying big data models together to transform maintenance, safety, and the value of your existing tech stack. Fleet technology upgrades are undoubtedly an investment, but updated technology can offer a much higher return. Read how upgrading your fleet technology can increase the return on your investment.
Read More →
Streetline is expanding smart truck parking tools, including a new I-5 deployment in Washington and a no-upfront-cost pilot model for state DOTs.
Read More →
