(Sunday, May 31, 2026 – Winnipeg, MB) Members of Manitoba’s trucking industry gathered to celebrate the industry’s top drivers at the annual Manitoba Trucking Association Driver Awards Banquet on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Rodney Birdsbill of Allscape Ltd. took home Grand Champion honours from the day’s Professional Truck Driving Championship (PTDC) with a score 118 points above average in the Super-B category. Birdsbill was also the Hal Bjornson Memorial Award recipient (top score overall).
Other PTDC winners were Cody Briggs (Jade Transport Ltd) in the tandem-tandem category as Top Rookie. Top Team was Bison Transport Inc.
First place PTDC recipients (Team Manitoba) are:
• Day Cab Tandem: Arshdeep Singh (XPO Logistics Inc.)
• Tandem-Tandem: Prabjot Randhawa (Bison Transport Inc)
• Super-B: Rodney Birdsbill (Allscape Ltd.)
Second place PTDC recipients are:
• Day Cab Tandem: Sergeii Linkevych (Bison Transport Inc)
• Tandem-Tandem: Carl Gauthier (Bison Transport Inc)
• Super-B: Bruce McKechnie (Bison Transport Inc)
• Team: XPO Logistics Inc.
Third place PTDC recipients include:
• Day Cab Tandem: Sam Ha (Core-Mark International)
• Tandem-Tandem: Cody Briggs (Jade Transport Ltd.)
• Super-B: Doug McEwen (Bison Transport Inc)
• Team: Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd.
Winners from the PTDC were not the only drivers recognized at the Driver Awards Banquet. Through the MTA-Inland Group Industry Excellence Awards, professional drivers were recognized for their commitment to industry, safe driving records, acts of heroism, and contributions to community.
MTA-Inland Group Industry Excellence Award winners recognized at the event included:
• David Friesen (Day and Ross)
• Kirandeep Sohi (Day and Ross)
• Robin Penner (HyLife Ltd.)
• Ted Wachna (HyLife Ltd.)
• Marcel Gosseye (KAG Canada)
• Edwin Klippenstein (Steve’s Livestock Transport Ltd.)
• James Mengistu (Steve’s Livestock Transport Ltd.)
• Luzie Doerksen (Penner International Inc.)
• Matthew Kauenhowen (Trappers Transport Ltd.)
• Terry Walde (Searcy Trucking Ltd.)
The CVSA Inspectors’ Competition Award was presented to Tejpaul Baidwan of Manitoba Motor Carrier Enforcement. For the past several years, Manitoba Motor Carrier Enforcement has held their inspectors’ competition in conjunction with the Manitoba Trucking and Career Expo. Members of Manitoba Motor Carrier Enforcement also volunteer with the PTDC as judges.
The event was opened with greetings from Brent Arnold, President of the MTA’s Board of Directors. Greetings from the Province of Manitoba were brought by The Honourable Minister Lisa Naylor (Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure).
The MTA would like to congratulate all participants and thank all of the volunteers and sponsors for their continued hard work and dedication to this event.
Images
Team Manitoba (l-r): Brad Bernshine Inc, Bridgestone Canada (Award Sponsor), Rodney Birdsbill, Arshdeep Singh, Prabjhot Randhawa, Kevin Mantie (Manitoba Motor Carrier Enforcement)
2026 MTA-Inland Group Industry Excellence Award (l-r, back row): Brent Arnold (MTA President), Edwin Klippenstein, Robin Penner, Matthew Kauenhowen, Terry Walde, Bryan Johnson (Inland Truck and Equipment).
(l-r, front row): David Friesen, Kiran Sohi, Luzie Doerksen, Ted Wachna, Marcel Gosseye
