Nine California Professional Drivers Head to National Truck Driving Championships

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Aug 20, 2013, 01:52 ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nine California professional truck drivers will arrive in Salt Lake City today to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships at the Salt Palace Convention Center. These elite drivers earned their way to compete in the "Superbowl of Safety" after winning their title earlier this summer at the state level.

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Over 420 drivers from all 50 states will compete in Salt Lake City for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers—they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers may include: an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.

On August 24, one contestant will drive away as the Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's dedication to safety and excellence," said California Trucking Association President Bob Massman. "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope California cheers for our drivers this week."

California participants at National Truck Driving Championships include:

Efigenio Barbosa, Covenant Transport Inc. - Sleeper Berth

Armando Camacho, FedEx Freight - Four-Axle

Fernando Espino, Con-way Freight - Three-Axle

Jerry M. Jordan, YRC Freight - Five-Axle

Jose Lopez, FedEx Ground - Step Van

Augie Lopez, FedEx Express - Straight Truck

Sebastian O. Mora, Williams Tank Lines -Tank Truck

Alfonso Z. Saavedra, Con-way Freight – Twins

Mark A. Taylor, Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC - Flatbed

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. 21-24 in Salt Lake City. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2013 National Truck Driving Championships website. Follow NTDC this week on Facebook.

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. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It! www.trucking.org.

The California Trucking Association promotes leadership in the California motor carrier industry, advocates sound transportation policies to all levels of government, and works to maintain a safe, environmentally responsible and efficient California transportation goods movement system. Follow us on Twitter or on Facebook.

SOURCE American Trucking Associations