FedEx Freight will send 111 professional drivers to this week’s National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, giving the carrier one of the largest teams competing at the American Trucking Associations’ annual safety competition.
Among the group are 18 drivers who earned Grand Champion honors at their state championships this year, nine previous national champions and three defending class champions from the 2025 NTDC.
Experience Takes the Stage
The team’s accomplishments extend well beyond competition. Together, the 111 drivers represent more than 230 million accident-free miles and nearly 2,950 years of professional driving experience. Ninety-six competitors have driven more than one million safe miles, while 22 have surpassed three million accident-free miles.
Those numbers reflect the level of experience required to reach the national stage, where only drivers who qualify through state truck driving championships earn the opportunity to compete.
More Than a Driving Competition
Often called the “Super Bowl of Safety,” the National Truck Driving Championships challenge competitors with a written exam, a pre-trip inspection and a driving course designed to test precision behind the wheel. National titles are awarded across nine vehicle classes, with one competitor also earning the National Grand Champion title.
Hosted annually by the American Trucking Associations, the championships have recognized the nation’s safest professional drivers since 1937.
FedEx Freight’s Championship History
FedEx Freight has built one of the strongest records in the competition’s modern era. Since 2003, company drivers have captured 53 National Championship titles and seven National Grand Champion awards.
Returning this year are Jackie Reed of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the 2024 National Grand Champion, and David Comings of Wahpeton, North Dakota, who claimed the title in 2025. Three defending class champions from last year’s competition will also return to Pittsburgh looking to add another national championship to the carrier’s record.
With another experienced team headed to the National Truck Driving Championships, FedEx Freight will once again be among the carriers to watch as drivers compete for some of the trucking industry’s most respected safety honors.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: August 10, 2026
Source: The Trucker
Image Source: FedEx Freight
