PITTSBURGH, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The finalists for the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships were announced early this morning after a three day competition that tested driver's knowledge of safety, equipment, the industry and driving skills. Considered the "Super Bowl of Safety," the competition is in the midst of a drive-off.

The top three drivers in each of the eight competing categories, along with the affiliated step van competition, will now run a specially designed obstacle course that will be unveiled this morning to determine the top driver. At the end of the day, the best driver from all eight categories will be named, with one driver named the 2009 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

*Note: High-Resolution photos will be available of winners

2009 National Truck Driving Championship Finalists

Straight Truck Class

1. Robert (Bob) J. Dolan - Con-way Freight (Catasauqua, Pa.)
2. Brent A. Glasenapp - FedEx Express (Franklin, Wis.)
3. Leroy Williams, Sr. - Con-way Freight (Zachary, La.)
   

3-Axle Class

1. Brian Clark - FedEx Express (Pittsboro, Ind.)
2. Don Logan - FedEx Freight (Eskridge, Kan.)
3. Joe Mangiaracino - FedEx Freight (Sullivan, Mo.)
   

4-Axle Class

1. Mike Stickley - Con-way Freight (Winchester, Va.)
2. Tim Dean - Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Omaha, Neb.)
3. Darryl Dodd - Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC (Phil Campbell, Ala.)
   

5-Axle Class

1. Dale Duncan - Con-way Freight (San Diego, Ca.)
2. Ray Jackson - H-E-B Grocery Co. (San Antonio, Texas)
3. J.W. (Jesse) Ballard - YRC (Portland, Ore.)
   

Flatbed Class

1. Rick Kinsey - Con-way Freight (Winchester, Va.)
2. Rich Sweeney - Con-way Freight (Springfield, Mass.)
3. Mick Simpson - Family Dollar Trucking, Inc. (Rose Hill, N.C.)
   

Tank Truck Class

1. Tony Spero - ABF Freight (Stratford, Conn.)
2. Dennis Chambers - Crete Carrier Corporation (Spartanburg, Neb.)
3. Jon Hume - FedEx Freight (Hillsboro, Mo.)
   

Twins Class

1. Mark McLean - FedEx Freight (Gardiner, N.Y.)
2. Stacy Sansom - YRC (Shreveport, La.)
3. Chris Poynor - Con-way Freight (Pasco, Wash.)
   

Sleeper Berth Class

1. Ralph Garcia - ABF Freight System, Inc. (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
2. John Hummel - UPS Freight (Gaffney, S.C.)
3. Troy Swenson - FedEx Freight (Watertown, S.D.)
   

Step Van

1. Skippy LeBlanc - FedEx Ground (Seaford, Del.)
2. Nick Paradiso - FedEx Ground (Portland, Ore.)
3. David Thompson - FedEx Ground (Alexander, Ark.)
   

ATA's Truck Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the nation competing at state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 18-22 in Pittsburgh, Pa. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships website: ntdc.truckline.com

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

The American Trucking Associations has led the campaign for rigorous safety laws that affect every driver on the nation's highways. ATA's overall safety agenda includes greater education on sharing the road with large trucks, increased traffic enforcement for all vehicles that operate unsafely around large trucks, the adoption of primary safety belt laws in all states, and reinstatement of a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph for all vehicles. ATA also supports limiting truck speeds at the time of manufacture. www.truckline.com

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

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