FedEx driver Matthew “Logan” Montandon was named State Grand Champion at the 2026 Texas State Truck Driving Championship held in Waco, Texas.
The event brought together regional winners from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, with drivers competing across nine vehicle classes. First-place winners in each class will represent Texas at the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh this August.
Montandon also won the Straight Truck division, earning both a class win and the overall Grand Champion title.
Texas Champions Will Compete at Nationals
The Texas Trucking Association recognized professional drivers across nine classes during the state championship.
The 2026 winners were:
State Grand Champion: Matthew “Logan” Montandon, FedEx
Flatbed: Juan Martinez, H-E-B
Step Van: Joshua Tamayo, FedEx
Sleeper Berth: Robert Svoboda, Walmart
Straight Truck: Matthew “Logan” Montandon, FedEx
Tank Truck: Aryn Pittaway, FedEx
Twin Trailer: Ronald “Ronnie” Ramon, H-E-B
5-Axle Van: Andres Garcia, FedEx Freight
4-Axle Van: Edward “Eddie” Camacho, H-E-B
3-Axle Van: David McNeeley, Old Dominion Freight Line
Each first-place class winner is scheduled to advance to the national championship in August.
TXTA Highlights Driver Skill and Safety
The Texas State Truck Driving Championship recognizes the professional skills required to safely operate commercial vehicles.
“These championships recognize the exceptional expertise and dedication required to safely operate and maintain commercial trucks on our nation’s roads,” said John D. Esparza, President and CEO of TXTA. “We proudly celebrate these professionals whose work is essential to keeping our economy moving and communities connected every day.”
The event is organized by the TXTA Safety Management Council along with local Safety Councils.
Technician Winners Also Advance
The 2026 Technician of the Year Contest was held alongside the driving championship and evaluated written and technical skills among truck technicians from across Texas.
Wesley Salley of FedEx Freight won first place and will represent Texas at the ATA Technology & Maintenance Council’s National Technician Skills Competition in Pittsburgh this September.
The 2026 Technician of the Year winners were:
1st Place: Wesley Salley, FedEx Freight
2nd Place: Chris Gerrald, Industrial Power Truck & Equipment
3rd Place: Evan Bailey, Cox Fleet
4th Place: Brandon McNeil, Old Dominion Freight Lines
5th Place: Micah Atkins, Industrial Power Truck & Equipment
Texas Winners Head to Pittsburgh
The truck driving class winners will compete at the ATA National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh in August. Salley will represent Texas at the technician skills competition in September.
The Technician of the Year Contest was presented by the TXTA Fleet Maintenance Council and sponsored by Yokohama Tire Corp, Cummins-Meritor, and Pressure Systems International. The Truck Driving Championships were organized by the TXTA Safety Management Council and local Safety Councils, with sponsorship from PrePass, Truck Parking Club, CMI Drug Testing, and TCI Transportation.
The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.
Last updated: June 9, 2026
Source: Truckers News
Image Source: Texas Trucking Association
