David Comings, a longtime professional driver for FedEx Freight based in North Dakota, earned top honors at the 2025 National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships (NTDC), where he was named the Bendix Grand Champion.
The annual competition, hosted by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), was held August 20–23 in Minneapolis. This year’s event brought together 425 drivers from 56 companies across 49 states, collectively representing nearly 756 million accident-free miles behind the wheel.
Comings, who has logged 3.1 million safe driving miles over nearly three decades in the industry, stood out among the nation’s most skilled drivers. In addition to being named Bendix Grand Champion, he also took first place in the 5-axle vehicle category.
“Congratulations to David on his extraordinary achievement,” said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. “This week, David put on a master class of precision and professionalism that defines NTDC, emerging from an elite field of highly skilled competitors.”
A Career of Excellence
Comings has competed multiple times at both the state and national levels. In 2022 and 2023, he won first place in North Dakota’s 4-axle class, and in 2024, he claimed the 5-axle title at the state competition before advancing to the national stage.
His latest win marks his most significant achievement to date, cementing his reputation as one of the safest and most precise drivers in the industry.
Additional Awards and Highlights
The closing ceremony also recognized several other standout competitors:
- Rookie of the Year: Jeffrey Reed, UPS (New Mexico)
- State Team Champion: Colorado
- Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award: Leroy Williams Sr., XPO
- Sam Gillette Lifetime Volunteer Award: Linda Nodland
Drivers competed across nine vehicle classes, along with a written exam and a vehicle inspection challenge. A full list of winners included:
Winners Across Vehicle Classes
Step Van:
1. Logan Montandon, FedEx, Texas
2. Matthew Futral, FedEx, Georgia
3. Connor Christensen, United Parcel Service, Inc., Illinois
Straight Truck:
1. Mark Carver, FedEx Freight, Missouri
2. Samuel Bryant, FedEx Freight, Tennessee
3. Bryan Reynaud, Walmart Transportation, Mississippi
3-Axle:
1. Daniel Shamrell, FedEx Freight, Oregon
2. Gary Luster, FedEx Freight, Tennessee
3. Brent Darnell, Southeastern Freight Lines, Georgia
4-Axle:
1. Stephen Johnson, FedEx Freight, Mississippi
2. Jeremy Steger, XPO, Wisconsin
3. Robert Crowder, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Virginia
5-Axle:
1. David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
2. Roland Bolduc, FedEx, Connecticut
3. John Willinger, FedEx Freight, Kentucky
Flatbed:
1. Edward Hill, FedEx Freight, Delaware
2. Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho
3. Kenneth Rageth, FedEx Freight, Wyoming
Tank Truck:
1. Jeff Langenhahn, XPO, Wisconsin
2. Ernie Budlowski, XPO, Connecticut
3. Glen Kirk, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Indiana
Twins:
1. Miguel Sanchez, United Parcel Service, Inc., Florida
2. David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Colorado
3. David Hall, ABF Freight, Arkansas
Sleeper Berth:
1. Merle Ashbaugh, DHL Supply Chain, Ohio
2. Todd Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado
3. Herschel Evans, Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc., Georgia
Vehicle Condition Award:
• Nick Gaudette, FedEx Freight, Colorado
Written Exam:
• David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
State Team Award:
1. Colorado
2. Illinois
3. Virginia
The 2025 National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships were made possible by the support of several corporate sponsors, including:
Additional honors included:
- Vehicle Condition Award: Nick Gaudette (FedEx Freight, CO)
- Written Exam Award: David Comings (FedEx Freight, ND)
Event Sponsors
The ATA credited strong support from sponsors, including:
- Platinum: FedEx, Old Dominion Freight Line, Walmart, XPO
- Gold: ABF Freight, Boeing, C.A. Short Company, DHL, Samsara, UPS
- Silver: PITT OHIO
Why It Matters
The NTDC is often called the “Super Bowl of Safety” in trucking, spotlighting the skills, professionalism, and safety-first mindset that keep the nation’s highways moving.
Coming’s performance this year adds to his already remarkable career and highlights the high standards professional drivers bring to their work every day.
Image Source: American Trucking Associations
Source: Truckers News
