Nussbaum Transportation of Hudson, Illinois, took home the grand prize in the Truckload Carriers Association’s Fleet Safety Awards, breaking Bison Transport’s long-time streak in the large-carrier division (total annual mileage of 25 million or more).

In the small carrier division, the Grand Prize was awarded to Liberty Linehaul West of Montebello, California, (total annual mileage of less than 25 million).

Both carriers demonstrated that they had exceptional safety programs and impressive accident frequency ratios over the last year.

TCA announced the award on March 18, 2025, at their annual convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Grand Prize represents the foremost safety award in the truckload industry, recognizing Nussbaum’s exceptional safety programs and leading accident frequency ratios.

How Does TCA Choose its Safety Winners?

To be eligible for the TCA Fleet Safety Award Grand Prize, fleets must first submit their accident frequency ratio per million miles driven. The three carriers with the lowest ratios are identified as the winners for each of six mileage-based divisions.

These carriers then undergo an audit by independent experts to ensure the accuracy of their results. 

TCA announced the names of the 18 division winners in January 2025 and invited them to submit further documentation about their overall safety programs, both on and off the highway, to be eligible for the Grand Prize. According to Nussbaum, that documentation included areas such as:

• Safety team structure

• Initiatives and programs for engaging drivers

• Safety tools and technologies

• Systems for measuring success in safety

• Driver selection procedures and orientation programs

• Driver training and development programs

• Accident investigation and prevention

• Equipment maintenance and inspection standards

• How the company promotes safety to its employees, community, and industry

After review by an industry panel of judges, the winning companies were deemed to have best demonstrated their commitment to improving safety on North America’s highways, according to TCA.

Nussbaum: Recognition Not Just for a Few Teams

“Thank you to our purpose-driven employee owners for owning it every moment,” said Rick Schmidt, Nussbaum senior director of HR & Safety. 

“We want to thank our drivers for their focus and high safety standards on the road, as well as our maintenance team for keeping our equipment in top condition. And of course, our safety department for their tireless efforts in training and development, hands-on coaching, compliance, and managing incidents. 

“These are just a few ways they help Nussbaum grow and improve. However, this award isn’t just for a few teams — it recognizes the entire organization’s hard work and efforts each day to prioritize safety.”