Platt BrabnerPlatt Brabner, a driver for TMC Transportation and a veteran of two branches of the U.S. military, was named the winner of the 2018 Mike O’Connell Trucking’s Top Rookie award, presented by CCJ sister publication Truckers News.
Brabner, a 58-year-old Texas-based operator, was recognized Friday during a ceremony at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. Chosen from a field of nine finalists, Brabner won $10,000 and a variety of prizes. He attended Roadmaster Drivers School and got into trucking after serving first in the Marines and then joining the Navy to become a pilot. He expects to become an owner-operator.
Brabner was raised on a farm in Alabama. At age 14, he was driving an old Chevrolet 9500 with a Tristar shifter. Today he’s at the wheel of a 2015 Peterbilt 579 he says “is way more smarter than I am.”
He says the cash prize will go into the maintenance fund for when he gets his own truck. For a man who saw 91 countries as a Marine and Navy aviator, Brabner says he wants to see more of the U.S.
“I love being out on the road,” Brabner said. “Seeing the country, I just, I love it. It gives me the freedom to get out there and just see things that most people don’t ever see.”
The other finalists, where they are from, who they drive for and what driving school they attended include:
James Bell: Stevensville, Montana; Jim Palmer Trucking; Sage Truck Driving School
Adam Cobb: Deltona, Florida; Celadon Trucking; Sage Truck Driving School
Matthew Donahue: Weedsport, New York; H.O. Wolding; National Tractor Trailer School
David Drummond: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Melton Truck Lines; Allstate Careers
Terrence Goodau: Springfield, Missouri; Tri-State Motor Transit; Midwest Technical Institute
Larry Maser: McKinney, Texas; Stevens Transport; Stevens Training Academy
Darrell Philpott: Martinsville, Virginia; Epes Transportation Systems; CDS Tractor Trailer Training
Quinton Ward: Westville, Florida; Werner Enterprises; U.S Truck Driving School
Each received $1,000 and a variety of prizes. Partnering with Truckers News in the contest were the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, National Association Of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools and Professional Truck Driver Institute.
Sponsors giving prizes to the finalists included RoadPro Family of Brands, Cobra and Rand McNally
Recognizing the top rookie driver was the idea of the late Mike O’Connell, who was formerly the executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association. He believed that honoring a top rookie driver helped show new drivers they are appreciated by the trucking industry.
