PITTSBURGH, Aug. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The finalists for the 2014 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 five 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 nine categories will be named, with one driver winning the honors of the 2014 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.
"The National Truck Driving Championships showcase the industry's commitment to safety," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "I applaud all the competitors for their efforts in making our highways safe, and congratulate the finalists for demonstrating how a dedication to safe driving skills can make you a Champion."
2014 National Truck Driving Championship Finalists
Straight Truck Class
Eugene Budahazy, Con-way Freight, Maryland
Guy Frederickson, FedEx Ground, Wisconsin
James Kohr, FedEx Express, New York
Rene Molinary, FedEx Express, Florida
Brendan Sharp, FedEx Freight, Colorado
3-Axle Class
Paul Butkowski, FedEx Freight, Minnesota
Dwayne Heaverin, FedEx Express, Kentucky
Joseph Hicks, Con-way Freight, Rhode Island
Edward Pennington, FedEx Freight, Florida
Basher Pierce, FedEx Freight, North Carolina
4-Axle Class
Edward Carlson, FedEx Freight, Oregon
Roy Garcia, Peninsula Truck Lines, Inc., Washington
Dennis Litalien, Clifford W. Perham, Inc., Maine
Richard Lopardo, A. Duie Pyle, Inc., New Jersey
James Quarles, Walmart Transportation, LLC, South Carolina
5-Axle Class
Gary Bolen, The Boeing Company, Washington
Wayne Gootee, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Michigan
Richard hill, Walmart Transportation, New Hampshire
William Hill, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Idaho
Paul Waite, Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, Pennsylvania
Flatbed Class
Paul Brandon, FedEx Freight, Connecticut
Loren Hatfield, ABF Freight System, Inc., Arkansas
David Magee, FedEx Freight, Tennessee
Randall Stromlund, UPS, Nevada
Brian Walker, UPS Freight, North Carolina
Tank Truck Class
Donald Conklin, YRC Freight, Indiana
Kenneth Jones, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Arizona
James Kroschel, US Foods, Minnesota
Christopher Miller, United Petroleum Transports, Oklahoma
Gary Nickell, The Boeing Company, Washington
Twins Class
Erick Flick, FedEx Freight, Nevada
Jeffrey Langenhahn, Conway Freight, Wisconsin
David Martinez, H-E-B, Texas
Jeffrey Payne, Reddaway, Utah
Xavier Theriot, FedEx Freight, Louisiana
Sleeper Berth Class
Matt Awbrey, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Georgia
Steve Elliston, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Michigan
Ralph Garcia, ABF Freight System, Inc., New Mexico
Bruce Gray, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Oregon
Andrew Rynearson, Con-way Freight, Wisconsin
Step Van
Nick Frazier, FedEx Ground, Missouri
Gregory Long, FedEx Express, Virginia
Thomas Reinold, FedEx Express, Massachusetts
Christopher Shaw, FedEx Express, New Mexico
Christy Tolbert, FedEx Express, Texas
ATA's National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the United States competing at company, state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 13-16 in Pittsburgh, Pa. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,500 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators.
American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward
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SOURCE American Trucking Associations
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