1. How do I submit a nomination?
Go to https://www.tmsatoday.org/award-program, choose which award you'd like to apply for, click "Submit Nomination" at the bottom, fill out the form, and submit. As a TMSA member, nominations are free for your first two entries per awards cycle. For non-members, there is a $200 fee to apply per entry. You can learn more about becoming a member here.
2. What are the awards categories?
TMSA offers several award categories: Trailblazers, Purpose, Rising Stars, and Mountain Movers. You can find a full list and description of the awards here: https://www.tmsatoday.org/award-program
3. Can I submit a sustainability initiative for a Purpose Award?
Absolutely! We accept submissions for both community programs, and for sustainability initiatives. You'll choose which category is appropriate on the nomination form.
4. Is there a word count limit?
Yes, every word counts! The narrative submission fields for each award are limited to 300 words.
5. Can I nominate myself?
Yes, and where noted on the nomination form, self-nominations must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation.
6. Is there a limit to the number of nominations I can submit?
There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit. Feel free to submit as many as you feel are appropriate. However, while it is free for members to submit two entries, non-members are charged $200 per submission. You can learn more about becoming a member here.
7. I submitted my nomination. What’s next?
Thank you for taking the time to submit your nomination. We value your contribution, and we will notify you if you have been selected as a winner 6-8 weeks after the submission period concludes.
8. How will I know if I won?
Once the nomination period comes to a close, our panel of judges will carefully review each entry over the course of a few weeks. After the winners have been chosen, they will be notified via email and provided with further instructions, including when it's ok to share the news, etc.
9. Can I make changes to the nomination after I hit submit?
No, once you click "Submit," you cannot edit your nomination in the system. If you need to withdraw a nomination before the deadline, please contact us.
10. What is the entry fee?
As a TMSA member, submissions are free for up to two entries. However, if you are not a member, there is a $200 fee per nomination. You can learn more about becoming a member here.
11. How is my submission judged?
Every submission is reviewed by professional industry experts for its professionalism, creativity and depth. Judges use a standardized scorecard rubric with a five-star scale to rank nominations on the elevator pitch, measurable results, objectives achieved, and award-specific criteria such as innovation, impact, and supporting materials. In this way, judging is solely based upon the information you submit.
12. Is there an award ceremony?
Yes, but it looks a little different for each award! The Purpose Awards will be announced in a special online event in April, and highlighted at the ELEVATE Conference in June in Denver, CO. The Trailblazer and Rising Stars award winners will be recognized at the ELEVATE Conference.
13. Where can I get more information about each award including previous winners?
Yes, we have award pages for each of our award categories that showcase past winners and examples. Visit "Learn More" on the main award page to go to that award page.
14. Do I or my company have to be a TMSA member to win an award?
No. Membership is not required to be eligible. Members receive up to two free submissions, while non-members pay a $200 fee per nomination, but all entries are judged using the same criteria.
15. Can I submit the same campaign, initiative, or person for more than one award?
Yes, as long as the submission clearly meets the criteria for each award. For example, a recruitment campaign could be submitted for a Trailblazer Award and also support a Rising Star nomination for the person who led it. You’ll need to complete a separate nomination form for each award. Each form submission counts as one entry.
16. What time period must my work fall within? What time period should my campaign or initiative cover?
Award submissions should focus on work completed within the last 18 months, from the closing date of the award cycle. The nomination forms for Trailblazer and Purpose ask you to confirm that your submission falls within that timeframe. Please refer to each award’s nomination form for specific eligibility dates.
17. Do I have to submit a video?
No. Video is optional for all awards. However, for all TMSA awards, strong video submissions can earn additional points in the "Media & Supporting Materials" portion of the judging rubric, because they help judges better understand your work.
18. What file types and sizes can I upload?
You can upload common file types such as PDFs, PowerPoint decks, images, and links to online content (e.g., webpages, dashboards, or hosted videos). We recommend keeping individual files under 25 MB where possible. If your materials are hosted online (e.g., Google Drive, Vimeo, YouTube), you can simply include a shareable link.
19. Are nominations confidential? Will TMSA share them publicly?
Nominations are used by TMSA judges for evaluation. If your entry is selected as a winner or finalist, portions of your submission (including names, titles, company names, and select examples) may be featured in TMSA marketing, on our website, or during award ceremonies. The nomination forms include a permission checkbox so you can review and agree to how your materials may be used.
20. Does my nominee or company need to attend ELEVATE or the online ceremony to win?
No. Attendance at the ELEVATE Conference or the online Purpose Awards ceremony is encouraged but not required to be recognized as a winner. Winners who are not present will still be announced and celebrated by TMSA.
21. Who are the judges? How do you avoid conflicts of interest?
Awards are judged by a volunteer panel of experienced transportation, logistics, and marketing/sales professionals. Judges are asked to recuse themselves from reviewing any nomination where they have a direct conflict of interest (such as their own company or a current client) to ensure fairness. If you're interested in serving as a judge, please let us know.
22. Are international companies or remote teams eligible?
Yes. TMSA welcomes nominations from organizations and professionals serving the transportation and logistics industry, regardless of location. All entries must be submitted in English.
