Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, March 31, 2026:
Former truck driver sentenced to prison, ordered to pay $370K restitution for benefits fraud
A former truck driver was sentenced to nearly five years in prison and three years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining Social Security, unemployment and food stamp benefits.
Ricardo Santiago, 60, of Hartford, Connecticut, pleaded guilty in the case a year ago. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2002 and 2024, Santiago held jobs with more than 20 employers and earned income totaling more than $580,000. He concealed his income from federal and state government agencies by providing to employers false identification, including a Social Security number and card belonging to another individual, and, in at least one instance, a false Social Security card.
In 2002, Santiago applied for Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits, representing to the Social Security Administration that he was unable to work due to disability. As a result, he began receiving RSDI payments in September 2002. In 2017, Santiago completed paperwork to maintain his benefits in which he asserted that he remained disabled and had not worked for the past two years. Santiago ultimately collected more than $316,000 in RSDI payments to which he was not entitled.
In February 2017, Santiago submitted to the Connecticut Department of Social Services (CT-DSS) an application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (food stamps), representing to the CT-DSS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture that he earned no income from employment. He began receiving SNAP benefits in March 2017 and subsequently completed forms to renew his SNAP benefits on which he again represented that he had no change in his income and that he earned no money from employment. Santiago made more than $18,000 in purchases with SNAP benefits to which he was not entitled.
In April 2020, Santiago applied to the Connecticut Department of Labor (CT-DOL) for Unemployment Insurance benefits. On the application, he used a Social Security number belonging to another individual, and he represented to the CT-DOL and U.S. Department of Labor that he was unemployed but available for work and physically able to work. He subsequently completed weekly certifications making the same representations. From April 2020 through February 2021, he received more than $36,000 in payments to which he was not entitled.
In addition to his prison time, Santiago was ordered to pay $371,686 in restitution.
Santiago was arrested on May 7, 2024. On February 24, 2025, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud. In September 2025, while released on bond and awaiting sentencing, Santiago staged his and his daughter’s drowning in the Connecticut River and attempted to flee. Hartford Police located Santiago and his daughter in Hartford on Sept. 20, 2025. Santiago has been detained since that date.
[Related: Former truck driver pleads guilty to fraudulently obtaining government benefits]
Women in Trucking names Driver of the Year
Ingrid Brown, truck driver and operations manager with Blackjack Express, has been named Women in Trucking’s 2026 Driver of the Year.
Brown was among four finalists for the award.
In addition to Brown, finalists included KellyLynn McLaughlin, national transportation driver, dump and roll off, Clean Harbors Environmental Services; Fabiola Campos-Buenavista, professional driver and driver development instructor, FedEx Freight; and Gina Jones, company driver, Werner.Women in Trucking
The announcement was made during the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event, hosted by WIT at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The event is a tribute to trailblazing female truck drivers whose dedication and accomplishments are elevating the standard of professionalism in the industry.
“We are proud to recognize Ingrid, whose tireless commitment to excellence, safety, and empowering women in this industry sets a standard that inspires us all,” said Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, WIT president and CEO.
Brown has built a 46-year career in trucking defined by determination, safety advocacy, and leadership. Starting out as an independent owner-operator of Rollin’ B LLC, she currently serves as operations manager for specialized refrigerated fleet and continues to drive for Blackjack Express LLC, hauling heavy, oversize, and refrigerated freight.
Brown has built an extraordinary legacy, earning honors including the National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) Woman Driver of the Year Award, the TA-Petro Citizen Driver Award, and Inaugural Inductee at the Mid-America Trucking Show Wall of Fame.
A charter member of the Women in Trucking Association since 2007, Brown is currently serving her second term on the board of directors and as liaison to the Women in Trucking Foundation board of directors. A tireless public advocate, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety collaborator, and a three-time melanoma cancer survivor, she has dedicated her life to uplifting her industry, mentoring fellow drivers, and serving her community -- embodying everything the Driver of the Year honor represents.
Presented with the support of Walmart, the annual award was established to highlight the outstanding female drivers who champion safety at the highest level while positively shaping the public's understanding and appreciation of the trucking industry.
“Walmart is proud to sponsor the Driver of the Year award because it reflects our commitment to safety, excellence, and a culture of belonging across transportation,” said Ryan McDaniel, Walmart Senior Vice President, Transportation. “Ingrid Brown embodies what this recognition stands for, a seasoned professional whose leadership, safety advocacy and dedication to the industry have made a meaningful impact. Congrats to Ingrid for being named Driver of the Year.”
Two Southeastern Freight terminals celebrate 35th anniversary
Southeastern Freight Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 29) is celebrating 35 years of service at its terminals in Huntsville and Montgomery, Alabama.
Both service centers opened in 1991 and have seen significant growth since their establishment. Huntsville began operations with 20 dock doors and 15 associates and currently boasts 73 dock doors and 55 associates. Montgomery has also grown considerably and now includes 37 dock doors and 25 associates.
To celebrate the milestone, the Huntsville service center is recognizing four longtime associates who have each contributed over three decades of service: linehaul driver Lonnie Toney, linehaul driver Blake Coleman, pickup and delivery driver Randy Campbell, and pickup and delivery driver Tommy Satterfield.
The Montgomery facility is applauding linehaul driver Jesse Keeble, who has been with the service center since its opening in 1991, as well as linehaul driver Robert Ghames, who has worked at the Montgomery facility for 30 years.
Over the years, the Huntsville and Montgomery service centers have given back to their communities, most recently through Southeastern Serves – a program dedicated to having associates of all levels volunteer in their local communities to assist the less fortunate.
In alignment with the Southeastern Serves mission, the Huntsville service center has actively supported numerous local nonprofits and organizations – such as Kids to Love – by dedicating both time and resources to impactful community efforts. Sharing the same commitment to service, the Montgomery facility has partnered with Toys for Tots, Girls on the Run and more.
The Huntsville facility was the 28th service center opened by SEFL since its founding in 1950. Montgomery was the 29th facility to launch. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
Mack recalling TerraPro models over ECM issue
An engine control module (ECM) issue that could allow certain Mack TerraPro units to start when the engine is not in Neutral has prompted a recall.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents state that the ability to start the engine outside of Neutral causes the trucks to fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."
The recall includes approximately 775 model year 2022-’27 TerraPro trucks.
Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 8. Owners can contact Mack's customer service at 1-800-866-1177 with recall number SC0492. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-139.
