Farness and the other class champions have now qualified to compete in the prestigious National Truck Driving Championships, scheduled to take place from August 20–23 in Minneapolis.

The competition saw over 80 skilled drivers showcasing their expertise across various challenges. Participants were required to:

• Complete a written test assessing their knowledge of federal regulations.
• Perform a meticulous pre-trip inspection to identify hidden mechanical defects.
• Navigate a demanding obstacle course, designed to test their precision driving skills under pressure.

“This competition highlights the extraordinary talent and dedication of Minnesota’s professional truck drivers,” said John Hausladen, President of the Minnesota Trucking Association. “These men and women deliver for our communities every day with an unwavering commitment to safety. The Truck Driving Championships allow us to recognize and celebrate that excellence.”

2025 Class Champions

Here are the first-place winners from each competition class:

• Five-Axle: Gideon Slabaugh, UNFI
• Flatbed: Thomas Gummo, Walmart Transportation
• Four-Axle: Anthony Zvorak, FedEx Freight
• Sleeper Berth: Calvin Logan, UPS
• Step Van: Lindy Jackson, FedEx Corporation
• Straight Truck: Nathan Wick, FedEx Corporation
• Tank: Michael Hager, Wayne Transports
• Three-Axle: Matthew Simon, FedEx Freight
• Twin Trailer (and Grand Champion): Nicholas Farness, XPO

The Minnesota Trucking Association’s annual event not only celebrates exceptional skill but also underscores the commitment to safety and professionalism upheld by truck drivers across the state. Congratulations to all participants and winners!

Image Source: Minnesota Trucking Association
Source: Truckers News

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McLean not only secured the grand champion crown but also emerged victorious in the highly competitive three-axle class.

Special Award Winners Recognized

Several participants were honored for their exceptional performance in specific categories:

• Team Trophy: XPO
• Pre-trip Inspection Flatbed: Daren Hackney, Walmart Supply Chain
• Pre-trip Inspection Straight Truck: Davin Strong, FedEx Express
• Rookie of the Year: Graham Roger, Martin Brower Company
• Ray Dagostino Award: Jeffrey Nesci

Class Winners

The competition featured a wide range of vehicle categories, highlighting the drivers’ skills across different classes:

• Step Van: Robin Newton, FedEx
• Straight Truck: David May, XPO
• 3-Axle: Mark McLean, FedEx Freight
• 4-Axle: Randy Merle, FedEx Freight
• 5-Axle: Oliver Estevez, Martin Brower Company
• Flatbed: Raymond Waage, FedEx Freight
• Tank Truck: Zack Bourque, Wegmans Food Markets
• Twin Trailers: Francisco Caravajal, FedEx
• Sleeper Berth: James Kohr, FedEx

The event celebrated the dedication and expertise of New York’s trucking professionals while fostering a sense of camaraderie among industry participants. Mark McLean’s remarkable achievement underscores the skill and precision required to excel in the trucking industry.

Image Source: (Trucking Association of New York) Mark Mclean
Source: Truckers News

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Here’s a roundup of the most memorable replies from drivers themselves—because when it comes to the trucking lifestyle, nobody knows it better than those who live it.

Cab Life Olympics

Bigg Redd would easily clinch gold in the “Making a Sandwich While Cruising Down the Highway” event and multitasking at its finest.

Kyle Yadon is all set for the “Brewing Coffee in the Sleeper” challenge, while John Combs dominates in the “Armchair Coffee Consumption” category.

Sean Haydn Williams proves his trucker kitchen skills in the “Cooking in the Cab at Speed” competition. That’s real trucker ingenuity.

Legendary Driving Skills

Bill Paddack nails it: “Twin Stick Shifting! That would eliminate half the competition!”

Trevor Farley would be the master of “Floating the Gears,” while Dale McPherson’s precision is unmatched when it comes to “Backing Up Wide Open in a Straight Line.”

James Straube adds, “Backing! I can put a trailer anywhere,” proving just how valuable that skill is.

Fuel Island Feats

Rodger Stout is ready to take home gold in the “30-Minute Break on the Fuel Island” event.

JJ Johnson is up for a triple threat: the “35-Point Straight Back,” the “Flip-Flop Sprint,” and the “Airline Stretch.”

Dave Clark reflects on a familiar scene: “Park at the pumps, take a shower, grab some food, and hope for the best.”

Scale & Speed Challenges

Robert Deitrich and Joshua Rojas are the undisputed champions of “Scale Dodging and Freightliner Passing.”

Mike Brooks clinches the title in “In the Left Lane, Passing for 85 Miles.”

Derek Unger and Otis Boggs go full throttle in the “24-Hour Cannonball Run.”

Unwritten Trucker Rules

Martin Torres nails a universal truth: “If whining about bad drivers were an event, we’d dominate the world.”

Jason Robinson enters with a solid “Being in the Wrong Lane for Exit During Rush Hour.”

Tracy Feltner perfects his form in the “Steering Wheel Toss” with the signature move: foot on the dash, hand at 8 o’clock.

Paul Barrow keeps it simple with a “Pie-Eating Contest”—because who doesn’t love pie?

The Real MVPs

Rex Rodgers is a true veteran, earning respect for “Keeping My Truck Clean and Making Friends for 50 Years.”

William Johnson stands tall with “Most Miles Driven in a Day.”

Joseph Kittilson brings precision to the table with “Stopping the Right Steer Tire in a 12″ Square Box 2 Times Out of 10.”

Do Truckers Really Have Their Own Olympics?

Some community members pointed out that events like the Truck Driving Championships and Trucker Rodeos do exist. Phil Warwick explained, “It consists of a written test, a pre-trip inspection, and a skills test.” Charles Kaulukukui added, “We do, but we call it a truck rodeo.”

While those events focus on safety and skills, the Truckers USA Olympics are all about celebrating the real-world skills truckers master daily.

What’s the Value in All This?

While this conversation is filled with humor, it shines a light on the adaptability, skill, and grit that truckers bring to the road. From perfecting shifting techniques to making coffee while cruising to handling the stress of fuel island management—these are the unsung skills that keep the industry rolling.

Now it’s your turn: What event would you dominate in the Truckers USA Olympics? Drop your answer on our Truck Drivers USA Facebook page and join the conversation.

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Celebrating New Talent

Michael Williams was awarded the Rookie of the Year accolade. With his impressive performance, Williams represented Walmart during the event.

Class-by-Class Highlights

Here are the other notable winners from this year’s championships, recognizing exceptional skills in different categories:

• M. Murray Knowledge of the Industry Award
  • Winner: Kenneth Smith, Old Dominion Freight Lines
• Vehicle Condition Award
  • Winner: Jimmy Islar, FedEx Express (achieving a flawless score)
• William C. Hallford Team Award (Best Team)
  • Winners: Old Dominion Freight Lines team
    • Team Members: Martin Pringle, Trent Curren, Kenneth Smith, Kevin Smith, Mark Putnam, Blake Taylor, JD Lynch

Individual Class Champions

• Dump Truck
  • Champion: Bradley Bates, Knight’s Trucking
  • Runner-up: Michael Nirella, NW White & Co.
• Step Van
  • Champion: Salena Ashbreck, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: Jamie Cashatt, FedEx Express
• Straight Truck
  • Champion: Mark Putnam, Old Dominion Freight Lines
  • Runner-up: William Jones, FedEx Freight
• Three-Axle
  • Champion: Steve Ward, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: John Spanraft, FedEx Express
• Four-Axle
  • Champion: David Fountain, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: Milom Williams, Walmart
• Five-Axle
  • Champion: Gene Summers, ADUSA
  • Runner-up: Casey Wyder, FedEx Express
• Tank Truck
  • Champion: Kenneth Smith, Old Dominion Freight Lines
  • Runner-up: Michael Williams, Walmart
• Flatbed
  • Champion: Jeffery Wyder, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: Johnathan Cooper, New South Express
• Twins
  • Champion: JB Quarles, Walmart
  • Runner-up: Jason Owens, CVS Pharmacy
• Sleeper Berth
  • Champion: Richard McCoy, ADUSA
  • Runner-up: Timmy Allen, New South Express

State Transport Police Challenge Winners

The South Carolina State Transport Police also recognized exceptional talent during the event with these standout performances:

• Level 1 Challenge Champion – Chance Austin
• Motorcoach Champion – Mason Conley
• Hazardous Materials Champion – Chance Austin
• Grand Champion – Chance Austin

Looking Ahead to Nationals

Class champions from the SCTA event, including Steve Ward and other winners, now have the opportunity to showcase their driving prowess at the National Truck Driving Championships, which will be held from August 20 to August 23 in Minneapolis.

Congratulations to all the participants for their incredible achievements and skillful demonstrations of expertise in the trucking industry!

Source: Truckers News
Source: South Carolina Trucking Association

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Truck driving championships not only celebrate the skills and expertise of professional drivers but also promote safety and excellence within the trucking industry. They provide an opportunity for drivers to demonstrate their proficiency, learn from their peers, and foster camaraderie within the trucking community.

This year’s competition will be held May 2-4 in Gulport, MS.

Questions?
Call Steve Boudreaux, 601-354-0616 or email steveb@mstrucking.org

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Arizona’s Truck Driving Championships (TDC)

Tempe Diablo Stadium- 2200 W. Alameda Dr. Tempe, AZ 85282

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Participate in this exciting event that goes beyond driving, focusing on promoting safety standards and recognizing the invaluable contribution of truck drivers. Come, be a part of a community that honors the hardworking individuals behind the wheel, and let’s drive together towards a future where safety takes the front seat. Your skills deserve recognition – join us at the Nevada Truck Driving Championships and let the road be your stage!

Details

What: The Nevada Truck Driving Championships

When: Saturday, April 6th

Where: AX Transportation / 1722 W Bonanza Road, Las Vegas, NV

Cost: $125 members / $200 non-members

Once your registration has been completed, NTA will send an invoice for payment. Payment must be received prior to the event in order for drivers to compete.

The Nevada Trucking Association is working on firming up details such as on-site scheduling and hotel room rates. However, now is a great time to get registered and start preparing for the competition. Check back on this page for more details as it gets closer to the event. If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer at this event, please reach out to Patti Gillette at patti@nevadatrucking.com.

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Our annual live skills competition for commercial drivers happening Friday, June 7, 2024, on the grounds of the Pelham Civic Complex in Pelham, Ala. Dozens of professional truck drivers are expected to compete in nine vehicle classes. It’s our safety council’s largest, most popular event of the year. Contestants compete in fleet safety knowledge, driving skills and vehicle inspections. Any driver is eligible to compete if they have been employed continuously by an ATA member firm for the past year and are accident-free from June 7, 2023, to June 7, 2024.

For updated information, be sure to visit alabamatrucking.org.

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As always, we welcome competitors’ friends, family and industry personnel to spectate the driving course section of the competition to be held Saturday, March 2.

This year our course is located at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge. This is an outdoor event, we suggest all those attending to dress and plan accordingly, monitoring the weather. A schedule of events can be found above.

The results of the Championships will be announced during our Trucking Safety Awards Banquet, held the evening of March 2. Along with the winners of our Trucking Driving Championships, we will be celebrating the honorees of our Fleet Safety Awards, Safety Professional and Truck Driver of the Year programs. The dress code for the awards banquet is Sunday’s best.

Banquet registration is of no cost but must be done by emailing renee@lmta.la if you are not already attending with a participating company. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the LMTA office.

ABOUT THE 2024 LOUISIANA TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Louisiana Truck Driving Championships (TDC) is a competition of professional truck drivers hosted each year by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA) and is the regional qualifier for the National Truck Driving Championships hosted by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). As part of the LMTA Foundation’s mission to promote safety and highlight driver excellence in Louisiana’s trucking industry, there is no registration fee for the Louisiana Championships.

The TDC has a long history within the LMTA, and was previously known as the Louisiana Truck Rodeo. The TDC competitors comprise eight driving classes and feature drivers throughout the state. During the TDC competition, each driver can demonstrate his or her driving and inspection skills, knowledge and professionalism through a series of tests.

Each driver is graded in three tasks:

Written examination
Pre-trip inspection test
Driving skills test

Our 2023 Truck Driving Championships is to be held March 1-2, 2024.

The registration, testing and awards banquet will be held at the L’Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge. The Pre-trip inspection and driving course will be hosted at the L’Auberge Casino & Hotel overflow parking lot in Baton Rouge.

SPONSORS
Allison Transmission

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American Trucking Associations’ Safety Management Council’s 2023 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) and National Step Van Driving Championships (NSVDC) are heading to Columbus, OH to find out who will be named the 2023 Grand Champion!

This competition has a long history – dating back to 1937 when it was known as the National Truck Rodeo. The NTDC competitors are made up of the winners in eight classes of competition from 50 State Trucking Associations’ Truck Driving Championships. During the TDC and NTDC competition, each driver has a chance to demonstrate his or her driving and inspection skills, knowledge and professionalism through a series of tests. The drivers undergo a written examination, pre-trip inspection test and finally, the most visible – the skills test. These annual competitions inspire tens of thousands of drivers to operate accident-free for the right to compete.

PROGRAM GOAL

The Championships are a great incentive for professional truck drivers to operate safely, because they must be accident-free for at least one year prior to the competition. Many of the competitors have millions of accident-free driving miles to their credit.

When asked, professional drivers will tell you that they are drawn to the Championships by the spirit of competition and by the prestige of being named the best of the best. It is described by drivers as being like the Olympics, where they come to win but revel in the camaraderie and excitement. In addition to First, Second and Third Place titles, drivers vie for the Professional Excellence Award, the Vehicle Condition Award, the Rookie of the Year Award and the ultimate designation – The Grand Champion award.

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