Ingrid Brown Named 2026 Driver of the Year

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Ingrid Brown, a professional driver and operations manager at Blackjack Express LLC, as the recipient of the 2026 Driver of the Year Award, sponsored by Walmart.

Celebration of Women in Trucking

The announcement took place during the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Ky. This event honors pioneering female truck drivers whose hard work and achievements are raising the bar for professionalism in the industry.

Acknowledgment of Excellence

“We are delighted to honor Ingrid, whose unwavering commitment to excellence, safety, and the empowerment of women in this field serves as an inspiration to us all,” stated Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, WIT president and CEO.

Ingrid Brown’s Career Journey

Brown has a remarkable 46-year career in trucking characterized by perseverance, safety advocacy, and leadership. Starting as an independent owner-operator of Rollin’ B LLC, she is now an operations manager for a specialized refrigerated fleet and continues to drive for Blackjack Express LLC, transporting heavy, oversized, and refrigerated cargo.

A Lasting Legacy

She has built a remarkable legacy, receiving awards such as the National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) Woman Driver of the Year Award, the TA Petro Citizen Driver Award, and being an inaugural inductee into the Mid-America Trucking Show Wall of Fame.

Advocacy and Community Involvement

A charter member of the Women In Trucking Association since 2007, Brown is currently in her second term on the board of directors and also serves as a liaison to the Women In Trucking Foundation board. An ardent public advocate, a collaborator with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on safety issues, and a three-time melanoma cancer survivor, she is committed to uplifting the trucking community and supporting her fellow drivers.

Walmart’s Commitment

The Driver of the Year Award, presented with Walmart’s support, aims to spotlight exceptional female drivers who uphold the highest safety standards and positively influence public perception of the trucking industry.

Finalists for the Award

Brown was chosen from a competitive pool of four finalists, which included:

• Fabiola Campos-Buenavista, professional driver and driver development instructor, FedEx Freight.
• Gina Jones, company driver, Werner.
• KellyLynn McLaughlin, national transportation driver, Clean Harbors Environmental Services.