Mark Derden, formerly of Swainsboro, was among 108 drivers inducted into the 2026 class of the International Foodservice Distributor Association’s (IFDA) Truck Driver Hall of Fame. The installation ceremony was held on September 14, 2026, in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. A lifetime achievement, the award acknowledges a driver’s remarkable career marked by safety and service. Of 130,000 foodservice distribution drivers currently on the road, only a few qualify for the strictest criteria: (1) At least 25 years of continuous employment with an IFDA member company, (2) no chargeable accidents for the 25 years prior to the nomination, (3) a clean-driving record with no moving violations in the past five years, and (4) an active CDL license. Mark was one of four nominated for the award by his employer, DOT Transportation, Inc.
Mark graduated from Swainsboro High School in 1993, completed the Industrial Maintenance Program at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, and earned his CDL at Oconee Fall Line Technical College in Sandersville, taught at that time by Jack English.
Mark began his driving career with Handi-House Manufacturing Company in Swainsboro and started driving for DOT in Vidalia 27 years ago. He moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia in 2002 and has worked from the DOT terminal in Falling Waters, Maryland, since then. Mark has been a DOT driver-trainer for many years now and was recognized for having driven safely for 2.2 million miles.
Responding to this honor, Mark commented, “This is truly one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. Ever since I was a young boy, I dreamed of driving a truck. I never could have imagined back then where that dream would take me or all the miles, memories, friendships, and experiences that would come along the way. From a little boy dreaming of driving a truck to being inducted into the Truck Driver Hall of Fame, what a ride it has been.”
Mark is the son of John and Carolyn Derden of Swainsboro. Mark’s father and Mark’s son, Bryson (who has also driven for DOT for the past year), were present at the ceremonial banquet in San Antonio when Mark was honored.
