Army Veteran Takes Home Top Award
Stevens Transport Driver Celebrates Big Win
Stevens Transport proudly assists drivers in building award-winning careers and is proud of Dwight Arnold, winner of the 2019 Mike O’Connell Trucking’s Top Rookie Award presented by Trucker News.
Dwight Arnold, who lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, was announced as the award winner at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. He won $10,000 and prizes from the RoadPro Family of Brands and Rand McNally. Arnold also received $1,000 from his company for winning the award.
“I was and still am completely shocked,” he said. “It gives you a buffer so I can work harder and get more done, clear debt, and prepare a better life for my family,” Arnold said of winning and the cash prize, “It’s a dream come true.”
Dwight’s Service to his country
Dwight was born in Kissimmee, FL and raised in Jacksonville, FL. In 2001, Dwight made the decision to join the United States Army. During his time in the service, Dwight served as an Ammunition Specialist, Military Recruiter, and Special Unit Transportation Officer. He received many awards in the army, including the Arm Commendation Medal (4 times), Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two stars.
Dwight’s New Journey in Trucking
After being honorably discharged and retiring in August 2014, Dwight wanted a profession that matched what he was already used to and allowed him to see his family more. Having experience in the transportation industry, he realized that a profession as a truck driver would be the perfect fit. Dwight obtained his CDL from Tennessee Truck Driving School and graduated from orientation at Stevens in August 2018.
“I saw that Stevens offered top-quality training and had a very strong recruiting background, and both of those factors were highly impressive to me,” Dwight said. “I also watch many YouTube videos from Stevens drivers who had positive experiences, so I know that it was the company for me.”
Joining Stevens Contractor Division
He attended orientation later in August and received keys to his solo truck soon after. He quickly made the decision to open an independent trucking business under the Stevens Contractor Division and is currently a member of the Kraft dedicated fleet. “Trucking has given me the opportunity to make a better home dynamic for me and my family. As for my future plans with Stevens, I’m hoping to start a fleet with 4-5 trucks. I also hope to build financial stability with my family, thanks to the financial success that I have had with trucking so far.”
Safety Director Larry Gandy spoke highly of Dwight. “He has a commendable safety record. He is a driver who is attentive to detail and diligent in his duties and is able to quickly adapt to changing situations and circumstances that he faces while on the road. I can’t wait to see what else Dwight will accomplish at Stevens!”
About Trucking’s Top Rookie Award
The Top Rookie Award is presented by Truckers News with the support of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, and the Professional Truck Driver Institute. The award was announced at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, TX.