Among the promising newcomers is Matthew Boenisch from Wisconsin. In his thirties and recognized for his approachable nature, Boenisch has garnered attention for his precise driving skills. Having outperformed a cadre of experienced competitors in his home state, he is now poised for a national stage once more, earning the distinction of Badger State grand champion in the process. His commitment to honing his driving abilities in his leisure time has undoubtedly yielded significant rewards.

Understanding the intensifying competition within the flatbed driver ranks, Boenisch is eager to channel his youthful energy as he gears up for this month’s national contest.

NTDC 2024 Details:

• Who: Champions from nine distinct categories compete for the prestigious Grand Champion title.

• What: Competitors will be evaluated through written exams, thorough pre-trip inspections, and practical driving skills.

• When: August 21-24

• Where: Indianapolis

Reflecting on his recent achievements in Wisconsin, Boenisch remarked to Transport Topics, “I knew I could win again — but to win grand champion, that was not even on my radar. So I guess I’m going to try to ride this wave all the way to Indianapolis and we’ll see where the cards fall.”

At the NTDC, participants are challenged by three primary tasks: adhering to federal regulations, undergoing a rigorous pre-trip vehicle inspection, and navigating a complex driving course. Competitors achieving top five scores across nine vehicle classifications will progress to the finals.

“We all know everybody can drive,” Boenisch stated, “but the winnings I think come from the written test and the pre-trip. So that’s what I really have been focusing on. Because if you don’t have your best run on the course, you can at least have a chance with the stuff that you do behind the scenes. So, that’s where I’m putting most of my focus right now.”

Meet Matthew Boenisch

• Name: Matthew Boenisch

• Age: 39

• Hometown: Howards Grove, Wisconsin

• Vehicle: Flatbed

• Favorite Music: Chicago (soft rock)

• Hobbies: Boating and tubing

• Favorite Food: Deep-dish pizza

• Favorite Movie: “Twister” (1996)

• Most Memorable NTDC Moment: “Walking across the stage and hearing our name called.”

• Philosophy: “Keep doing what got you where you are. Don’t change. And just prepare.”

As the NTDC approaches, Boenisch is buoyed by the full support of his family. His wife, Kayla, along with their children, Hailey (10) and Nathan (8), are eagerly looking forward to his performance. “My whole family is very excited because they got to experience nationals,” noted Boenisch. “And now I have a little pressure from them that I have to do this every year.” The sentiment is reciprocal as he mentioned, “Once I got that taste, I think you want to go back for more.”

Boenisch is determined to reach the final day of competition on August 24, aiming for a top-five finish in his category. Yet, he values the NTDC experience beyond merely winning; it’s a chance to cultivate friendships and be part of a distinctive community.

“It’s just an awesome group of safe drivers, and just the camaraderie that you get,” he expressed. “You don’t know most of these people when you come [here]… I just think it’s neat that all these people have had to be safe for at least a year just to make it to the nationals. In today’s society that’s a very big accomplishment.” He added, “Some people make it [look] easy, but just being there is a big deal.”

Notable Wisconsin Champions

• 3-Axle: Jacob Moore, Old Dominion Freight Line

• 4-Axle: Paul Smith, FedEx Freight

• 5-Axle: Matthew Myer, Old Dominion Freight Line

• Sleeper Berth: William Minor, Walmart Beaver Dam

• Step Van: Matthew Callis, Old Dominion Freight Line

• Straight Truck: Nicholas Jamtowski, Old Dominion Freight Line

• Tank Truck: Shawn Modaff, FedEx Freight

• Twins: Connor Dent, FedEx Freight

Source: Transport Topics

Image: Transport Topics

The post Matthew Boenisch: From Wisconsin Win to NTDC Glory appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Unlike most of the 400-plus drivers who had been practicing until the last minute, Istre had not been in a truck for three weeks. He was one of 22,000 LTL drivers employed by Yellow Corp. who were suddenly laid off on July 30 when the company closed its doors after almost a century in business and declared bankruptcy.

Istre had driven a triple-trailer truck for Yellow and its predecessor for 29.5 years. The time off in August marked the longest stretch he had ever gone without being behind the wheel during his nearly 40-year career.

“It’s been hard. It’s been rough,” said Istre, 59, his voice cracking with emotion and his eyes watering with tears as he described the last month at Yellow and the uncertainty that he and 17 other Yellow drivers who qualified for NTDC faced. “You have your ups and your downs.”

Fifteen out of the 18 eligible Yellow drivers participated in the 86th annual event known as NTDC. The remaining three drivers did not compete for different reasons. Two drivers had already found new jobs in the trucking industry, while the third driver needed a medical procedure and decided to undergo it before starting a new position.

The drivers who participated in the event were able to do so thanks to the efforts of several individuals. Two people significantly raised over $30,000 to cover the drivers’ travel and hotel expenses. Additionally, throughout the week, many individuals went out of their way to make the drivers feel welcome.

In the aftermath of the Yellow shutdown, Herschel Evans, a 29-year veteran Yellow driver and trainer from Atlanta, took the initiative to create a fundraiser web page. His goal was to bring attention to the unemployed Yellow drivers and raise funds to cover their hotel accommodations. Before the shutdown, the company had already purchased the drivers’ airline tickets; however, additional expenses needed to be taken care of, and drivers like Istre hesitated to spend $2,000 to $3,000 on travel after losing their jobs.

Evans revealed that Yellow’s former CEO, James Welch, reached out to him. Initially, Welch and his wife donated $10,000 to the fundraising effort, and then just a few days later, they decided to significantly increase their contribution, covering almost 100% of the drivers’ expenses.

“I told him we had come up with a budget of about $27,000 for the drivers to come here, and about 20 minutes later, I got another message from him that he and his wife prayed about it, and they decided to cover the entire $27,000,” Evans said. “A day or two later, after a couple of phone calls, he wired $27,000 to my personal checking account, and he told me to go to Columbus and take care of his drivers. He still considers these guys as his drivers, and he still cares a lot about the NTDC and the drivers that compete here. He thinks the world of the drivers, and he showed it with the serious stepping up to make it happen.”

“I was happy to make a $27,000 contribution for the Yellow drivers who made it to the NTDC,” Welch said in an email. “I always believed in and supported the event. These drivers deserved the chance to go and be with and compete with the best of the best.”

From 2011 to 2018, Welch served as CEO at Yellow. Even during the challenging period when Yellow was facing a shutdown and bankruptcy, the current leaders showed their support by contributing gift cards and other tokens of appreciation to the drivers. Their gesture was a testament to their recognition of the drivers’ unwavering determination to attend the event.

“We put everything together and got the drivers their goodie bags and made sure they got all their expenses covered, and on the night before the competition, we all got together for dinner as a team and had a nice evening together,” Evans said. “The trucking family, led by Mr. Welch, has really stepped up for these drivers so that all of the practice, work, and studying was not in vain because they got to come to the nationals.”

Istre, along with the other competing drivers, were identified as independent drivers in the NTDC program. Despite the company’s sudden closure, he takes pride in his experience with the carrier. He also appreciates the warm welcome he received from the drivers he competed against.

“This is my seventh time at NTDC, and I’m always proud of the company and what I do; the competition, the friendships, it’s a great thing,” he said. “There were a lot of handshakes and pats on the back. It’s amazing. It was just nice to get here and see your friends. We are very grateful to Mr. Welch for his contribution. He really made this all possible.”

Great news for Istre! Just before leaving for Ohio, he received a job offer in the trucking industry. Although it’s not driving the triple trucks he’s used to on Rocky Mountain routes, he’s grateful for the opportunity. Istre is excited to accept a position delivering food products on a daily shuttle between Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City warehouses.

“It’s driving, and this will be a bit of a transition. I’ve been driving doubles and triples for 30 years, but I can do this,” he said, adding that he feels grateful to be able to compete at this level and for the new driving position he’s found. “Talking to the 15 of us that got here, I don’t know that it’s sunk in yet for us. But we want to stay in touch with each other and all make sure we’re OK.”

Source: Transport Topics

The post Trucking Community Unites to Support Ex-Yellow Drivers at NTDC appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

From Aug. 16 to 19, the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Ohio played host to this thrilling competition, where skilled drivers from across the nation gathered to showcase their talent and expertise behind the wheels of commercial trucks.

“Gragg delivered a flawless performance to take home our industry’s top prize and earn the title of Grand Champion,” said American Trucking Associations (ATA)President and CEO Chris Spear. “This accomplishment epitomizes his entire career, with 37 years and more than 2.5 million miles of accident-free driving. All of the professional drivers who competed this week are phenomenal ambassadors for our industry. They are shining examples of highway safety, and their commitment to excellence makes us proud.”

Commonly known to those in the industry as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” this annual event has been a tradition since 1937. This year, the competitors amassed an impressive total of over 643 million accident-free miles throughout their professional driving careers.

Claiming the title was Wilson, whose exceptional driving accuracy and extensive knowledge of truck safety earned him the highest score among 418 state champion professional truck drivers from 49 states, spanning all vehicle classes. This remarkable achievement was confirmed by an ATA news release.

Notably, Wilson has achieved an impressive record, having won the Nevada State Championship 13 times across six different classes. He has also secured the title of Grand Champion five times in Nevada. This outstanding success led to Wilson being named the 2019 Nevada Driver of the Year.

In addition to Wilson’s accomplishments, the ATA also bestowed the title of “Rookie of the Year” upon Myron Means of Wyoming, a professional driver for Old Dominion Freight Line. Furthermore, the Connecticut drivers team secured the top spot for their collective score and was celebrated as the leading state delegation.

During the awards banquet, Ina Daly of Arizona, a professional driver for XPO Logistics, was honored with the esteemed Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award. Another standout recipient was Bill Graham, who was chosen for the prestigious Lifetime Volunteer Award.

“Congratulations to Grand Champion Gragg and the rest of the 2023 champions. These drivers devote an enormous amount of time preparing for this competition, and the awards reflect the extraordinary dedication and commitment to safety that they bring to their jobs every day,” said Dan Van Alstine, chairman of ATA and president and COO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems. “I would also like to thank the staff and volunteers for organizing this week’s event. Their efforts were instrumental to once again making NTDC a big success.”

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has been proudly sponsoring the prestigious Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion since 2011.

This year, top performers from each of the nine vehicle classes were recognized and celebrated. Check out the impressive lineup of champions and top finishers below.

Step Van

1. Jerome De La Cruz, FedEx Express, Alaska
2. Gregory Long, FedEx Express Maryland
3. Alex Lofgren, FedEx Express Minnesota

Straight Truck

1. David Coffel, FedEx Express, Arizona
2. William Colantuone, FedEx Express, Massachusetts
3. James Kohr, FedEx Express, New York

3-Axle

1. Barry Kraemer, XPO, Wisconsin
2. Joseph Hicks, XPO, Rhode Island
3. Ritch Fundell, FedEx Freight, Illinois

4-Axle

1. Martin McMahon, RIST Transport, New York
2. Bruce Quaal, ABF Freight System, Inc. Minnesota
3. Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho

5-Axle

1. John Greene, FedEx Freight, Connecticut
2. James Quarles, Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC South Carolina
3. Michael Martin, Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC

Flatbed

1. Daryl Miller, The Cope Company Salt, Pennsylvania
2. Ernest Wagers, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Kentucky
3. James Sowder, FedEx Freight, Tennessee

Tank Truck

1. James “Gragg” Wilson, United Parcel Service, Inc., Nevada
2. Jason Imhoff, Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC, Ohio
3. Timothy Vogt, XPO, Georgia

Twins

1. Robert Fair, FedEx Freight, New Hampshire
2. Jeffrey Langenhahn, XPO Wisconsin
3. Michael Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado

Sleeper Berth

1. Roland Bolduc, FedEx Express, Connecticut
2. Chris Moore, Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC, Georgia
3. Tyler Rogers, FedEx Freight, Colorado

Rookie of the Year

• Myron Means, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Flatbed, Wyoming

State Team Award

1. Connecticut
2. Illinois
3. Tennessee

Vehicle Condition Award

• Timothy Blair, FedEx Freight, 5-Axle, Tennessee

Highest Written Exam Award

1. Michael Bills, FedEx Express, North Carolina
2. David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
3. David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Colorado
4. Michael Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado

Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award

• Ina Daly, XPO Logistics, Arizona

Lifetime Volunteer Award

• Bill Graham

Source: The Trucker

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