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.

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.Trucking Moves America Forward. (PRNewsFoto/American Trucking Associations)

"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 FacebookTrucking Moves America Forward.

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations

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