2018 National Truck Driving Championships Finalists Announced
Final Round of Competition Begins in Columbus
Aug 18, 2018, 09:35 ET
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- This morning, American Trucking Associations and ATA's Safety Management Council announced finalists in nine vehicle classes at the 2018 National Truck Driving Championships, finishing today in Columbus, Ohio.
"Highly skilled truck drivers have spent the last three days demonstrating their precision and knowledge of the industry at the 81st running of the National Truck Driving Championships," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "We narrowed the field from 424 truck drivers to just 46 finalists who are now vying for the title of national champion in their driving class as well as the overall Bendix Grand Champion title. ATA and the entire trucking industry are waiting anxiously to see who will emerge today to take home top honors."
This year's finalists represent 13 companies and 29 states.
Competition at the NTDCs began August 15 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center with state champions from all 50 states taking the written examination – one of three scored phases of the competition. Over the past two days, competitors also tackled the difficult driving course and competed in the pre-trip inspection segments of the competition.
The NTDCs conclude today with the top five competitors in eight vehicle classes – and the top six competitors in the Twins class because of a tie – competing on the championship round driving course.
The awards ceremony will be held after the final event, recognizing the Bendix Grand Champion, Rookie of the Year and top state delegation, among several other highly-respected trucking industry honors. ATA will broadcast the awards banquet via Facebook Live on the official ATA Facebook Page.
ATA's Safety Management Council is hosting this year's National Truck Driving Championships with Premiere Sponsor ACT 1.
Finalists for this year's National Truck Driving Championships are as follows:
| Class |
Name |
Employer |
State |
| 3-Axle |
|||
| David Mogler |
FedEx Freight |
Colorado |
|
| Eric Courville |
FedEx Freight |
Louisiana |
|
| Brian Singelais |
Frito-Lay, Inc. |
Massachusetts |
|
| Robert Roth |
FedEx Freight |
Missouri |
|
| Chris Goddard |
FedEx Express |
Vermont |
|
| 4-Axle |
|||
| Dutch Burch |
FedEx Freight |
Colorado |
|
| Nick Arnold |
FedEx Freight |
Oklahoma |
|
| Heladio Fernandez |
FedEx Freight |
Oregon |
|
| Matthew Fletcher |
The Martin-Brower Company, L.L.C. |
Pennsylvania |
|
| Andrew Rynearson |
XPO Logistics |
Wisconsin |
|
| 5-Axle |
|||
| Dawn Cochran |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |
Indiana |
|
| Brandon Hardy |
XPO Logistics |
Nevada |
|
| Bryan Krol |
The Martin-Brower Company, L.L.C. |
Pennsylvania |
|
| Jack Hargett |
AAA Cooper Transportation |
Texas |
|
| Duane Staveness |
FedEx Freight |
Wisconsin |
|
| Flatbed |
|||
| Thomas Garner |
FedEx Freight |
Alabama |
|
| Gary Mars |
Walmart Transportation, LLC |
Arkansas |
|
| Eric Flick |
FedEx Freight |
Nevada |
|
| Bryan Elges |
FedEx Freight |
Ohio |
|
| Steven Newsome |
UPS Freight |
South Carolina |
|
| Sleeper Berth |
|||
| Brook Figgins |
FedEx Freight |
Colorado |
|
| Edward Pennington |
FedEx Freight |
Florida |
|
| Artur Lesniowski |
FedEx Ground |
New Jersey |
|
| Terry Wood |
Walmart Transportation, LLC |
Pennsylvania |
|
| Brian Hall |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |
Tennessee |
|
| Straight Truck |
|||
| Charles Woodland |
FedEx Freight |
Arizona |
|
| Dale Brenaman |
UPS |
Kentucky |
|
| Kirk Weis |
ABF Freight System, Inc. |
New Mexico |
|
| Michael Bills |
FedEx Express |
North Carolina |
|
| James Sheehan |
FedEx Ground |
Tennessee |
|
| Tank Truck |
|||
| Anthony Spero |
ABF Freight System, Inc. |
Connecticut |
|
| Dave Miller |
UPS Freight |
Illinois |
|
| Donald Logan |
FedEx Freight |
Kansas |
|
| Paul Robichaud |
FedEx Express |
New Hampshire |
|
| Scott Woodrome |
FedEx Freight |
Ohio |
|
| Twins |
|||
| Miguel Corral |
FedEx Freight |
Illinois |
|
| Matthew Hart |
FedEx Freight |
Nevada |
|
| Wilbert Vano |
XPO Logistics |
New Jersey |
|
| Matt Smith |
FedEx Freight |
Vermont |
|
| Darrell Shelton |
FedEx Freight |
Washington |
|
| Jeffrey Langenhahn |
XPO Logistics |
Wisconsin |
|
| Step Van |
|||
| Samuel Brooks |
J B Hunt Transport, Inc. |
Arkansas |
|
| Eric Damon |
FedEx Express |
Colorado |
|
| Robert Ledoux |
FedEx Express |
Massachusetts |
|
| Grant Garwood |
FedEx Ground |
Missouri |
|
| Gregory Long |
FedEx Express |
Virginia |
|
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.
SOURCE American Trucking Associations