ST. LOUIS, Mo. — HDA Truck Pride’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Giving Rally brought together over 850 attendees including distributor members, suppliers and industry partners for a dynamic week of connection, collaboration and industry advancement—while raising $70,000 in support of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF).
“The generosity and engagement we saw this week was truly inspiring,” said Tina Hubbard, president, CEO, HDA Truck Pride. “Raising $70,000 for AACF reflects the powerful heart of this network— coming together to support our own when it matters most.”
The event kicked off with a welcome reception, live auction, and the annual Giving Rally Cornhole Tournament, setting the tone for a week centered on purpose and community. Proceeds from activities throughout the week directly benefit AACF, which provides critical support to families within the aftermarket industry facing hardship.
A Willingness to Help
“Spending time with the HDA Truck Pride community at their Annual Meeting was incredibly meaningful,” said John Kairys, executive sirector AACF. “The conversations, the willingness to help, and the genuine care for others in our industry really stood out. That kind of support allows AACF to step in quickly and make a real difference for families facing difficult moments.”
Monday’s agenda featured a high-energy trade show where attendees connected on new product innovations and driving business forward. A series of breakout sessions delivered actionable insights on key topics including artificial intelligence adoption, cybersecurity preparedness, digital visibility, operational efficiency and workforce development.
A Tribute to Veterans
A standout moment of the week was an evening aboard the historic USS Midway, where attendees gathered for laughter, friendship, patriotism, and a heartfelt tribute to Veterans. The cornhole tournament finals were also held onboard, with Joe Brooks and Dan Harbut of Acme Truck Brake & Supply taking home the championship title.
Tuesday’s general session highlighted the continued strength and growth of the HDA Truck Pride Network, which now includes more than 220 member companies, over 1,000 distributor locations, and 550+ service affiliates across North America. Leadership emphasized ongoing investments in the new HDA Truck Pride CVL Warehouse with expanded product access, digital transformation, and workforce development—alongside advocacy efforts such as Right-to-Repair initiatives and building future talent pipelines.
HDA Truck Pride EDDY Awards
The meeting also recognized excellence across the network through several HDA Truck Pride EDDY Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to education, leadership, and professional development.
“HDA Truck Pride is a great place to be—because of our people,” Hubbard said. “Every member who chose to invest in us. Every supplier who chose to partner with us. Every staff member who chooses to show up every day. We built this. And we are only getting started. We’re especially grateful to our supplier partners, including our Annual Meeting Valor sponsors — Gates, Milwaukee, Old World Industries, Valvoline and Bendix, without whose support we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
For more information about the HDA Truck Pride Network, please contact Danielle Orlando at [email protected] or click here. For more information about AACF, contact Misty Walker at [email protected].
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
