John D. Esparza, TXTA’s President and CEO, praised the honorees:
“The individuals and organizations honored at TXTA’s Annual Safety and Maintenance Luncheon showcase the highest standards in our industry. From safe driving and maintenance to fleet operations and enforcement, these award recipients demonstrate the integrity, skill, and dedication that keep our industry moving safely and efficiently. We are proud to celebrate their contributions.”

Driver of the Year: Roy Gilleland

Selected from Texas’s top professional drivers, Roy Gilleland of Old Dominion Freight Line earned the prestigious TXTA Driver of the Year award, sponsored by Tenstreet. Drivers are nominated by employers and evaluated on accident-free miles, professionalism, consistency, and years of service. Gilleland will represent Texas in the American Trucking Associations’ National Driver of the Year competition.

Safety Leadership Recognized: David Serach

The Distinguished Safety Award, sponsored by Bair Hilty, P.C. and Transafe, Inc., was presented to David Serach from Chalk Mountain Services of Texas. This award honors those demonstrating exceptional leadership and results in promoting motor fleet safety and protecting lives on the road.

Texas State Truck Driving Championship Winners

The TXTA Safety Management Council, alongside Local Safety Councils and the Fleet Maintenance Council, hosted the Texas State Truck Driving Championships, testing drivers’ skills navigating commercial vehicles under challenging conditions. Winners from regional events competed for top honors and a chance to advance to the national level.

• 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

Technician Excellence: Top 5 Awardees

Sponsored by Eaton, Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, and Yokohama Tire, the 2025 Technician of the Year contest celebrates highly skilled mechanics who ensure fleet safety and reliability. Competitors are judged on technical expertise and hands-on problem-solving.

• 1st Place: Corey Tegeler, Old Dominion Freight Lines
• 2nd Place: Chris Gerrald, First Mile LLC
• 3rd Place: Brandon McNeill, Old Dominion Freight Lines
• 4th Place: Mohammad Algaghbeir, Travel Centers of America
• 5th Place: Christopher Cooper, Travel Centers of America

Champion Fleets in Truck Safety Contest

The Truck Safety Contest, sponsored by Great West Casualty Company, honors member fleets with the lowest accident rates—recognizing their commitment to safe policies and professional driving cultures.

• Grand Champion: Chalk Mountain Services of Texas

Category Winners Include:

• Intercity Under 2.5 Million: BWI Companies, Inc.
• Intercity 5–10 Million: Dupre Logistics LLC
• Intercity Over 20 Million: Old Dominion Freight Line
• Local Under 1 Million: McRay Crane & Rigging, Inc.
• Local 1–5 Million: Palletized Trucking
• Local 5–10 Million: Gulfmark Energy, Inc.
• Local Over 10 Million: Chalk Mountain Services of Texas, LLC

The TXTA continues to spotlight the dedication of drivers, technicians, and fleets who prioritize safety and professionalism, setting benchmarks for the Texas trucking community.

Source: Truckers News

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Additional award recipients

Several other drivers were also recognized for their exceptional skills and contributions during the event.

• Rookie of the Year: Daniel Skidmore, Prime Inc.
• Professional Excellence Award: Robert Hussey, Walmart Transportation
• Written Exam Award: Jamie Ingram, FedEx Express
• Pre-Trip Inspection Award: Audrey Lewis, DHL
• Team Champion: FedEx Freight

Class winners

The winners across various competition classes were as follows:

• Sleeper Berth: Bob Bramwell, ABF Freight Inc.
• Twin Trailers: Robert Leach, Old Dominion Freight Lines
• Tank Truck: Eric Carpenter, Walmart Transportation
• 3-Axle: Robbie Roth, FedEx Express
• 4-Axle: Joshua Price, Old Dominion Freight Line
• 5-Axle: Jamie Raines, Walmart Transportation
• Flatbed: Ron Hoover, Prime Inc.
• Straight Truck: Mark Carver, FedEx Freight
• Step Van: Courtney Husser, Walmart Transportation

Image Source: Missouri Trucking Association
Source: Truckers News

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Jeremy Steger Shines at the Competition

Jeremy Steger, an XPO driver, earned the prestigious grand championship title as well as the top spot in the four-axle class. His outstanding performance solidifies XPO’s excellence in the industry.

Recognition for Rookie of the Year

Garo Boghossian, representing FedEx Freight, was honored as Rookie of the Year, showcasing impressive skill and promise as a new contender in the competition.

XPO Grabs Team Trophy

The team trophy was awarded to XPO, emphasizing the company’s strong presence at this year’s championship.

Event Results Breakdown

Here’s a quick look at all the winners from each category:

Step Van

• 1st: Matthew Callis, Old Dominion
• 2nd: Roland Bates, FedEx Freight
• 3rd: John Summerfeld, UPS

Straight Truck

• 1st: Brent Glasenapp, FedEx
• 2nd: Richard Truchon, XPO
• 3rd: Ben Messenger, XPO

3 Axle

• 1st: Andy Rynearson, XPO
• 2nd: Mike Dicosola, FedEx Freight
• 3rd: Doug Jawson, FedEx Freight

4 Axle

• 1st: Jeremy Steger, XPO
• 2nd: Garo Boghossian, FedEx Freight
• 3rd: Paul Smith, FedEx Freight

5 Axle

• 1st: Ryatt Hirschfeld, Old Dominion
• 2nd: Anthony Biarro, Walmart
• 3rd: Raj Deerpalsing, Kwik Trip

Sleeper

• 1st: Bill Minor, Walmart
• 2nd: Terry Tillen, Walmart
• 3rd: Don Knocke

Twins

• 1st: Connor Dent, FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Nick Jarntowski, Old Dominion
• 3rd: Richard Chalebois

Tank

• 1st: Jeff Langenhahn, XPO
• 2nd: Shawn Modaff, FedEx Freight
• 3rd: Matt Boenisch, FedEx Freight

Flatbed

• 1st: Codie Gadke, FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Anthony Angeli, McLane
• 3rd: Duane Staveness, FedEx Freight

National Championship Awaits

All first-place winners have qualified to compete in the National Truck Driving and Step Van Driving Championships, in Minneapolis from August 20-23. Best of luck to all competitors gearing up for the national stage!

Source: Truckers News
Image Source: Jen Koss Photos

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This year’s grand championship title was taken home by David Coffel, a FedEx Express driver who demonstrated exceptional expertise in both skills and precision behind the wheel.

Special Recognition and Top Awards

Several individual skill-based awards were handed out during the event, with Coffel earning top honors in two categories.

• Grand Champion and Best Skills/Driving Course were awarded to David Coffel, showcasing his outstanding competency in advanced driving techniques.

• Best Pre-Trip Inspection went to Victor Cruz of FedEx Freight, highlighting his attention to detail and commitment to safety procedures.

• The David Messmer Rookie of the Year title was claimed by Harley Hornecker of UPS, a promising newcomer who impressed judges across all phases of the competition.

Representing Team Arizona

Coffel and eight other class winners will represent Team Arizona at the prestigious National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis from August 20–23. They’ll join over 430 of the nation’s top drivers to compete for grand national honors and demonstrate their unparalleled talent.

Championship Results by Category

Top finishers in each competition category included drivers from leading companies such as FedEx Express, UPS, Walmart, and XPO Logistics. The results reflect a combination of experience, skill, and passion for excellence in trucking.

Step Van/Package Car

• 1st Place: Juan Rodriguez Torres, FedEx Express

• 2nd Place: Timothy Abercrombie, FedEx Express

• 3rd Place: Myles Mohan, FedEx Express

Straight Truck

• 1st Place: Adam Sheldon, Shamrock Foods Co. (Rookie)

• 2nd Place: Victor Cruz, FedEx Freight (Rookie)

• 3rd Place: Ulric Johnson, FedEx Express (Rookie)

3 Axle

• 1st Place: Raul Acosta, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

• 2nd Place: Radulfo Salgado, ABF Freight Systems

• 3rd Place: Wendi Dodson, UPS

4 Axle

• 1st Place: David Coffel, FedEx Express

• 2nd Place: Gibran Meneses, FedEx Freight

• 3rd Place: Ramon Diaz, FedEx Freight

5 Axle Tractor Trailer

• 1st Place: Zachary Joe, Performance Food Service (Rookie)

• 2nd Place: James Imboden, Performance Food Service (Rookie)

• 3rd Place: Nathan Voss, UPS

Flatbeds

• 1st Place: Ina Daly, XPO Logistics, Inc.

• 2nd Place: Glenn Lougheed, Walmart Supply Chain

• 3rd Place: David Bond, ABF Freight Systems

Tankers

• 1st Place: Greg Ziegler, XPO Logistics, Inc.

• 2nd Place: Juan Hernandez Jr, Circle K (Rookie)

• 3rd Place: Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Supply Chain

5 Axle Sleeper

• 1st Place: Dale Moyle, Walmart Supply Chain

• 2nd Place: Shirley Settles, Walmart Supply Chain

• 3rd Place: Duane Donner, Walmart Supply Chain

Tractor Trailer – Twins

• 1st Place: Sam Smith, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

• 2nd Place: Mohammed Khan, FedEx Freight

• 3rd Place: Roy Hindson, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

Competition Phases

The drivers were tested across three main phases, each designed to assess their expertise and simulate real-world transport scenarios. These include:

1. Written Exam: Focusing on drivers’ understanding of industry-specific regulations, first aid, safety protocols, security measures, and wellness.
2. Pre-Trip Inspection: Evaluating their ability to identify potential safety risks and vehicle equipment defects.
3. Skills/Driving Course: Featuring six challenging obstacles replicating practical situations encountered on the road.

These multi-faceted tests underscored the importance of precision, safety, and adaptability in professional driving.

Source: Truckers News
Image Source: Arizona Trucking Association

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