Knight Driver Appreciation Week 2026 Recap

Knight Transportation wouldn’t be where it is today without our drivers. You are the heart of this company, and we appreciate everything you do.

Whether you drive Dry Van, Refrigerated, Dedicated, Flatbed, or Team freight, each of you plays a vital role in our success.

Every mile you drive helps deliver for our customers and proudly represents Knight on the road. In fact, nearly every item we use each day spent time on a truck before reaching its destination. From food and clothing to furniture and household goods, truck drivers keep America moving.

Because of that, you have one of the most important jobs in our society and supply chain. Your career requires sacrifice, patience, dedication, and hard work every day.

While Driver Appreciation Week lasts only one week, our gratitude extends far beyond those seven days. We appreciate you all 365 days a year.

Thank you for your commitment to excellence, your dedication to safety, and the pride you bring to Knight every time you hit the road.

This year, drivers took part in our first-ever Money Vault Machine competition. Participants stepped inside the vault and had 30 seconds to grab as much cash as possible from the $1,000 available. That’s right, a full $1,000 in real cash was flying through the machine. This exciting event was proudly sponsored by Rush Truck Centers and Peterbilt.

Throughout the challenge, drivers got creative with their strategies. They were encouraged to collect as much money as possible, as quickly as possible, by any means they could.

Some tucked cash into their shirts, while others stuffed their pockets or used their hats to hold more bills. In the end, our top winners walked away with more than $100 in cash.

The annual dodgeball tournament, hosted by our Arizona Refrigerated team, remains a Knight Driver Appreciation Week favorite. Arizona Dry Van and Arizona Refrigerated first battled for the chance to represent Operations in the championship, with Arizona Refrigerated advancing to the finals.

Drivers from multiple terminals also competed for the opportunity to represent Knight Drivers. Ultimately, Operations defended its title and took home the win for another year.

Every participating driver received a pair of work gloves. These gloves provide protection during daily tasks and are especially useful during pre-trip inspections.

The 2nd Annual RC Racing Competition was another crowd favorite, hosted by our Arizona Dry Van Operations team. Drivers put their skills to the test on two custom-built courses, competing head-to-head until the final round.

For the championship race, the course became even more challenging. In the end, Owner Operator John L. from the Katy Terminal claimed the title and took home the grand prize. While de dominated throughout the competition, runner-up Jeremy S. kept the final race close.

Prize winners included:

• 1st Place: John L. (Knight Katy) received a pair of Dr. Dre Beats headphones and an RC car.
• 2nd Place: Jeremy S. (Knight Phoenix) took home a car refrigerator.
• Tied for 3rd Place: Bill M. and Travis W. (Knight Phoenix) each won an electric grill.

Thank you to our Arizona Operations team for planning and hosting these exciting events. Your support helped make Driver Appreciation Week one to remember.

Midweek, drivers had the chance to spin the prize wheel for some extra fun. Each spin gave them a chance to win a prize or challenge one of our Knight leaders, while still walking away with a prize.

Meanwhile, Knight President Joe Vitiritto and EVP of Sales & Account Management Joe Sherer joined in on the excitement and proved to be great sports. Thanks to a lucky few spins, the two Joes found themselves dancing, singing, exercising, and even taking a sweet pie to the face to close out the event.

We appreciate both Joes for helping create a memorable experience for our drivers. Throughout the event, drivers won TVs, Yeti cups, gift cards, Knight Pro Shop items, and more.

Of course, none of it would have been the same without our host, Will P. from the Driver Training team. He kept the energy high, the crowd engaged, and the laughs coming all afternoon.

This year, we proudly brought back our Truck Rodeo to the Phoenix Terminal, with support from Vanguard Truck Centers.

Knight drivers and owner-operators competed for a chance to win the $1,000 grand prize. In addition, the top rookie driver had an opportunity to earn a $200 cash award.

Once again, Safety Project Manager Danielle Pretzer and Phoenix Shop Manager Aaron Acres led the event. Drivers were required to complete four skills-based tasks and were scored on accuracy.

Meanwhile, Bobby C., Vanguard Regional Parts Sales Manager, announced competitors and interviewed drivers after their runs. Later, the Vanguard team presented the $1,000 check to the Truck Rodeo champion.

Congratulations to Our 2026 Truck Rodeo Winners!

• 1st Place Champion: Thomas Campbell (Knight Tulsa) – $1,000 Cash
• 2nd Place: Arturo Nunez (Knight Phoenix) – $250 in Gift Cards
• 3rd Place: Victor Paunescu (Knight Memphis) – Yeti Cooler
• Best Rookie: David Zambrano (Knight Phoenix) – $200 Cash

For the fourth year in a row, the Half-Court Basketball Shot Competition returned as one of Driver Appreciation Week’s most anticipated events. A special thank you goes to Don Blake and the Inland Kenworth team for continuing to make this fan-favorite challenge possible.

This year, only one driver walked away with the $1,000 prize. Jose Gonzalez from our Salt Lake City Refrigerated Terminal stepped up at the Phoenix Terminal and made the shot count. With no help from the backboard, Jose drained the half-court shot and secured the win.

However, what made the victory even more meaningful was the story behind it. Jose has been a Knight driver since 2012 and is a proud father of three. Two of his children currently attend Ivy League universities on full-ride scholarships. His daughter is a junior at Harvard University, and his son is a freshman at Columbia University.

After sinking the winning shot, Jose shared that he plans to use the prize money to help his daughter. Whether it’s purchasing a new computer or an electric scooter for campus, the prize will help support her educational journey.

Stories like Jose’s are a reminder that every driver has a purpose beyond the road. Behind every mile is a family, a dream, and sacrifices made to create opportunities for loved ones.