Driver of the Year

Driver of the Year

This program honors member drivers who operate their trucks in a safe and responsible manner, have outstanding performance records and whose contributions have enhanced the overall safety and image of the solid waste industry.

Nominate your best! This competition is a great way to recognize your best and safest drivers. All nominees receive a gift. The winner in each category is honored in person at WasteExpo and receives a commemorative gift and $1,000 cash prize.

Award Categories

Local Company

Independent or private company with a fleet of 500 or fewer vehicles. Collection routes may include residential, commercial or industrial customers.

Regional Company Residential

Regional independent/private company or publicly-traded company with a fleet between 500 and 2,500 vehicles. Collection activities involve pick-up from single family and multifamily dwellings, using household containers. 

Regional Company Commercial 

Regional independent/private company or publicly-traded company with a fleet between 500 and 2,500 vehicles. Collection routes involving pick-up of containerized refuse from business or apartment complexes that is dumped into collection vehicles. 

Regional Company Industrial 

Regional independent/private company or publicly-traded company with a fleet between 500 and 2,500 vehicles (operators of roll-off vehicles and transfer trailers). Collection routes involving movement of refuse in large containers or transfer trailers. 

National Company Residential 

Large independent/private company or publicly-traded company with a fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles. Activities involve pick-up from single family and multifamily dwellings, using household containers. 

National Company Commercial 

Large independent/private company or publicly-traded company with a fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles. Collection routes involving pick-up of containerized refuse from business or apartment complexes that is dumped into collection vehicles.

National Company Industrial 

Large independent/private company or publicly-traded company with a fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles (operators of roll-off vehicles and transfer trailers). Collection routes involving movement of refuse in large containers or transfer trailers.

Public Sector 

Local, county, city, state or federal government entity or institution.

Application Fee

(price per nomination)

Local member companies: $65
Regional and national member companies: $175
Affiliate/public sector member: $125
Non-member of public sector: $250 

How to Enter

Nominations for 2023 are now open. The submissions deadline is February 5.

1. If you are new to this application process, please sign up by entering your email address and creating a password. You will then be taken to the application form. If you have already created an application, please login to review/edit application(s).
2. Complete all questions on the nomination form.
3. Submit nomination form(s) with payment and required documents.

The Judging Process

All preliminary judging is completely anonymous and based on a weighted scoring system. The finalists in each category are determined by computer tabulation. Additional documentation will be requested for these individuals. Upon notification, please provide letters of recommendation, service award certificates, testimonials from customers or any other documented examples of outstanding service. The coded score sheets and additional documentation will be forwarded to a judging committee to assist in selecting the winners. The supervisor of the winning driver in each category will be notified via e-mail.

Who Can Participate

• Drivers from the private and public sectors in the United States involved in solid waste hauling and/or recycling services.
• Drivers must be a full-time employee of a member company at the time of nomination, winner selection and award presentation.

Please contact Kirk Sander at 202-364-3750 or ksander@wasterecycling.org with any questions about the nomination process.