A Salute to One of Our Own: Don Jones Honored with CVSN’s Inaugural “Driving Force” Award

At Truck Service, we always say our strength comes from people, from the grit, the leadership, and the shared commitment of those who build this company every day. This week, we are especially proud to shine that light back at one of our founding owners, Don Jones, who has just been honored by CVSN with its brand new Driving Force Award.

What the Award Means

The Driving Force Award is CVSN’s newest discretionary honor, created to recognize individuals whose lifetime of service, leadership, mentorship, and selfless efforts leave a powerful, positive mark on the independent commercial vehicle aftermarket. It’s not given every year, only when someone’s contributions truly rise to a level that demands special recognition.

Why Don Jones Was Chosen

Don’s contributions to this industry span more than 50 years. As a founding member of Truck Service Inc., based in Indianapolis, he was instrumental in laying the foundation not only for our company, but also for many of the associations and networks that have strengthened the aftermarket community. 

One significant chapter: Don previously served as president of the Service Specialists Association (SSA), and helped guide its integration under CVSN’s umbrella last fall, a move that reflects his belief in collaboration and unity across our fragmented world.

The CVSN Executive Director, Edward Kuo, put it well: “Don Jones is the definition of a driving force: selfless service, leadership, mentorship, and steady work that lifts an entire industry.” That modest capture, though, is precisely why we celebrate him.

From Our Perspective at Truck Service

I speak for everyone here when I say: seeing Don receive this honor makes us proud, humbled, and inspired. Proud, because he helped build what we are today. Humbled, because the path he’s walked, decades of work behind the scenes, building relationships, mentoring others, making tough decisions, is not easy. And inspired, because his example shows what lasting impact looks like when you stay true to service, integrity, and a vision broader than just the bottom line.

Don may be retired from an active leadership role now, but his influence continues in how we do business at Truck Service, in how we treat our people, and in how we engage with the industry. His belief that the aftermarket grows strongest when we pull together, through trade associations, shared standards, and mentorship, is deeply embedded in who we are.

A Thank You

So, from all of us here at Truck Service: thank you, Don. Thank you for your years of service, for your leadership, for showing up when it mattered. And congratulations on this inaugural Driving Force Award. It’s an honor well-deserved.