The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) named Gary Klingson, a professional truck driver for Koch Trucking, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, as the 2025 Minnesota Driver of the Year during its award ceremony on January 27, 2026.

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“This award is a great way to honor the best in our industry. Driving safely is no easy task—especially with daily challenges like congestion, driver distractions, and Minnesota winters,” said John Hausladen, MTA president. “Gary’s achievement of more than 6 million safe driving miles over 40 years is truly outstanding, and we’re proud to recognize him for this accomplishment.”

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“For four decades, Gary has shown up to work, day after day, with strong work ethic and a commitment to doing things right,” added Rick Lueck, Senior Director of Flatbed and Oversized at Koch Trucking. Gary truly represents the best of the best, recently accomplishing 6 million safe driving miles, a remarkable milestone that reflects his unwavering dedication to safety throughout his career.”

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Koch Companies are a family of privately held companies founded by Stan Koch. Koch began serving customers in 1976 as a merchandiser of hardware to retailers in North America. In 1978 the Koch family purchased its first truck to transport hardware, creating Koch Trucking. Koch is now operated by Stan’s two sons and grandson and is comprised of six divisions and affiliate companies. Koch Trucking is made up of over 900 trucks and 2,000 trailers, with Dedicated, Over-the-Road, Flatbed, Marine, and Specialized fleets.

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Throughout 2025, exceptional drivers were nominated by their companies, and one driver is chosen each month to be the Driver of the Month. The chosen drivers meet a high standard of requirements including an outstanding driving and work record; contribution to industry and highway safety; and involvement in the community. One of the twelve nominees is then selected as Driver of the Year by a panel of judges including Matthew Marrin, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Laura Roads, MnDOT and Captain Robert Zak, Minnesota State Patrol.