A Big Win for David Comings and FedEx Freight

Demonstrating exceptional driving skills and steady focus, David Comings not only topped the five-axle category but also earned the highest individual honor available at the competition as grand champion. His achievement brought pride not just to himself but also to the FedEx Freight team, reflecting the company’s emphasis on expertise and precision behind the wheel.

Celebrating Individual Excellence and Teamwork

The event didn’t just honor a grand champion. Standout performances came from drivers in every competitive class. Treasure Paskett, representing FedEx, impressed the judges by taking the top spot in the step van group, also earning the Rookie of the Year distinction for her debut efforts—a testament to her natural talent and potential.

Here’s a look at this year’s champions by category:

• 3-Axle: Christopher Scholand, FedEx Freight

• 4-Axle: Cameron Janousek, FedEx Freight

• 5-Axle: David Comings, FedEx Freight

• Flatbed: Thomas Opgrand, XPO

• Sleeper Berth: Audie Jaeger, EW Wylie

• Step Van: Treasure Paskett, FedEx (Rookie of the Year)

• Straight Truck: Jamie Ackerland, FedEx Freight

• Tank Truck: Drew Bartelson, Old Dominion Freight Line

• Twin Trailers: Brad Morrow, XPO

These individuals not only mastered their respective categories but now have the honor of advancing to the National Truck Driving Championship scheduled for August 20-23 in Minneapolis. Their victories serve as a gateway to compete on the national stage against the nation’s best.

Image Source: Truckers News
Source: Truckers News

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Jeff Cochran, representing FedEx Freight, delivered another outstanding performance, making headlines as he earned his second Grand Championship trophy. On top of securing the overall win, Cochran also came out on top in the competitive three-axle division, solidifying his reputation as one of the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship’s most remarkable competitors.

Celebrating Standout Drivers

The list of winners this year tells the story of resilience, mastery, and teamwork in the Arkansas trucking community. Chaunce Umfleet, also from FedEx, earned the runner-up spot overall and was recognized for his outstanding attitude and professionalism with the event’s Sportsmanship Award.

FedEx Freight’s Ronnie Mahan nabbed the top pre-trip inspection score, earning respect for his attention to detail: a vital trait for safety on the road. Dave Hall from ABF Freight proved his expertise on paper as well, taking the top spot in the written portion of the competition.

For newcomers, the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship was an opportunity to shine. Chandler Compton, another FedEx driver, received accolades as this year’s Rookie of the Year, an honor that points to a promising future in the industry.

Team Achievements and Category Champions

In addition to outstanding individuals, team efforts were honored as well. ABF Freight took home the Small Team Award, while FedEx Freight’s group stood out among large teams, reflecting both determination and collective skill.

Drivers also competed across a range of vehicle classes. Those earning top positions not only brought pride to their employers but have also qualified to represent Arkansas at the national competition in Minneapolis this August. Here are this year’s category winners:

• 3 Axle: Jeff Cochran, FedEx Freight

• 4 Axle: Chaunce Umfleet, FedEx Corp.

• 5 Axle: Nathan Evans, Tyson Foods

• Flatbed: Phillip Thurner, Tyson Foods

• Sleeper: Gary Mars, Walmart Transportation

• Step Van: Eric Brockette, FedEx Freight

• Straight Truck: Jessie King, FedEx Freight

• Tanker: Marcus Rush, Walmart Transportation

• Twins: Dave Hall, ABF Freight

Looking Ahead: National Competition Bound

Each winner from the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship has now earned the privilege to advance to the highly anticipated national competition, scheduled for August 21-23 in Minneapolis. This next event puts state champions on the national stage, where they’ll compete with the best and further elevate the profile of Arkansas’s trucking professionals.

Image Source: Arkansas Trucking Association
Source: Truckers News

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Organized by the Nebraska Trucking Association, the two-day event showcased the exceptional skills of professional truck drivers across multiple categories.

Milestones and Awards

Joe McDonnell from XPO Logistics and Garrett Campbell from FedEx earned the prestigious Rookie of the Year title, awarded to first-time participants achieving the highest overall scores across all competition segments.

The Professional Excellence Award, recognizing excellence in the written test, was awarded to Todd Gimpel of FedEx Freight.

Jacob Friederich, representing Lyman-Richey Corporation, stood out in multiple facets. He won the Bucky Buchholtz Top Driver Award for achieving the top score on the driving course. Additionally, Friederich triumphed in the mixer truck category, a competition held in collaboration with the Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association.

Clinton Rast of ABF Freight System, Inc. took home the Everett Vehicle Condition Award for his standout performance during the pre-trip inspection segment. Meanwhile, the Jerry Wessel Award, honoring professionalism and industry expertise, went to Thomas Canning of Old Dominion Freight Line.

Class Winners at the 2025 Championships

Nine drivers across various categories earned the opportunity to represent Nebraska at the American Trucking Association’s National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis from August 20-23. The mixer truck winner will head to the National Mixer Driver Championship in Orlando, Florida, on October 11.

Here are the top finishers in each class:

• Straight Truck Class

1) Sam Wilson, XPO Logistics

2) Clinton Rast, ABF Freight System, Inc.

3) Michael Lemay, Greater Omaha Express

• Three-Axle Class

1) Mark Cole, Old Dominion Freight Line

2) Joseph Busch, ABF Freight System, Inc.

3) Tim Hallsted, Walmart Transportation, LLC

• Four-Axle Class

1) Paul Badgett, FedEx Freight, Inc.

2) James Dotson, FedEx Freight, Inc.

3) Derek Ward, XPO Logistics

• Five-Axle Class

1) Carolina Gallegos, Hill Brothers Transportation

2) Joe McDonnell, XPO Logistics

3) Thomas Rott, Grand Island Express, Inc.

• Five-Axle Sleeper Class

1) Blair Smith, Walmart Transportation, LLC

2) John Putney, Greater Omaha Express

3) Robert Elder, Schulz Transportation

• Tank Truck Class

1) Pat Crumb, Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc.

2) Cassandra Wright, Wynne Transportation Services

3) Craig Daniels, Crete Carrier Corporation

• Flatbed Class

1) George Chaney, FedEx Freight, Inc.

2) Christopher Corbett, Old Dominion Freight Line

3) Scott Deering, Chief Carriers, Inc.

• Twin-Trailer Class

1) Todd Gimpel, FedEx Freight, Inc.

2) Richard Boyd, Crete Carrier Corporation

3) Paul Smith, ABF Freight System, Inc.

• Mixer Truck Class

1) Jacob Friederich, Lyman-Richey Corporation

2) Gregory Burroughs, Husker Ready Mixed Concrete

3) Randy Walters, Lyman-Richey Corporation

• Step Van Class

1) Garrett Campbell, FedEx

2) Korey Clifton, FedEx

3) Charles Tockey, Grand Island Express, Inc.

Special Recognitions and Insights

The Nebraska State Patrol Inspector Championships were held alongside the NTDC event. Sergeant Matt Ramsey from Omaha claimed first place, with Investigator Kris Hunzeker from Nebraska City taking runner-up honors. Ramsey will represent Nebraska at the North American Inspector Championships, hosted concurrently with the ATA’s National Truck Driving Championships.

Additionally, teams from XPO Logistics, FedEx Freight, and Walmart Transportation received accolades in group categories.

The Nebraska Truck Driving Championships continues to celebrate and spotlight the incredible professionalism, skill, and dedication of commercial drivers while fostering a sense of community across the transportation industry.

Image Source: Nebraska Trucking Association
Source: Truckers News

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