Heavy Duty Trucking has extended the deadline for nominations for its 2026 Emerging Leaders awards. The awards recognize up-and-coming professionals under 40 who work for for-hire, private, government, or vocational fleets operating Class 7 or 8 trucks.

Candidates may work in any area of a heavy-duty trucking fleet’s business, including operations, management, maintenance, safety, sales, marketing, information technology, driver recruiting, or training.

Nominees should hold some type of leadership position, but they don’t need to work in the executive suite. An Emerging Leader could be anyone from a shop foreman or safety manager to a member of the C-suite.

Who Makes a Good Candidate for HDT Emerging Leader Awards?

HDT is looking for people who are making a meaningful difference within their fleets, demonstrating leadership and initiative, and building a strong record of success in their roles and within the trucking industry.

A strong nomination will include specific examples of the candidate’s accomplishments, the challenges they have addressed, and the effect their work has had on their fleet, employees, customers, or the broader industry.

People who work for industry suppliers are not eligible. This is an award for fleet managers.

Nominations close Oct. 20, 2026. Those selected as HDT Emerging Leaders will be featured online and in the December 2026 issue of Heavy Duty Trucking.

Questions about the awards or nomination process may be directed to HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge at dlockridge@truckinginfo.com.