IOR truckie John Parry has been named Professional Driver of the Year at the 2026 National Trucking Industry Awards at Hamilton Island last night.
The award winners were announced at the 2026 ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner, as part of Trucking Australia 2026, the Australian Trucking Association’s annual conference.
Parry’s IOR colleague, Andrew “Risky” Foster, was also a finalist in the same category.
Cannon Hill-based Parry, a tanker driver at IOR, is responsible for distributing fuel to retail, agricultural, rail, commercial and marine bunkering customers.
He has more than 30 years of experience as a tanker driver, including 11 years in the army with two operational deployments.
According to the judging notes, Parry demonstrates exceptional standards in both personal and vehicle presentation.
“Customers frequently request John by name for their deliveries, which speaks to his professionalism, reliability and customer service skills,” said the awards program.
“IOR’s driver base consider John to be a driver of choice for shift partnering. He provides mentoring and coaching to new drivers, drawing on his extensive industry and military experience.”
The other big winners on the night are:
Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry
Michael Edmonds, NTI (Brisbane, Qld)
Mike Edmonds is a well-known leader and personality throughout the trucking and insurance industries.
Edmonds entered the workforce in 1981 as a police officer, but has since spent 30 years working in or around the transport industry for Finemore Holdings, the ATA and then NTI.
He led the ATA’s TruckSafe program, participates on a wide range of working groups as an insurance expert and is the steward of NTI’s association strategy.
Transport operators and insurance brokers lean on Edmonds for advice as a respected, empathetic and calm leader. He has mentored many people; he regards watching them reach their full potential to be amongst his greatest successes.
National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
Jodie Jarratt, Jarratt Transport Solutions (Benowa, Qld)
Jodie Jarratt is the co-owner of Jarratt Transport Solutions, where she has a central role in business operations, people management, safety and strategy.
At Jarratt Transport Solutions, Jarratt introduced TruckSafe, the NHVAS BFM, mass and maintenance modules, and in more recent years electronic work diaries, onboard scales, and PBS B-triples and road trains into Victoria.
Jarratt has also focused on driver wellbeing, including by equipping trucks with microwaves, sleeper cab air conditioning and inverters.
In addition to leading her business, Jarratt has served on the boards of the QTA and Transport Women Australia Ltd, where she was the Deputy Chair.
National Trucking Industry Workforce Award
Formula Chemicals (West Ryde, NSW)
Formula Chemicals (NSW) is an Australian-owned chemical manufacturing and distribution business with more than 53 years of experience.
Since its founding in 1973 by Leigh and Colleen Smart, the company has grown into a nationally respected supplier of chemical products and transport services. The Smart family remains hands-on in the business.
In 2026, Formula Chemicals will expand its safety reporting and leadership programs, deliver structured driver training and bring in wellness and leadership development programs.
The company will continue to support workforce diversity, including employees from Fijian, Samoan, Indigenous, Irish traveller and other backgrounds. It will also continue its Work Release Program with Corrective Services NSW.
TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award
K & S Freighters (Truganina, Vic)
Formed in 1945 as a partnership between Jack Kain and Aub Shelton, K&S (Kain and Shelton) started trading in Mount Gambier.
Since then, it has evolved to become one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest national multi-modal providers of transport and distribution services, with outstanding facilities and one of the largest company-owned and operated fleets in the two countries.
K&S joined TruckSafe in 1996 as a founding member.
Don Watson Memorial Award
David Simon
David Simon is the executive chairman of Simon National Carriers and has a deep understanding of the industry both as an operator and at an association level.
Simon was the Chair of the ATA from 2010 to 2014 and represented the industry at the Australian Government’s 2011 tax forum. In 2013, he delivered a nationally televised address at the National Press Club, where he released a major report into road funding and how the trucking industry is charged for its use of the road system.
Simon is passionate about fixing heavy vehicle regulation, truck charges and fatigue management. Within his own company, he implemented a dedicated 90km/h linehaul speed limit to improve fuel efficiency and safety.