Since 2019, Maverick’s Trainer of the Year program has showcased some of our most elite Mavericks; those drivers who choose to go above and beyond and train the next generation of professional drivers each and every day.

Our Trainer of the Year program is an extension of Maverick’s desire to recognize excellence. Trainer finalists embody qualities that make a Maverick driver top-tier. These include an excellent performance history, a safety-first mindset, strong mentoring and teaching abilities, and a desire to have a positive influence on our students.

In addition to the honor of being named a Trainer of the Year Finalist, these drivers are also challenged to improve our training standards by meeting and providing insights on our program.

Without further ado, we’d like to introduce to you our 2025 Trainer of the Year, Kurt Shunkey.

Vice President of Operations, John Coppens said, “Kurt has excelled as both a road trainer and driver, with over 4 years as a road trainer and 7 years as a driver. He was named Trainer of the Year for 2025, Driver of the Month in 2022, earned a 5-year safe driving ring, and achieved ACE status three times since 2022. Drivers trained by Kurt consistently praise his commitment and professionalism. Congratulations, Kurt!”

We interviewed Kurt after his win and want to share with you some of his thoughts below:

How do you feel being named Maverick’s 2025 Trainer of the Year? - Surprised! It makes me feel very honored that Maverick thinks I am worthy enough to be named Trainer of the Year. I know there was student input and that means so much to me. I have trained approximately 24 students.

Why did you decide to become a Road Trainer? - I decided to try it out and ended up really enjoying it. I like meeting different types of people. Everyone learns differently so I enjoy figuring out how to communicate with them and teach them.

What do you enjoy most about Maverick? Our environment is awesome. I can call anyone and get the information I need at any time. My fleet manager calls just to check on me. People at Maverick truly care.

What piece of advice would you provide to a new driver in this industry? Always call if you have a question. You are provided with all the information you need but you will always have questions, so don’t be shy about asking. I enjoy working alongside students and reassure them that they CAN do this.

Congratulations, Kurt Shunkey and to all our 2025 Trainer of the Year Finalists!