Fargo – On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association (NDMCA) and the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) presented the 2024 Driver of the Year and 2024 Trooper of the Year awards at the 80th annual NDMCA convention held in Fargo.

NDMCA’s Trooper of the Year award reflects the trucking industry’s appreciation for enhancing safety for
those who depend on the highway for their livelihood.

The NDMCA presented Trooper Brandon Wade with the 2024 Trooper of the Year award. Trooper Wade serves as a motor carrier operations trooper and is stationed in Jamestown. Trooper Wade graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated from the NDHP Academy in February 2009 and was initially stationed as a Motor Carrier Enforcement Trooper in Devils Lake until 2018 when he transferred to the MCSAP program, remaining in Devils Lake. He transferred to Jamestown in August 2019 where he continues to serve. Trooper Wade is certified in
North American Standards Part A, Part B, General Hazardous Materials, and Cargo Tank. In 2024, Trooper Wade conducted 730 commercial vehicle inspections; completing 231 Level 1 inspections, 265 Level 2 inspections, 231 Level 3 inspections and three Level 7 inspections.

The NDHP presents the Driver of the Year award in appreciation of the selected driver’s outstanding
dedication to safety, and their support and cooperation to the highway patrol.

The NDHP presented Don Huckins, Hillsboro, with the 2024 Driver of the Year award. Don has been a commercial vehicle driver for the past 34 years. He has been a driver for Marvin Logistics, West Fargo, for the past 23 years. Don has logged over 3.8 million accident-free miles. He is a leader in safety, and an example of professional, safe conduct. In the nomination letter, Don’s leadership, safety-minded attitude, reliability and friendship were noted as follows, “Don’s leadership is a valuable resource for the logistics team both in Fargo and across our enterprise. He has consistently acted as a sounding board for logistics leadership as Marvin has worked to continuously update and strengthen its safety processes. His decades of experience on the road himself, coupled with countless hours spent training new drivers, give Don a unique perspective into some of our biggest opportunities to make safety protocols clear, effective, and attainable for all drivers.”