Lifetime Achievement Award

At the 2018 show we kicked off a new tradition, the “Lifetime Achievement Award”. This award honors individuals in the trucking industry with over 25 years’ experience as an owner-operator or employed with the same company for that period.

If you would like to nominate someone for the 2025 show, please fill out this form.

2024 Lifetime Award winners

  • Rob Heisler – 60 Years
  • Dennis Merkes – 55 Years
  • Terry Ward – 62 Years
  • Jack Hawthrone – 66 Years
  • Dick Boyd – 64 Years

2023 Lifetime Award winners

  • Jim Riedl – 48 Years – Industry Partner
  • Gary Osterhaus – 50 Years
  • Andy Yoder – 52 Years
  • Bassett Trucking – 62 Years
  • Jim Francis – 48 Years
  • Thomas Schmuecker – 48 Years
  • Eldon Jaeger – 52 Years

2022 Lifetime Award winners

  • Amby Heisler Farley, IA – 42 years
  • Kness Trucking – Chadwick, IL on 3 generations spanning 86 years of trucking
  • Dick Koppes of D&L Trucking Cascade, IA – 62 years
  • Steve Steinfadt of Colesburg, IA 42 years
  • Jim Koeller of Potosi, WI – 36 years
  • Jack Link Truck Line – Dyersville, IA on 4 generations spanning 90 years of trucking

Those honored in 2021 include:

  • Chuck Betzer – Hazel Green, WI 53 Years, Industry Partner
  • Jerry Meyers – Aurora, IA 58 Years, Owner-Operator
  • Ray Schmuecker – Earlville, IA 65 Years, Owner-Operator
  • Cal Betten – Hudsonville, MI 54 Years, Owner-Operator
  • Gary Grell – Donahue, IA 61 Years, Owner-Operator
  • Greg Preussner – Delhi, IA 44 Years, Owner-Operator

Those honored in 2019 include:

  • Chuck McElmeel – 35 years Like Trucking – Monticello, IA
  • Harold DeVries – 55 years Owner-Operator – Austinville, IA
  • Larry Westhoff – 33 years Standard Forwarding – Dubuque IA
  • Trucking Industry Partner Pat Storey – 48 years Motor-Ways Insurance – Urbandale, IA

Those honored in 2018 include:

  • Doug Toenjes, Monticello, IA, an owner-operator for 55 years
  • Bob Zimmerly, Independence Iowa, who was employed with Jensen Transport for 43 years.
  • George Heisler, Farley, IA, employed with Simon’s Trucking for 46 years




Congratulations!!