Fifty year veteran driver with 6 million safe miles earns WIT Driver of the Year award

A truck driver with five decades of experience behind the wheel was recently recognized for her safety record by the Women In Trucking Association (WIT).

On March 31,  Transport Designs, Inc. truck driver Mary “Candy” Bass, 78, was named WIT’s Driver of the Year.

Bass has worked as a long haul truck driver for 50 years and in that time has driven 6 million accident free miles, according to WIT. After decades on the road, she’s still working as an OTR driver.

Bass is a member of WIT, OOIDA, and earned the TA Petro Citizen Driver award in 2016. Bass is also involved in charity work with organizations including the St. Christopher Foundation, Hats for Heroes, Special Olympics, Trucker Buddy, and Charities for troops.

“Candy Bass has given extensively to the trucking profession, not only during her time on the road and commitment to safe driving, but through mentorship and her desire to be a guiding star for women at all stages of their careers,” said Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO, WIT. 

“Our North Star is to create a culture where our associates feel like they belong. That means getting to know them for their own unique identities, styles, experiences, abilities, and perspectives to support them best,” Erin Bergman, Director of Talent Acquisition at Walmart said. “That’s why Walmart is proud to sponsor the Women In Trucking ‘Driver Of The Year Award’ since it was created. It’s important to celebrate the industry’s top women behind the wheel like Mary ‘Candy’ Bass, who has had an incredible 50-year career and is paving the way to show future generations what they can accomplish when they work hard at what they love.”