Do you know an exceptional commercial truck or motorcoach driver? Nominate them for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA), sponsored by PrePass Safety Alliance.

This annual award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond the performance of their duties as a commercial vehicle driver. IDEA drivers distinguish themselves conspicuously and beyond the call of duty through long-term achievement in safe operation and compliance carried out with evident distinction. Nominated drivers must be of personal character beyond reproach without any disqualifying behavior.

Nominees must have:

  • At least 25 cumulative years of crash-free driving in a commercial motor vehicle with a clean driving record for the past three years.
  • No felony convictions.
  • No safety-related driving suspensions in the past three years.
  • No driver violations in the past three years, excluding form and manner violations.

For this year’s competition and with support from PrePass Safety Alliance, CVSA is increasing the IDEA monetary award from $2,500 to $5,000. In addition, the 2023 IDEA recipient and a guest will receive airfare to Grapevine, Texas, along with a two-night stay at the Gaylord Texan to attend the CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition in September. The winner will be acknowledged at the awards luncheon and awarded a check and crystal trophy.

“PrePass Safety Alliance is pleased to partner with CVSA to recognize remarkable, career-long achievement in safe driving and exemplary character,” said Paul Claunch, regional director for PrePass Safety Alliance and chair of the 2023 IDEA Program Committee. “IDEA represents what we can achieve when commercial vehicle drivers and enforcement personnel work together to promote highway safety.”

You can submit a nomination using the online nomination submission form. The online form makes it easy to fill out and submit the nomination and required supporting documentation. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, May 19, 2023.

IDEA is open to the entire commercial motor vehicle industry. Drivers do not have to be a member of or affiliated with CVSA to apply. The IDEA Program Committee will review and authenticate IDEA nominations, with the CVSA Executive Committee making the final decision on which nominee to recognize and honor. If the nominees do not demonstrate the qualities of the IDEA program, CVSA is not required to select a winner

The International Driver Excellence Award began in 2015. There have been eight winners since then, with three of them coming from Werner Enterprises.

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