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Trucking's Top Rookie Eligibility & Rules

Nomination Procedure and Timeline

Nominations may be made by motor carriers, training organizations, the general public, and/or other interested parties. There is a standardized nomination form, which can be accessed and submitted at www.truckload.org/rookie starting on June 1, 2012. All nominations must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, July 13, 2012.

Eligibility

Any CDL holder who has graduated from either a

• truck driver training course that is PTDI-certified; or
• truck driver training school that is a CVTA or NAPFTDS member;

and has been either

• employed by or leased to a trucking company for less than one year; or
• self-employed as a professional truck driver for less than one year

is eligible for the award.

Method of Judging the Nominees

An expert panel of judges, including representatives from motor carriers, public and private professional truck driver training schools, motor carrier suppliers, and motor carrier and driver training school trade associations, will identify 10 finalists, who will be notified by Friday, August 10, 2012.

Among the criteria they will evaluate when considering the Trucking's Top Rookie award will be:

• Availability for loads
• On-time delivery
• Highway safety performance
• Customer relations

Procedure for Awarding Trucking's Top Rookie

One winner from among the 10 finalists will receive an all expenses paid trip to Dallas, Texas, for the 2012 Great American Trucking Show, where he or she will be recognized during an award presentation on Friday, August 24.

Additional Contest Rules

1. All applications must be completed online. Only those applications submitted through the online application process will be accepted. Applications received by any other means will not be considered.
2. Motor carrier employers and training organizations may nominate up to five drivers; however, only one driver per company can qualify for placement among the top 10 finalists.
3. One or more members of a team may apply.  Each individual's application will be considered separately.  If the winner of the competition is a member of a team, the honor and prizes will be conferred upon the individual, not the team. 
4. In order to verify the nominee’s submitted information, the judges and/or staff may directly contact the employer and the judges and/or staff may obtain motor vehicle reports and other information as determined necessary to evaluate the application in the sole and exclusive discretion of the judges and/or staff.
5. Any erroneous or false information provided in the application will result in immediate disqualification.
6. All prizewinners are responsible for any applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
7. All applicants must furnish an electronic version of a photograph (of a quality not less than 300 dpi) featuring the entrant’s head and shoulders and taken within the last year. Photographs must be submitted with the application. They may eventually be used for publicity purposes and by submitting the application and photographs, the entrant specifically agrees to use of the photographs in any and all media related to the contest.
8. The decision of the judges is final, and entrants specifically agree that the decision is not subject to review or appeal in any forum whatsoever, including courts of law.