ATLANTA, Georgia — Relay Payments has narrowed down the field for its 2024 Haul of Fame contest, revealing five professional semi-finalists following a public voting process that drew more than 2,500 ballots from across the country. The program honors career truck drivers who have logged decades of safe operations and made major contributions to the commercial motor vehicle sector.
The top five contenders represent a cross-section of American freight hauling, featuring veterans with backgrounds ranging from auto transport and disaster relief to specialized owner-op work and industry advocacy. Kevin Worley leads the group with an extraordinary 48-year career that started by hauling automobiles and spans nearly every interstate highway in the nation. Kirk Phillips brings 43 years of service with Johnsonville Trucking, maintaining a record of over 3.1 million safe miles while piloting the famous ‘Big Taste Grill’ to disaster relief sites across the country.
Other contenders include Roger Machback, an owner-operator who returned to the road after losing his right arm in a 2008 boating accident, becoming one of the first amputees in Maine to requalify for interstate CDL travel. Fidel Herrera brings two decades of experience as an independent operator and safety mentor, while Deb Labree contributes 18 years of over-the-road service alongside her active leadership on the board and Image Team for Women in Trucking.
What This Means for Drivers
Recognition programs like the Haul of Fame highlight the rigorous standards and resilience required to build a long-term career behind the wheel. CDL-A drivers and independent owner-operators face daily pressures from tight scheduling, shifting freight markets, and strict compliance demands. Highlighting veterans who maintain spotless safety records for decades demonstrates that professional longevity is achievable through disciplined equipment maintenance and rigorous safety habits.
Industry Reaction
The final two winners will be selected by a high-profile panel of judges, including NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon, FreightWaves podcaster Timothy Dooner, CDL school owner Clarissa Rankin, and Relay Payments CEO Ryan Droege. The victors will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Quaker State 400 race weekend in Atlanta during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, a $250 fuel voucher, and a featured appearance on the WHAT THE TRUCK?!? podcast. This kind of widespread visibility reinforces the critical value that experienced OTR truck driver professionals bring to the national supply chain every single day.
Key Points
- Relay Payments received over 2,500 public votes to narrow the 2024 Haul of Fame contest down to five finalists.
- Finalist Kevin Worley has driven professionally for 48 years, while Kirk Phillips has logged over 3.1 million safe miles across 43 years with Johnsonville Trucking.
- Roger Machback overcame a 2008 amputation to become a pioneer for disabled drivers obtaining interstate CDL certifications in Maine.
- Winners will be announced during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week alongside the Quaker State 400 race weekend in Atlanta.
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