The ATA has announced the winners of the 2025 National Trucking Industry Awards.
The ATA represents the 60,000 businesses and 200,000 people in the Australian trucking industry and each year recognises industry excellence through its award program.
"The National Trucking Industry Awards recognise the businesses and individuals who make exceptional contributions to our great industry - and Australia," ATA Chair Mark Parry said.
"The winners of all our awards have shown enormous commitment to their individual businesses and the community. They are examples for us all," he said.
The 2025 National Trucking Industry Award winners are:
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
Mark Tobin, Followmont Transport (Eagle Farm, Queensland)
National Professional Driver of the Year
Brad Train, VE Group (Ipswich, Queensland)
National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
Ann Lopez, Lopez Bros Transport (Enfield, NSW)
National Trucking Industry Workforce Award
Border Crane Consultants (Wodonga, Victoria)
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award
Jim Pearson Transport (Port Macquarie, NSW)
Don Watson Memorial Award
Kathy Williams AM
The award winners were announced at the 2025 ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner, held on 30 April in Adelaide as part of the trucking's industry's premier event, Trucking Australia 2025. As well as the dinner and other networking events, TA 25 featured 23 business sessions with 68 presenters and panellists.
The details of the award winners are below.
2025 NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry (Award sponsors: National Transport Insurance, Volvo Trucks, BP Australia)
Mark Tobin, Followmont Transport
Mark Tobin from Followmont Transport has been entrenched in the business and the industry since he rode his pushbike to the yard after school. He officially started work at Followmont in 1991 and has held a host of jobs at the company, including as a mechanic, forklift operator, driver, CEO and now Managing Director.
Mark is dedicated to delivering exceptional transport services and developing future leaders within his team of almost a thousand people across Queensland and New South Wales.
Under Mark's leadership, Followmont has become a supporter of diverse charities, including Childhood Cancer Support, the 2024 LifeFlight Gala and regional non-profit entities. For the past two years, Mark has participated in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and has been recognised as Queensland's highest fundraiser, raising almost $100,000 each year.
National Professional Driver of the Year (Award sponsors: National Transport Insurance, Volvo Trucks, BP Australia)
Brad Train, VE Group
Brad Train has worked for VE Group for the past six years, where he has been an exemplary driver with an impeccable safety record. In total, he has held a truck licence for 27 years.
Brad is skilled at handling heavy traffic and oversize/over mass loads. He conducts thorough research before leaving sites, including assessing bridge heights, and measures every load to confirm that its dimensions are compliant.
As a result, customers frequently request that Brad undertake their deliveries, because they know that his truck and float will arrive in impeccable condition.
Brad's professionalism and willingness to mentor new drivers have made him an inspirational figure at VE Group.
National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year (Award sponsor: Cummins South Pacific)
Ann Lopez, Lopez Bros Transport
Ann Lopez became the co-owner of Lopez Bros Transport in 2011, after originally helping in the office during a staff break. The business operates more than 20 trucks and has some 30 employees.
Ann is passionate about advocating on issues such as safe rest stops and fair treatment for smaller operators and works to increase gender representation and safety in the sector. Her commitment to the growth and development of the industry is evident in her efforts to promote young talent, as demonstrated by her initiative to create a Road Freight NSW award for rising stars.
In 2016, Ann was the inaugural winner of the Road Freight NSW Transport Woman of the Year Award. She is now a member of the Road Freight NSW and ATA boards.
National Trucking Industry Workforce Award (Award sponsor: Teletrac Navman)
Border Crane Consultants
Based in Wodonga, Border Crane Consultants has championed and implemented a range of staff wellbeing, inclusion and development initiatives.
