
The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) will recognize industry trailblazers at the Trailer Tech Expo in February.
The association unveiled finalists for its inaugural Industry Excellence Awards. The awards honor individuals and companies that have demonstrated achievement in the trailer industry. NATDA Executive Director Andria Gibbon said the awards will represent the highest honor in the trailer industry.
Award winners will be revealed Feb. 26 at the Trailer Tech Expo award banquet. The Expo runs from Feb. 25-27 at the Reno-Sparks Conventions Center in Reno, Nevada.
Gibbon said the convention was the perfect event to debut the awards.
“This year’s finalists exemplify the dedication, creativity and hard work that continue to move the industry forward,” she said. “Winning an award not only highlights significant accomplishments but also solidifies their reputation as an industry leader.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
NATDA’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner has been selected. Ricky Baker is the first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

In 1977, Baker began working at Texas Bragg Trailers at the age of 17. Two years later, he bought the company.
In 1982, Baker sold his ownership at Texas Bragg Trailers and established Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing in West Texas. The company introduced new manufacturing techniques to the industry.
Eventually, private-equity giant Bain Capital acquired Baker’s company in 2015. At the time of the acquisition, Big Tex had eight manufacturing facilities, 40 Big Tex Trailer World retail outlets and 11 TexTrail Trailer Parts locations.
Today, the company operates as American Trailer World (ATW) and has 21 manufacturing plants, 70 retail locations, 20 TexTrail Parts locations and employs more than 5,000 people. ATW encompasses brands including Big Tex Trailers, CM Truck Beds, PJ Trailers, BWise Trailers, RC Trailers and Carry-On Trailers..
Baker remains active in the industry and is planning a new brand launch. NXG Truck Bodies is set to debut in May.
According to NATDA, Baker’s “visionary leadership, innovative thinking and relentless dedication have left a lasting legacy, setting a standard of excellence for future generations in the trailer and manufacturing industries.”
2025 Finalists
Various other industry members were recognized as award finalists. Nominees include:
Manufacturer of the Year
- Diamond C Trailers
- Down 2 Earth Trailers
- Watchdog Trailers
Dealer of the Year
- AW Trailer Sales
- Maine Trailers
- White Spruce Trailer Sales
Rising Star–Company
- Liberty Trailers
- Timpte Equipment Trailers
- Viper Trailers
Rising Star – Individual
- Tyler Bauman, Viper Trailers regional account manager
- Jon Bloch, Great Lakes Trailer Sales owner
- Shane Buckner, RBJ Trailers dba GPS Trailers vice president
Customer Service Excellence
- Delco Trailers
- Lamar Trailers
- Liberty Trailers
Marketing Excellence: Best Use of Technology in Marketing
- Action Trailers
- Central Trailer Sales
- Transax
Leadership in Business Technology
- Lightspeed
- Taskmaster Components
- Whole Hog
Woman of the Year
- Kyran Holje, Delco Trailer marketing director
- Brittani Lewis, Shout Out Entertainment owner
- Donna Schmucker, Gen-y-Hitch marketing director
Educational Excellence
- Johnathan Aguero, BlackPurl senior vice president of revenue
- Kent Lewis, NextNW Executive Director
- Bill Snider, Dexter product training manager
Vendor of the Year
- Bulletproof Hitches
- Gen-Y Hitch
- Valcrum
Finalists will be notified and featured on the NATDA website.