The Women In Trucking Association (WIT), Inc. has announced the winner of the 2026 Driver of the Year award, an annual honor sponsored by Walmart that recognizes female professional drivers who demonstrate exceptional safety performance and help elevate the public image of the trucking industry.
The award highlights drivers “who lead the industry in safety standards while actively enhancing the public image of the trucking industry.”
This year, four finalists represented a wide range of experience, equipment types, and leadership roles across the sector. The 2026 finalists were: Ingrid Brown of Blackjack Express LLC; Fabiola Campos‑Buenavista of FedEx Freight; Gina Jones of Werner Enterprises; and Kellylynn McLaughlin of Clean Harbors Environmental Services.
Ingrid Brown was named the winner of the 2026 Driver of the Year award, announced at the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event on March 27, hosted by WIT at MaTS in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ingrid Brown: Four Decades of Safety Advocacy
A native of Boone, North Carolina, Ingrid Brown has built a 46‑year trucking career defined by safety leadership and public outreach. She currently serves as Operations Manager of a specialized refrigerated fleet while continuing to drive for Blackjack Express LLC in West Memphis/Proctor, Arizona. Her work spans heavy haul, oversize, and refrigerated freight. Brown also serves as FMCSA’s Voice of Safety for the Our Roads, Our Safety campaign and has appeared in national PSAs, billboards, and radio segments.
The three other finalists also deserve recognition.
Fabiola Campos‑Buenavista: Instructor and Mentor
Fabiola Campos‑Buenavista began her career with limited driving experience but quickly advanced, operating an 18‑wheeler by age 22. In 2014, she became FedEx Freight’s first female Driver Development Instructor and has since trained more than 40 drivers. She also serves as a FedEx Road Team Captain and participates in community outreach, school safety programs, and disaster relief efforts.
Gina Jones: Safety Leader with 1.5 million Accident‑Free Miles
After transitioning from retail management, Gina Jones earned her CDL at age 50 and joined her husband on the road. She has accumulated more than 1.5 million accident‑free miles and earned multiple honors, including the 2024 TA Citizen Driver Award and the Werner Safe Driver Award. In 2025, she was invited to the White House to speak on the real‑world impacts of electric vehicle mandates. Jones also mentors new drivers and participates in charitable events, including the 50 Mile March.
Kellylynn McLaughlin: Advocate and Former WIT Driver Ambassador
With more than a decade of experience in dry‑van operations, driver training, equine transport, and hazardous materials hauling, Kellylynn McLaughlin drives for Clean Harbors Environmental Services. She previously served as WIT’s first Driver Ambassador, traveling nationwide to promote trucking careers and educate the public. Her background includes service in the Peace Corps and international nonprofit work, and she has contributed to several industry advisory groups, including FMCSA’s Women of Trucking Advisory Board.
Women In Trucking Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the employment and success of women across the trucking industry. Founded to support women from the driver’s seat to the C‑suite, WIT provides programs, advocacy, and community engagement. The association is headquartered in Plover, Wisconsin, and is supported by industry partners including Arrow Truck Sales, Bridgestone Americas, C.H. Robinson, Daimler Truck North America, FedEx Freight, Great Dane, International Motors, J.B. Hunt Transport, Michelin North America, PACCAR, Penske Transportation Solutions, Ryder System, UPS, Walmart, and WM.
For more information, visit www.womenintrucking.org.