Daljit Sohi, a truck driver for Triple Eight Transport, Abbotsford, B.C, has been named one of the 2024 Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Highway Angels of the Year. He was recognized alongside Jason Corino of Melton Truck Lines and Michael Dorsey of Mercer Transportation during a ceremony at TCA’s annual convention in Phoenix, Ariz., on March 17.
On Nov. 29, 2024, while traveling from Banff to Salmon Arm, B.C., Sohi noticed a woman at a rest stop who unknowingly dropped her purse while tending to her four-year-old child. Inside the purse were $1,100 in cash, a gold chain, and other valuable personal items.
“Without hesitation, Daljit followed the woman for three hours to return the purse. When he finally caught up with her, she was relieved to find everything intact. Despite her offer of a reward, Daljit humbly declined,” Matt Draxler, managing director at Northland Insurance, one of the award’s sponsors, told attendees at the TCA convention in Phoenix, adding that his actions demonstrated a level of honesty and generosity that earned him the award.
Corino, a driver for Melton Truck Lines, was honored for his quick response during a fatal roadside incident in Colorado. He witnessed a suspect open fire on a police officer during a traffic stop and stopped his truck to block traffic, preventing further casualties. Corino’s truck’s dashcam footage later became crucial evidence in the investigation.
Mercer Transportation’s Dorsey, meanwhile, was recognized for his bravery during Hurricane Helene in Erwin, Tenn., in Sept. 2024. As floodwaters rose rapidly, he allowed 10 people to take refuge on his trailer. When the current swept them away, Dorsey—despite being knocked unconscious—managed to help save six lives.
Since 1997, the program has recognized professional truck drivers who go above and beyond in helping others while on the job. The program has honored approximately 1,300 Highway Angels to date. The 2024 winners were selected through a public vote.
“The competition for the 2024 TCA Highway Angels of the Year was tough,” said Lance Platt, CEO of EpicVue, another one of the award’s sponsors, prior to introducing the drivers. “Out of last year’s 60 honorees, only the top five made it to the public vote, where over 2,000 votes—an all-time high—determined the top three drivers.”
Each of the three recipients will receive a complimentary EpicVue satellite TV package, which includes a 24-inch flatscreen TV, a DVR, and a one-year subscription to over 100 channels of DIRECTV programming, including premium channels such as HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and the NFL Sunday Ticket.
