Elite Truck School is proud to have been named Allied Member of the Year by the Oregon Trucking Association (OTA). The award was presented at OTA’s 75th Annual Leadership Convention & Exhibition, held in early August, at Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend, Oregon. The recognition honors Elite’s contributions to Oregon’s trucking industry and its ongoing support of OTA, a powerful trucking industry advocate.
What the Award Means
OTA presents the Allied Member of the Year award each year to recognize a company outside the carrier side of the industry for its support of the association and its impact on trucking in Oregon. The winner is chosen by OTA’s Membership Committee who look at more than one factor, but keep their focus on real contributions to the industry.
Most past winners of this award have come from the equipment and supply side of trucking. Recent honorees include Great West Casualty in 2025, Papé Kenworth in 2024, Cummins in 2023, and many more esteemed organizations. Most of these past winners are equipment dealers, manufacturers, insurers, and industry service providers. A driver training school winning this award stands out from that list.
Why Elite Truck School Stood Out
The award honors the kind of work the association values from its members. For Elite Truck School, that work includes almost 20 years of training commercial drivers across five campuses in Oregon and Washington. Elite also takes part in Oregon’s Professional Truck Driver Certification program, which sets shared training standards across the state’s driving schools.
Elite is also at the forefront of bringing new drivers into the industry earlier. Through a recent Youth CDL Pilot Program, ten Oregon high school graduates completed classroom instruction and hands-on training at Elite’s Hillsboro campus, giving them a head start on entering the trucking industry. Programs like these support the same training goals OTA promotes across the state: safe, well-trained drivers and a steady pipeline of new talent for Oregon’s trucking companies.
Other 2026 OTA Award Winners
OTA recognized several members at this year’s convention. Western Heavy Haul/SMAF Construction/Environmental received the Safety Grand Champion award. Knife River Corporation Training Center and George Van Dyke Trucking shared the OTA Image Award. Ireland Trucking was named Carrier Member of the Year. Elite Truck School joins this esteemed group as the 2026 Allied Member of the Year.
What This Recognition Means for Students and Employers
For students weighing which truck driving school to attend, third-party recognition offers a way to judge a school beyond its own marketing. OTA is an independent industry association, not a partner paid to promote Elite, so this award reflects how Oregon’s logistics industry views Elite’s work. For trucking companies hiring new drivers, it points to a training partner that Oregon’s own industry has chosen to recognize.
Looking Ahead
Elite Truck School thanks OTA for the recognition and plans to keep supporting Oregon’s trucking industry through its training programs. Elite operates five campuses across Oregon and Washington, and it will continue working with local schools, community partners, and OTA on new ways to prepare drivers for the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OTA Allied Member of the Year award?
It is an annual award from the Oregon Trucking Association that recognizes a non-carrier member for its support of the association and its contribution to Oregon’s trucking industry.
Who selects the Allied Member of the Year?
OTA’s membership committee, a 3rd party group.
When was the award presented to Elite Truck School?
It was presented at OTA’s 75th Annual Leadership Convention & Exhibition, held August 9 through 12, 2026, in Bend, Oregon.
What is the Oregon Trucking Association?
OTA is a member-driven association that has represented Oregon’s trucking industry for more than 80 years through advocacy, safety programs, and industry training standards.
