Union County Transportation (UCT) is excited to share that Fred Baber, a full-time driver, has been honored as the 2026 Driver of the Year by the North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA). This is the top award given to public transit workers in the state.

Baber received the award at the NCPTA Annual Conference in Cherokee, NC, earlier this month. The event gathered public transit operators, administrators and industry partners from across the state. Over 60 drivers and 14 teams took part in the Roadeo, a tough skills contest that tests precise driving, vehicle inspection, and safety operations.

For Baber, the weekend was full of surprises.

"My supervisor completely fooled me. I thought I won a ticket to the Roadeo and Gala event," Baber said. "It was a wonderful weekend that started with my wife and me watching the NCPTA Roadeo event and ended with a Driver of the Year award. I'm honored, surprised and very proud to be part of the Union County Transportation team.”

In his three years with UCT, Baber has stood out in many roles beyond driving. He’s been a dispatcher, trained new drivers, and served on the UCT Driver Advisory Board. He also represented the department at community events. When new hires shadow the driver role, Baber is trusted by leadership to make a great first impression. He is also on Union County's Shelter Team and has led volunteer projects helping residents with yard work and home improvements.

"We are incredibly proud to recognize Fred as the Driver of the Year by the NCPTA,” said Theresa Torres, Director of Transportation Services. "This award shows his dedication to safe and reliable transportation and the compassion, professionalism, and care he gives to every passenger. Fred is the best of our department, and we are honored to have him on our team. His commitment to serving our community makes this recognition well-deserved.”

UCT also performed well in the Roadeo competition. John Little, Marco Jimenez, and Van Jones finished in second place in the team van competition. This adds to Union County's strong track record at the event. Drivers Blane Moon, Mike Wallace, and Brian Bergamini also competed in individual events.

Union County Transportation provides door-to-door rides for residents. This service helps them reach medical appointments, jobs, and important community services. For more information or to schedule a ride, visit unioncountync.gov/transportation.