Crawford Trucking and Fortigo Freight Services Inc. have been recognized as the Best Fleets to Drive For in 2026, announced Tuesday afternoon at the Best Fleets to Drive For education and awards conference at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Des Moines, Iowa-based Crawford Trucking won in the small carrier category. For the first time, the company has won a Best Overall Fleet award. It is also the third year the carrier has made it as a Best Fleets to Drive For Top 20 carrier.
“This year’s winning fleet really utilized the Best Fleets program, using the reports and driver feedback to strengthen their programs,” said Jane Jazrawy, CEO of CarriersEdge.
Driver comments included, “No door is locked at our company, except the restroom. Everyone is always available for the drivers, and that’s from the maintenance crew all the way to, and including, the owner of the company.”
Ted Brown of Fortigo Freight Services Inc accepts 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For Award for the Best Overall Fleet in the large carrier category.CCJ
In an anonymous driver survey about Fortigo Freight Services, a driver said, “I enjoy working with this company because of its commitment to excellence and the opportunities it provides to grow professionally, and its honesty, fairness, quality, and respect.”
Winning fleets found a way to “make a difference for drivers in a continuing difficult market,” Jazrawy said. “While all of our Top 20 winners are leaders in the industry, these two fleets stand out with great programs and exceptional safety and retention scores.”
Additionally, Oklahoma-based FTC Transportation Inc. received The Stratosphere Award, which acknowledges the top-scoring fleet in the Best Fleets Hall of Fame. FTC Transportation has been a Hall of Fame member for five years and a Best Fleets winner for 14 consecutive years.
Julia Williams of FTC Transportation, Inc. accepts the 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For Stratosphere Award.CCJ
The Best Fleets Hall of Fame members represent the best of the best for their continuous excellence, Jazrawy said.
“Over the years, we’ve watched them continue to grow and innovate, and they are deserving winners of our third annual Stratosphere Award. As a fleet with 23 drivers, they are also proof that you don’t need to be big to offer great programs,” she said.
The annual survey and competition run by CarriersEdge, now in its 18th year, recognizes the best workplaces for North American truck drivers.
For-hire companies operating 10 or more tractor-trailers were nominated by a company driver or owner-operator. Fleets are assessed across various factors, such as compensation, benefits, HR strategies, professional development, operations, work/life balance, and driver surveys, among others.
