NatRoad Awards
The annual NatRoad Awards, presented at the NatRoad Connect 24 Cummins and PACCAR & Dealer Industry Fund Gala Dinner recognise those in our industry who are making a difference. Nominate a mate or a fellow worker to acknowledge their contribution to your workplace and our industry.
Sam Sali National Young Driver of the Year
This Award recognises an inspirational young professional (30 years and under) working in any part of the road transport industry. The award is named in honour of Sam Sali, one of NatRoad’s founding fathers and a passionate champion of our industry, who passed in January 2024.
Sam and his family were Albanian immigrants who moved to Shepparton in 1937, establishing S Sali and Sons in 1956. He spent many years driving trucks before moving to the management side of the business and becoming heavily involved in industry advocacy. Sam was a driving force behind such initiatives as the restructuring of the Long Distance Drivers Award and the introduction of enterprise bargaining to the industry.
If a young team member has performed beyond your expectations, contributed to your business or brought a new way of thinking, nominate them today.
Sponsored by NTI
Professional Driver of the Year
This Award recognises the achievements of a driver and acknowledge the professionalism with which they carry out their work, in particular an exemplary safety performance, commitment to excellence, customer service and who has worked to promote the industry as a whole.
Sponsored by NTI
Ted Pickering Memorial Award
The prestigious Ted Pickering Memorial Award is awarded each year to an individual for their outstanding contribution to the Australian Road Transport Industry.
First awarded in 2012, this award was named after one of the founding members of the National Transport Federation – Ted Pickering. Ted was an icon of the industry and a true gentleman. Universally liked and respected for his honesty, integrity, ethics and overall commitment to the industry. The Ted Pickering Memorial Award is selected by the NatRoad Executive Team and awarded at the NatRoad Conference Gala Dinner.
Excellence in Operational Support of the Year
This Award recognises an individual with a demonstrated commitment to the road transport industry and outstanding customer service, whose positive approach, enthusiasm towards their job and demonstrated leadership potential, reflects positively on them, their employer and the road transport industry as a whole.
Sponsored by NTI
2024 Winners
NTI NatRoad Professional Driver of the Year Award – James Ellison
NTI NatRoad Sam Sali National Youth Employee of the Year Award – Jade Harney
Ted Pickering Memorial Award – Tim Giles (pictured)
2023 Winners
NTI NatRoad Professional Driver of the Year Award – Dennis Harding
NTI NatRoad Youth Employee of the Year Award – Stephanie Arpasi
NTI NatRoad Excellence in Operational Support of the Year Award – Shane Pendergast
Ted Pickering Memorial Award – Carol Single (pictured)