From Combat Boots to Kenworth Seats: 2025 Transition Trucking Finalists Revealed

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro – From Service to Steering Wheels

There are a lot of trucking awards out there, but few hit like this one.
The Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award isn’t just some plaque for the wall. It’s a career transformer for military vets turning that DD-214 into a CDL-A.

Every year, this award spotlights veterans who’ve made the leap from serving the country to serving the supply chain—and in 2025, 12 semi-finalists are in the running to win a custom-spec’d Kenworth T680 that’s smoother than a W900 on cruise control.

This is the kind of story most outlets don’t give enough shine. But we’re not most outlets. So let’s dive into why this contest matters, who made the cut, and what it all says about the future of trucking.

🏆 The Prize That Changes Everything

Let’s break it down. This isn’t your average free hat and handshake situation.

The winner of the Transition Trucking award gets a brand-new Kenworth T680 Signature Edition. Translation? Heated and cooled leather seats. Built-in fridge. Worktable. 76-inch sleeper. DigitalVision mirrors, adaptive cruise control, and PACCAR’s top-tier powertrain. It’s got more features than a luxury apartment and more power than your average fleet truck.

This truck can be a one-way ticket to owner-operator freedom—or at the very least, a solid jumpstart to a better life behind the wheel.

But the truck is just the cherry on top. What this award really gives is recognition—a huge moment of respect for folks who put in time in the military and are now doing the same on the road.

👤 Meet the 12 Road Warriors

These drivers aren’t just finalists—they’re stories on 18 wheels. Each of them took the hard road and came out the other side grinding gears instead of getting ground down. Here's your 2025 lineup:

Kat Carreto – Army National Guard, driving with Roehl Transport

Bradley Lecky – Army, now at Crawford Electric (Troops Into Transportation grad)

Federico Hudson – Air Force vet, Van Wyk, Inc. (trained by The CDL School)

Gaylon Hensley – Army, rollin’ with Melton Truck Lines

Daniel Hemphill – Army, Wayne R. West Trucking

Mark Scriven – Army, Stevens Transport

Joseph Barotti – Air Force and Marine Corps, Werner Enterprises

Nicholas Baughan – Army/Reserve, also with Werner

Macy Mattice – Army, out there with Melton

Ryan Gordon – Army, driving for Prime Inc.

Precious Cannon‑Scott – Air National Guard, Prime Inc.

Charles Jones Jr. – Army, Roehl Transport

Each of these drivers has their own reason for getting into trucking—but the common thread? Discipline, drive, and dedication. Most of them completed apprenticeships, which is like CDL boot camp for success.

🗓️ What Happens Next?

Here’s the schedule for this rig-fueled race:

Aug 4, 2025 – Finalists announced

Sept 18 – Recognition event at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (Columbus, OH)

Sept 19 – Tour of Kenworth’s Chillicothe plant

Nov 1–11 – Public voting opens (ending on Veterans Day)

Dec 12 – Winner announced at the Veteran Ready Summit in D.C.

What’s different this year? You get to help choose the winner. That’s right—public voting matters, and it starts Nov 1. No lobbyists. No politics. Just votes from regular people like you deciding who deserves the big win.

👉 Vote when the time comes

🧠 Why This Matters (More Than You Think)

This isn’t just a good deed by big brands. It’s a real strategy to fix a broken system.

Trucking desperately needs disciplined, safety-focused, drug-free, mentally tough drivers. You know who checks all those boxes? Vets.

So this award serves a dual purpose:

Shine a light on great drivers who deserve recognition.

Highlight how effective military-to-CDL pipelines are—especially apprenticeship programs.

In short: it’s not just “thanks for your service.” It’s here’s a better way to serve your future.

🔥 Real Talk – No Gloss, Just Truth

Let’s be real: most folks don’t get rich from trucking. And for a lot of veterans, trucking is seen as a “last resort” instead of a strategic next step.

But this contest flips the script. These drivers are building something real—and inspiring others to do the same.

And if you're a driver right now reading this… you don't need a trophy to start leveling up.

🛠️ Time to Start Your Exit Plan

Too many drivers wait until they’re burned out to figure out what’s next.

Don’t be one of them.

✅ Learn AI.
✅ Build online income.
✅ Create an exit plan before the truck owns your life.

👉 RetireFromTrucking.com – Start stacking skills now
👉 LifeAsATrucker.com – Real talk, tools, and community for drivers

📢 Final Word

Respect to all 12 finalists. Whether they win the truck or not, they’re proof that the trucking industry still has heart—and horsepower.

Let’s hope the industry follows their lead. We need more grit, more grace, and a whole lot more Kenworth giveaways.