Miles Ahead: HyLife Drivers Set the Standard

Some achievements are measured in miles. Others are measured in the trust, leadership, and example built along the road. 

At HyLife, our Transportation team continues to show what professional driving looks like at its best — through safe miles, industry recognition, mentorship, and the quiet consistency it takes to keep a fully integrated business moving every day. 

That commitment was recently celebrated in several meaningful ways. Ted Wachna was named the 2026 MTA–Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year for Manitoba, Ted and Robin Penner were both named recipients of the 2026 MTA–Inland Truck & Equipment Industry Excellence Award, and four HyLife drivers: Isaac “Ike” Martens, Nestor Bughao, Gerald “Ben” Barnabe, and Marcos Vallarta were honoured for reaching one million safe driving miles. 

Together, these achievements tell a bigger story about the people behind the wheel and the safety culture that drives HyLife forward. 

Ted Wachna Named Manitoba Driver of the Year 

With 37 years in the trucking industry and more than 3.6 million miles driven with zero preventable accidents, Ted Wachna has built a career defined by consistency, professionalism, and care. 

Ted was named the 2026 MTA–Volvo Trucks Canada Driver of the Year for Manitoba by the Manitoba Trucking Association and Volvo Trucks Canada, an honour recognizing outstanding commitment to safety, leadership, and excellence in the trucking industry. 

“Ted represents the very best of Manitoba’s trucking industry. This award is about more than miles driven — it’s about the example you set every day, both on and off the road.” shared Randy Fleming of Volvo Trucks Canada. 

For Ted, that example extends far beyond his driving record. He has served as an in-cab coach for more than a decade, helping train, mentor, and guide newer drivers as they build their own skills and confidence on the road. He is also known for going above and beyond his regular duties, including volunteering personal time to help maintain equipment and support fleet operations. 

His impact is felt not only in the miles he has driven, but in the drivers he has helped shape along the way. 

Robin Penner Recognized for Industry Excellence 

HyLife also congratulates Robin Penner, who was named a recipient of the 2026 MTA–Inland Truck & Equipment Industry Excellence Award. 

This recognition highlights Robin’s professionalism, dedication, and contributions to Manitoba’s transportation industry. It is also another strong example of the leadership and commitment found across HyLife’s Transportation team. 

Together, Ted and Robin’s achievements reflect the standard our drivers continue to set — not only within HyLife, but across the broader trucking industry. 

Four Drivers. Four Million Miles. One Shared Standard. 

HyLife also recently gathered at its headquarters to celebrate four drivers who reached a remarkable milestone of their own: one million safe driving miles each. 

The celebration recognized Isaac “Ike” Martens, Nestor Bughao, Gerald “Ben” Barnabe, and Marcos Vallarta, who together have driven nearly five million miles and represent more than 45 years of employment. Their achievement reflects thousands of trips, countless hours on the road, changing weather conditions, and years of consistently making safe decisions mile after mile. 

The event brought together drivers, family members, staff, and HyLife leaders for speeches from President & CEO Karan Sangfai, along with cake, refreshments, and photos with HyLife trucks and the executive team. 

As part of the celebration, the four drivers were officially added to HyLife’s Million Mile display wall at headquarters — a lasting tribute to their dedication, professionalism, and safe driving. 

The Road to One Million 

Each Million Mile driver brings a different story to the wall. 

Isaac “Ike” Martens, part of the Feed East Division, has been with HyLife since 2015. His passion for driving started early, at just nine years old when he saw his first big rig. That moment grew into a lifelong career that began in 1980 and has included nearly 46 years of over-the-road experience, from ice roads to hauling logs and rough lumber across Ontario and Western Canada. 

Nestor Bughao, a member of the HyLife West Feed Division, has been with HyLife since 2014. Before coming to Canada in December 2013, Nestor drove truck in the Philippines. By January 2014, he had started his Canadian driving training, quickly continuing his career on the road and becoming a key part of HyLife’s feed transport team. 

Gerald “Ben” Barnabe, with the LPR Grain Division, began his professional driving career in 1970. His journey includes long-haul driving from 1970 to 1989, a 30-year career with the RM of Montcalm, and then joining LPR in 2016 as what began as a full-time “retirement job.” Since then, he has become a cornerstone of the fleet, hauling grain, feed, and fertilizer with skill and reliability. 

Marcos Vallarta, also with the LPR Grain Division, has spent the last 11 years as a dedicated company driver, hauling grain and seed while building strong relationships with customers. Before joining LPR in 2015, Marcos spent nearly 11 years working in a hog barn bringing a valuable understanding of HyLife’s broader operations to his work on the road. 

A Tradition of Transportation Excellence 

These achievements build on a growing record of industry success for HyLife drivers. 

Last year, HyLife driver Mario Bulacso was named the 2025 Canadian Trucking Alliance/Volvo Trucks Canada National Driver of the Year, following his previous provincial Driver of the Year award and MTA Inland Industry Excellence Award. 

Mario’s story highlighted the same qualities seen across HyLife’s Transportation team: professionalism, road safety, mentoring, and leadership. Known within HyLife as “The Godfather,” Mario has earned deep respect across the company for the way he supports other drivers and represents the industry. 

His national award also helped shine a light on the broader system behind HyLife’s driving team. HyLife’s Driver Services Team supports more than 130 full-time drivers through onboarding, scheduling, coaching, advocacy, and day-to-day guidance. The company has also invested in driver safety and education through tools such as its state-of-the-art driver simulator, introduced in 2023 to help prepare drivers for unpredictable road conditions. 

From Mario’s national spotlight to Ted’s provincial honour and four new Million Mile drivers, one thing is clear: HyLife drivers have been setting the standard for some time. 

The People Who Keep HyLife Moving 

Transportation is a critical part of HyLife’s fully integrated operations. Every day, drivers help connect farms, feed mills, processing facilities, customers, and local partners. Their work requires more than time behind the wheel, it takes judgment, patience, accountability, safety awareness, and pride in the job. 

Ted, Robin, Ike, Nestor, Ben, Marcos, and Mario each represent that standard in their own way. Their achievements reflect not only individual excellence, but the strength and professionalism found across HyLife’s Transportation team.