After a year off from participating in the program, HireMaster client TLD Logistics is back among the Best Fleets to Drive For.

The Knoxville, Tenn.-based carrier was named one of the top 20 Best Fleets for 2022, extending a streak of six straight years in which it has participated.

Three other HireMaster clients join TLD on this year's list. American Central Transport and Decker Truck Line also are Top 20 Best Fleets and Epes Transport System is among five Fleets to Watch.

For American Central Transport, this year marks five years in a row on the list, which director of recruiting Josh Mecca says is a testiment to the company's continued effort to increase the level of support for its drivers.

"It's a continual forward motion thing," he said. "You can't sit back and continue to be recognized.

"It's just a testamment to our mission to provde the absolute best-in-class package for prospective truck drivers. We try hard in everything we do to provide a different work environment than a typical trucking company and this five years in a row just continues to validate that's exactly what we're doing.

"We understand our drivers are the backbone of our nation and our fleet. Without our drivers, we're a nation that goes unsupplied."

Among the premiums ACT believes set it apart is a best-in-class compensation package that compensates drivers for their time away from home. ACT drivers have received a 10 percent pay increase as the industry navigates the COVID pandemic and more increases as expected.

The Top 20 winners are comprised of for-hire trucking companies from across North America who are being recognized for providing exemplary work environments for their professional truck drivers and employees.

New this year, presenting sponsors TCA and CarriersEdge have expanded the program by adding a Hall of Fame category. This recognition level is above the regular Top 20 and honors fleets demonstrating Top 20 performance for extended periods of time. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, Fleets must be named as a Best Fleet for 10 consecutive years, or 7 years with at least one overall award. The Hall of Fame is sponsored by EpicVue.

“What an exciting time for this coveted contest as we launch the Hall of Fame category,” TCA President John Lyboldt said in a news release. “During Truckload 2022: Las Vegas, we’re eager to recognize 28 fleets who are dedicated to providing the best possible workplace experience to their essential workers – professional truck drivers. Be sure to attend this year’s revamped awards presentation in March.

“This year we saw more than 200 fleets nominated by their drivers for this program, and all participants were clearly stepping up their game,” said CarriersEdge Chief Executive Officer Jane Jazrawy. “This year’s Top 20 and Hall of Fame fleets rose to the top with a range of innovative and effective programs that continue to improve the work experience for their drivers.”

Here is this year’s Top 20 winners:

• American Central Transport — Kansas City, Missouri
• Brenny Specialized, Inc. — Saint Joseph, Minnesota
• Challenger Motor Freight Inc. — Cambridge, Ontario
• Chief Carriers, Inc. — Grand Island, Nebraska
• Continental Express, Inc. — Sidney, Ohio
• Decker Truck Line, Inc. — Fort Dodge, Iowa
• Erb Transport — New Hamburg, Ontario
• Fortigo Freight Services Inc. — Etobicoke, Ontario
• Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc. — Fremont, Nebraska
• Garner Trucking, Inc. — Findlay, Ohio
• K&J Trucking, Inc. — Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc. — Jacksonville, Florida
• Leonard’s Express — Farmington, New York
• Liberty Linehaul Inc. — Ayr, Ontario
• Thomas E. Keller Trucking Inc. — Defiance, Ohio
• TLD Logistics Services, Inc. — Knoxville, Tennessee
• TransLand — Strafford, Missouri
• TransPro Freight Systems Limited — Milton, Ontario
• Veriha Trucking, Inc. — Marinette, Wisconsin
• Wellington Group of Companies — Aberfoyle, Ontario

Here is the Hall of Fame:

• Bison Transport Inc — Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Boyle Transportation — Billerica, Massachusetts
• Central Oregon Truck Company, Inc. — Redmond, Oregon
• FTC Transportation, Inc. — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Grand Island Express — Grand Island, Nebraska
• Halvor Lines, Inc. — Superior, Wisconsin
• Nussbaum Transportation Services, Inc. — Hudson, Illinois
• Prime Inc. — Springfield, Missouri

In addition to the Top 20, five carriers have been recognized as Fleets to Watch:

• Epes Transport System, LLC — Greensboro, North Carolina
• GP Transco — Joliet, Illinois
• Magnum LTD — Fargo, North Dakota
• Stokes Trucking, LLC — Tremonton, Utah
• TP Trucking — Central Point, Oregon

To be considered for the Best Fleets program, companies operating 10 or more trucks had to receive a nomination from one of their company drivers or owner operators. The fleets were then evaluated using a scoring matrix covering a variety of categories, including total compensation, health benefits, performance management, professional development, and career path/advancement opportunities, among other criteria. Driver surveys were also conducted to collect input from drivers and independent contractors working with the fleets.

Two overall winners, in large and small fleet categories, will be named during TCA’s Annual Convention March 19-22 in Las Vegas.