During the Geotab Connect 2026 conference, it was announced that Ruan truck driver Jeff Smith, who passed away last fall, was named the recipient of the 2026 Geotab Legacy Award.
Over his respected 33-year tenure with Ruan, Jeff made countless contributions that left a lasting imprint on the company and the transportation industry as a whole. Among his many accomplishments, Jeff played an important role in the successful rollout of Ruan’s Geotab implementation, offering professional, actionable feedback that helped guide and strengthen its adoption across the organization. This project was just one example of Jeff’s consistent leadership, insight, and dedication over the decades he spent with us.
“In operations, we often talk about safety, service, and accountability; Jeff lived those values every single day,” stated Jeremy Carmichael, Vice President of Operations. “His professionalism and dedication created lasting impact for our drivers, our customers, and our organization as a whole.”
Honoring the legacy of an incredible individual highlights just how valuable Jeff was to Ruan and to the transportation and logistics industry. As Geotab stated, “Jeff achieved the extraordinary milestone of 3 million accident-free miles, which is the equivalent of traveling around the Earth more than 120 times.” Jeff had quite the record of excellence, being a three-time Ruan Driver of the Year nominee, receiving praise from his team members and the customer, and always wanting to be a part of the impact made in his community.