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

The post FedEx’s Matthew Logan Montandon Wins Texas Grand Champion Title appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The competition drew participation from drivers representing leading organizations, including FedEx Freight, Walmart Transportation, and HEB, the San Antonio-based grocery chain with over 440 stores across Texas and Mexico. HEB drivers notably secured wins in six different vehicle classes, demonstrating their dominance in this year’s event.

Class Winners of the 2025 Texas Truck Driving Championship:

• State Grand Champion: Christopher Flippin, FedEx Freight
• Flatbed: Juan Martinez, HEB
• Step Van: Matthew Logan Montandon, FedEx Ground
• Sleeper Berth: Robert Svoboda, Walmart Transportation
• Straight Truck: Jason Salazar, HEB
• Tank Truck: David Sanchez, HEB
• Twin Trailers: Christopher Flippin, FedEx Freight
• 5-Axle Van: Christopher Pieper, HEB
• 4-Axle Van: Ruben Cortez, HEB
• 3-Axle Van: David Urrea IV, HEB

The competition brought together regional winners from Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, where drivers were evaluated on their ability to handle challenging maneuvering and control tests in various vehicle classes. The first-place winners in each category will now represent Texas at the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) National Truck Driving Championship, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, later this summer.

Recognizing Excellence in Maintenance

Beyond celebrating driver expertise, the event was also named the winner of the 2025 Technician of the Year Contest. After demonstrating exemplary written and technical skills, Corey Tegeler of Old Dominion Freight Line claimed victory. Tegeler will next compete in the ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council’s National Technician Skills Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina, this September.

Honoring the Professionals Behind the Wheel

“These championships highlight the exceptional skill and precision it takes to operate and maintain commercial trucks on our roads safely,” said John D. Esparza, President and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA). “We’re proud to recognize these dedicated professionals who keep our economy moving each and every day.”

The championships are preceded by three regional contests held in the spring, where drivers secure their place in the state championship by finishing in the top three. National qualifiers, including these top drivers, will gather in Minneapolis this August to showcase their skills on the national stage.

The 2025 Texas Truck Driving Championship was a testament to the expertise and dedication of professional truck drivers and technicians, celebrating the individuals who play a crucial role in keeping the economy moving safely and efficiently.

Image & Source: Truckers News

The post Christopher Flippin of FedEx Freight Wins Texas Driving Championship appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.