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

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The 2025 NTDC will feature a record 15 women among the field of competitors. The previous high of 11 female drivers was set in 2014 and matched in 2022. Reflecting on her qualifying performance, Bain told Transport Topics, “It means that you have to have a year of accident-free driving. And if I were the owner of a company, I’d want all my drivers to go because that means you’re gonna have fewer accidents. If you haven’t done the [truck driving championships], you need to try it out.”

State-level champions across nine vehicle classes advance to the national stage. Maintaining a yearlong accident-free record is required for both state and national competition.

This year, more than 400 drivers will test their skills at the Minneapolis Convention Center from August 20-23. Competitors will be evaluated on industry knowledge, pre-trip inspections, and precision maneuvering through challenging courses.

NTDC categories include straight truck, 3-axle, 4-axle, 5-axle, sleeper berth, tanker, twins, and flatbed. The event also features the National Step Van Driving Championships.

Angela Griffin, a trucking lifestyle influencer who competed in Maryland alongside her husband Scott and trained with Bain, emphasized the impact of NTDC. “I do think it has a giant impact on the entire global [industry], because it does allow you to have … a wider perspective of what’s going around,” she said. Griffin added, “It just puts you in more of a mindset to want to encourage others who are not drivers to learn about the industry and be safe around trucks.”

Key Details for NTDC 2025:

• What: 88th annual National Truck Driving Championships and Step Van Driving Championships
• Who: State-level winners across eight categories advancing to nationals, with a Grand Champion crowned
• Defending Champion: FedEx Freight tank truck driver Jackie Reed of Mississippi
• Evaluation: Written exam, pre-trip inspection, and driving skills
• When: August 20-23
• Where: Minneapolis

Arizona’s Ina Daly, an XPO driver, America’s Road Team captain, and the only woman to have won a national title at NTDC (tanker division, 2013), qualified this year in the flatbed division. Speaking at a recent Women in Motion forum, Daly shared, “I’m looking forward to seeing everybody that we only get to see at the nationals, but I’m also excited about the competition and the challenge and representing my company, my state.” She added, “The whole joy of the NTDC program to me is that every year you’re going to make new friends. It gives you the incentive to try and come back again the next year.”

NTDC celebrates the nation’s top drivers in safety and precision. Winners in the nine classes earn national titles, and the best-in-show receives the Bendix NTDC Grand Champion trophy.

Several former Grand Champions are returning this year, including Nevada’s Gragg Wilson (UPS, 2023), Wisconsin’s Jeffrey Langenhahn (XPO, 2014), Ohio’s Scott Woodrome (2018, 2019), last year’s winner Jackie Reed (Mississippi), Utah’s Dale Duncan (2006, 2009), and Connecticut’s Roland Bolduc (2017, 2022). Bolduc noted, “All these grand champions, they’re just awesome people; down to earth; part of the NTDC family.”

About a third of the national field will include FedEx drivers. Competitors from UPS, Walmart, Pitt Ohio, Old Dominion, XPO, and ABF Freight make up most of the remaining lineup.

Jacob Pierce, executive director of ATA’s Safety Management Council & Transportation Security Council, said on the NTDC podcast, “This is why we do this event, to showcase the best of the best. And that’s why we work so hard to make sure it’s driver-focused. It’s always about the driver, and it’s always about celebrating [safety].”

Before the competition, an introductory forum will include keynote addresses from leaders at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the ATA, along with representatives from Minnesota’s law enforcement and transportation agencies.

North American Inspectors Championship:

Running alongside NTDC, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will host the North American Inspectors Championship with 45 traffic experts from the U.S. and Canada. CVSA President Collin Mooney described the tournament as a way to “test, recognize, and award commercial motor vehicle inspector excellence.” Competitors will receive hands-on training covering mobile driver’s licenses, electronic parking brake inspections, light-duty vehicles, and hazardous materials regulations.

Col. Christina Bogojevic of the Minnesota State Patrol praised the event, saying, “This event is an opportunity to recognize the incredible skill and dedication of the men and women who keep our roads safe, while also learning from one another and sharing best practices. We’re proud to host this year’s competition and celebrate the teamwork between inspectors and the trucking industry that helps ensure safe and reliable transportation across North America.”

Image Source: XPO driver Ina Daly on the last day of the 2024 NTDC in Indianapolis. Daly is the only woman to win a national class title, prevailing in the tanker division in 2013. (Source: John Sommers II for Transport Topics)

Source: Transport Topics

The post Record Number of Women Set to Compete at NTDC 2025 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

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

The post David Comings Claims Grand Champion at North Dakota Trucking Contest appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Poff claimed the top honor and also finished first in the Straight Truck category, showcasing his expertise behind the wheel.

Special Awards and Team Champions

Other notable recognitions from the competition include:

• Pre-trip Inspection Award: John Garza from XPO
• Rookie of the Year: William Schultz from Walmart
• Small Team Champions: ABF Freight
• Large Team Champions: Walmart

Class Winners

Winners from each competition class earned the chance to compete in the National Truck Driving Championship, scheduled for August 20-23 in Minneapolis. Here’s the full list of champions by category:

• 3-Axle: Vadim Iusin (Walmart)
• 4-Axle: Jami Draft (ABF Freight)
• 5-Axle: James Clark (Penske)
• Flatbed: Dave Evans (Walmart)
• Sleeper Berth: William Schultz (Walmart)
• Straight Truck: David Poff (Old Dominion Freight Line)
• Tanker: Travis Clark (Walmart)
• Twins: Shane Hearn (FedEx)
• Step Van: Phillip Lawrence (Sheldon Holdings, FedEx)

Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding performance and good luck to those moving forward to the national competition in Minneapolis!

Image Source: Michigan Trucking Association
Source: Truckers News

The post Old Dominion Freight Line Trucker Wins Michigan Driving Championship appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

A Proud Collaboration

“Our entire PodWheels Team is extremely honored to know that ATA has placed its trust in our company to have our Road to Minneapolis series serve as the official podcast of NTDC 2025,” said Greg Thompson, founder and executive producer of PodWheels. “We hold a great respect for everyone involved in the NTDC program across the country, and we value each opportunity that we have to share the stories of the nation’s top professionals behind the wheel.”

Comprehensive Coverage

The Road to Minneapolis podcast series will include up to 100 episodes in 2025, continuing to build on PodWheels’ long-standing relationship with the NTDC. Since its first coverage in 2019, PodWheels has produced over 150 episodes, expanding its reach and depth of storytelling around state championships and national events.

About NTDC

With nearly 90 years of history, the annual NTDC is the premier safety competition for the trucking industry. To qualify, professional drivers must win state-level championships in one of nine vehicle divisions and maintain a spotless safety record. ATA reports that around 4,000–5,000 drivers compete each year, with approximately 435 finalists vying for national recognition. Hosted by ATA’s Safety Management Council and state associations, the 2025 NTDC will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center from August 20–23.

A Tradition of Excellence

“Our coverage of NTDC has become a tradition for PodWheels,” Thompson stated. “Each year we’ve worked to find ways to raise the bar in sharing what we believe are some of the most important stories that we can offer about the trucking industry, the stories of the nation’s safest professional drivers and the people supporting them.”

A Year-Round Spotlight on Safety

“Over the past several years, we have watched the commitment that Greg Thompson and his PodWheels team have made to highlighting the people involved with the various aspects of NTDC,” said Jacob Pierce, executive director of ATA’s Safety Management Council and Transportation Security Council. “Through its ongoing NTDC podcast series, PodWheels has taken ATA’s three-day national championship event and given the NTDC a year-round platform that celebrates safety. “We believe that the Road To Minneapolis series has become a must-listen podcast in the trucking industry, especially for anyone interested in the stories of the [people] who are the best of the best in their profession.”

Stay tuned to PodWheels for comprehensive NTDC 2025 coverage, and visit PodWheels.com for updates, results, and behind-the-scenes stories. PodWheels continues to champion the best in trucking safety, making the industry proud one podcast at a time.

Source: The Trucker
Image Source: ATA

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