Ryder Honors Three Outstanding Professionals with 54th Annual Driver of the Year Awards
Ryder System, Inc. has announced the recipients of its 54th annual Driver of the Year awards, recognizing three exceptional professional drivers whose dedication to safety, operational excellence, customer service, and leadership has distinguished them across the company’s transportation and logistics network. The 2025 honorees—Tamara “Tammy” Land, Robert Deroy, and Terry Frey—represent Ryder’s Supply Chain Solutions, Dedicated Transportation Solutions, and Fleet Management Solutions business segments, respectively.
The prestigious recognition celebrates drivers who consistently demonstrate outstanding performance while maintaining exemplary safety records and making meaningful contributions to customers, colleagues, and local communities. In addition to receiving the award, each recipient has been inducted into the Ryder Driver Hall of Fame, a distinction reserved for the company’s most accomplished professional drivers.
The annual Driver of the Year program has become one of Ryder’s most respected traditions, highlighting individuals whose commitment and professionalism embody the values that have helped the company maintain a strong reputation in transportation and supply chain management.
Recognizing Excellence Behind the Wheel
Professional drivers play a critical role in keeping supply chains moving and ensuring goods reach their destinations safely and efficiently. While their work often takes place behind the scenes, their impact extends far beyond transportation operations. Drivers serve as ambassadors for the company, interacting with customers daily while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.
Ryder Chief Executive Officer John Diez emphasized the importance of the role professional drivers play in the organization’s success.
According to Diez, Ryder drivers do much more than transport freight from one location to another. They represent the company’s values through their professionalism, commitment to safety, and dedication to customer service. He noted that this year’s winners exemplify the qualities that customers have come to expect from Ryder and serve as role models for drivers throughout the organization.
The three award recipients collectively bring more than 90 years of professional driving experience and have accumulated millions of accident-free miles throughout their careers. Their achievements highlight not only individual excellence but also Ryder’s ongoing focus on driver development, safety training, and operational performance.
Tammy Land Named Supply Chain Solutions Driver of the Year
Tamara “Tammy” Land, based in Waterloo, Iowa, earned the distinction of Ryder’s Supply Chain Solutions Driver of the Year. With more than three decades of professional driving experience, Land has established herself as one of the company’s most respected drivers and mentors.
Land brings more than 32 years of industry experience, including five years with Ryder. Throughout her career, she has accumulated more than 2.2 million driving miles, with approximately 415,000 of those miles completed while working for Ryder. Her remarkable safety record and consistent performance have made her a standout among her peers.
Beyond her daily responsibilities, Land serves as a Ryder Certified Driver Trainer, helping prepare and mentor new drivers entering the profession. Her guidance plays an important role in reinforcing the company’s safety standards and ensuring that new team members understand the expectations required to operate safely and effectively.
Colleagues frequently recognize Land for her calm leadership style, strong communication skills, and willingness to support fellow drivers. Her ability to share knowledge and promote a culture of safety has had a lasting impact on the teams she works with.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Land is actively engaged in community service initiatives. She dedicates time to wildlife rehabilitation efforts and participates in programs that promote breast cancer awareness, demonstrating her commitment to helping others both on and off the road.
Robert Deroy Honored for Dedicated Transportation Excellence
Robert Deroy, who supports a Ryder customer operation in West Palm Beach, Florida, was selected as the Dedicated Transportation Solutions Driver of the Year.
Deroy brings 25 years of professional driving experience and has spent 15 of those years with Ryder. Since joining the company in 2010, he has logged nearly 1.3 million miles while driving for Ryder and approximately 2.2 million miles throughout his overall career.
His extensive experience and commitment to safety have earned him a reputation as one of Ryder’s most dependable transportation professionals. Deroy is widely recognized for his ability to handle complex assignments and safety-sensitive operations with exceptional care and precision.
Throughout his career, he has taken on several training and leadership responsibilities. He serves as a Certified Driver Trainer and Smith System Trainer, helping fellow drivers strengthen their defensive driving and safety skills. In addition, he is certified as an American Red Cross instructor for CPR, AED, and First Aid training.
These qualifications have enabled Deroy to contribute far beyond his driving duties, providing valuable support in situations where safety and emergency preparedness are essential.
His commitment to service also extends into his personal life. Deroy actively participates in community support initiatives and has been involved in emergency response and disaster-relief activities. His willingness to assist others during challenging situations reflects the same dedication and professionalism that define his work at Ryder.
Terry Frey Earns Fleet Management Solutions Recognition
The Fleet Management Solutions Driver of the Year award was presented to Terry Frey of Conestoga, Pennsylvania. This category recognizes customer drivers who operate Ryder-managed vehicles while consistently demonstrating outstanding safety, professionalism, and operational excellence.
Frey brings an impressive 34 years of professional driving experience to the award. More than 26 of those years have been spent supporting a Ryder-managed fleet for Turkey Hill Dairy, where he has become a trusted and respected member of the transportation team.
Over the course of his career, Frey has accumulated nearly 2.5 million driving miles. More than 2 million of those miles were completed while serving Turkey Hill Dairy, underscoring his long-term commitment to excellence and reliability.
Known for his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering professionalism, Frey has earned the respect of Ryder technicians, fleet personnel, customer representatives, and fellow drivers alike. His dedication to maintaining high standards has helped support safe and efficient fleet operations for decades.
Beyond his transportation career, Frey has devoted significant time to community involvement. He has spent many years mentoring young people and supporting nonprofit organizations focused on youth development, leadership, and character-building programs. His efforts have positively influenced countless individuals within his community.
Celebrating a Legacy of Professionalism and Safety
The 54th annual Ryder Driver of the Year awards highlight the critical role professional drivers play in maintaining efficient supply chains and delivering exceptional service. Through their commitment to safety, leadership, and customer satisfaction, Tammy Land, Robert Deroy, and Terry Frey have set a benchmark for excellence across Ryder’s operations.
Their combined accomplishments—including millions of safe driving miles, extensive training contributions, and meaningful community involvement—demonstrate the qualities that define the very best in the transportation industry. As new members of the Ryder Driver Hall of Fame, they join a distinguished group of professionals whose careers reflect the highest standards of the profession and serve as an inspiration for future generations of drivers.
About Ryder System, Inc.
Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) is a nearly $13 billion leading provider of outsourced logistics and transportation services throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ryder offers supply chain, dedicated transportation, and fleet management solutions that integrate every step of the supply chain port‑to‑door, including cross-border logistics, fleet and transportation management, warehousing and distribution, and final delivery to customers’ doorsteps.
Ryder’s broad portfolio of services encompasses managed transportation, freight brokerage, dedicated contract carriage with professional drivers, full‑service fleet leasing and maintenance, commercial truck rental, automation and robotics, digital technologies, contract manufacturing and packaging, omnichannel retail fulfillment including e-commerce and last-mile delivery, and used vehicle sales.
Serving more than 20 industries, Ryder manages approximately 240,000 commercial vehicles, operates nearly 800 maintenance locations, and runs approximately 320 warehouses totaling more than 100 million square feet. Ryder is consistently recognized for technology‑driven innovation and industry‑leading practices in safety, health, security, talent acquisition, and environmental management, and was most recently named to Fortune’s “America’s Most Innovative Companies” list. www.ryder.com
