Fleets explain why they participate in Best Fleets to Drive For
Published on September 17, 2025
Year after year, carriers complete the evaluation process for Best Fleets to Drive For®. It’s not just the trophy they’re after. They want change and transformation. What started as an award has grown into something much more: fleets learning from one another, raising the standard, and proving to drivers that culture is more than a slogan.
From contest to culture check
Yes, Best Fleets is a competition. Fleets submit their answers to a comprehensive questionnaire, go through an interview process and appear on a benchmark matrix. Landing in the Top 20 is meaningful, but the real value runs deeper.
Every participant—whether they place in the Top 20 or not—has the option to order a full feedback report. Not all fleets take advantage of it, but those that do get detailed scores, benchmarking against peers, and clear direction on where to improve. Many fleets don’t realize this report exists, yet it’s one of the most valuable parts of the process.
Preparing the application isn’t simple. After a driver nominates their fleet, the company completes the questionnaire and then meets with the Best Fleets team. Prime Inc.’s Mitchell Coiner calls it “a unique questionnaire that hits so many different sides of the company,” encouraging cross-department conversations. In effect, fleets carry out an internal audit of practices and get insights for leadership development.
Progress is a habit
Why fleets keep participating year after year? Because the process drives progress.
Garner Trucking, a two-time Stratosphere Award winner, uses each evaluation as a springboard to debrief, hold strategy sessions with their driver advisory board, and even budgets for driver-led initiatives inspired by survey feedback. Their driver lounge and upgraded communication strategy both came directly from Best Fleets insights. COO Tim Chrulski sums it up: the program helps them “understand what’s important to our company, our culture, our drivers, and the industry.”
Dale Decker, CEO of Decker Truck Line, sees the value in the feedback loop. “It’s the benefit that the [Best Fleets] survey brings—to be introspective, to look at different areas… how you may be able to score better”. Reviewing results each year helps them validate what works, refine what doesn’t, and track how cultural changes take hold.
For America’s Service Line, the Best Fleets program is part of their rhythm. After making the Top 20 twice, President Scott Willard noted, “We enjoyed reviewing what we’re doing, what we’re not doing, and what we can focus on to get better.” From safety to HR to finance, the Best Fleets program gives every department a structured way to test whether their efforts are working.
Recognition that recruits and retains
But, of course, industry recognition matters. To drivers, to recruits, and to the fleets that want to keep them.
At Ippolito Transportation, who reached Best Fleets Top 20 in 2025, the push to join the program began with a desire to recognize drivers. New leaders in 2021 were struck by the respect and professionalism they saw on the road and wanted a framework to showcase it. Best Fleets provided that frame. Their first year was a learning curve, but the survey and feedback report became tools for deeper conversations with drivers and departments, sparking measurable improvements in safety, training, and culture. As Director Belle Hudson explains, the benefit now extends beyond internal progress: Best Fleets recognition publicly validates Ippolito’s culture, giving them a recruiting edge. New hires see proof that the company’s promises about respect, safety, and support are real, while current drivers see their voices shaping change. That cycle of recognition, validation, and improvement has become a powerful driver of both retention and growth.
At America’s Service Line, the focus is on protecting the “employee brand” and making sure the everyday experience of drivers matches the image seen on social media or truck wraps. “Gone are the days of broad-brush policies,” explained HR leader Ellen Ingram. “Today it’s about understanding what makes each employee tick — from home-time needs to what keeps them motivated on the road — and responding with support, recognition, and appreciation.” Best Fleets provides a reality check to ensure the internal culture matches the promise, giving prospective drivers confidence in what they’re signing up for and reminding current drivers that their needs are recognized and respected.
Visibility becomes influence
Beyond internal gains, Best Fleets puts carriers in the spotlight.
Garner Trucking integrates Best Fleets wins into its public image. The logo rides on their NASCAR car and driver firesuits, while race weekends double as family events for employees. That recognition builds pride internally and credibility with recruits, customers, and fans.
K & J Trucking, the Best Overall Small Carrier winner two years in a row, leverages its recognition to punch above its weight. Between podcast appearances, conference sessions, and truck driving championships, you’d never guess it’s a small carrier.
Prime Inc. uses Best Fleets as a megaphone. A decade of consecutive wins and a place in the Hall of Fame turn internal programs into public proof. Weekly driver meetings stream live on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, while signature events like the Highway Diamonds Gala and Veterans Ball, along with community efforts such as Wreaths Across America, showcase the culture beyond trucking circles. Driver leaders carry that visibility into conferences and policy conversations, and recruiting teams package the recognition into trusted, sharable content that attracts new applicants.
Your 2026 advantage starts here
Fleets large and small agree: Best Fleets is worth it. From culture improvements to industry exposure, the program delivers insight and recognition that money can’t buy.
Nominations for the 2026 edition close October 31, 2025. Nominate your fleet today and discover what your company can learn and celebrate along the way.
