The annual event, organized by the Nebraska Trucking Association, brought together professional drivers from across the state to compete in written testing, pre-trip inspections, driving skills, and vehicle class competitions. The championships also determine which drivers will represent Nebraska at the American Trucking Associations National Truck Driving Championships later this summer.

FedEx Freight and Walmart Transportation Drivers Earn Top Awards

In addition to Badgett’s Grand Champion title, several competitors received special awards recognizing outstanding performance throughout the event.

Logan Booker of Walmart Transportation, LLC earned Rookie of the Year honors after posting the highest overall score among first-time competitors.

Todd Gimpel of FedEx Freight claimed the Professional Excellence Award for the second consecutive year. The award is presented to the driver with the highest score on the written examination.

Garet Poland of Walmart Transportation received the Bucky Buchholtz Top Driver Award for achieving the highest score on the driving course. The award is named in honor of the late Bucky Buchholtz, a former Nebraska State Patrol trooper and longtime championships committee member.

Booker also earned the Kurt Everett Vehicle Condition Award for recording the highest score during the pre-trip inspection portion of the competition.

Joseph Busch of ABF Freight Systems, Inc. received the Jerry Wessel Award, which recognizes professionalism, industry knowledge, and attitude demonstrated throughout the championships. The award is open to drivers and volunteers who have participated in the event for at least five years.

Class Champions Secure Spots at National Competition

Nine class champions earned the opportunity to represent Nebraska at the National Truck Driving Championships scheduled for August 11 through 14 in Pittsburgh.

Class winners included:

• Straight Truck: Clinton Rast of Omaha, Nebraska, ABF Freight Systems, Inc.
• Three Axle: Garet Poland of Kenesaw, Nebraska, Walmart Transportation
• Four Axle: Todd Gimpel of Aurora, Nebraska, FedEx Freight
• Five Axle: Tom Canning of Bellevue, Nebraska, Old Dominion Freight Line
• Five Axle Sleeper: John Putney of Blanchard, Oklahoma, Greater Omaha Express
• Tank Truck: Tim Dean of Griswold, Iowa, Werner Enterprises
• Flatbed: George Chaney of Aurora, Nebraska, FedEx Freight
• Twin Trailer: Paul Badgett of Aurora, Nebraska, FedEx Freight
• Mixer Truck: Jacob Friederich of Papillion, Nebraska, Lyman-Richey Corporation
• Step Van: Korey Clifton of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, FedEx Express

Old Dominion Freight Line earned the team championship.

Friederich will also advance to the National Mixer Driver Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Nashville this October.

Inspector Competition Held Alongside Driver Championships

The Nebraska State Patrol Inspector Championships were conducted alongside the truck driving competition.

Inspectors competed in a series of evaluations that included personal interviews, hazardous materials exercises, and hands-on inspection challenges designed to test professional knowledge and technical skills.

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 12, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: Nebraska Trucking Association

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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.

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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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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Liz Leon, boasting over 19 years of professional driving experience, plays a crucial role at 4Gen Logistics by transporting containers to and from Southern California’s bustling ports. Her career began with Toys R Us, where her love for the open road was ignited. Averaging 100,000 miles annually without any accidents, Liz has also been acknowledged by the California Trucking Association for her exemplary driving skills.

The Pilot team orchestrated a surprise visit to Rialto, California, on October 22 to celebrate Leon’s achievement before her shift at 4Gen Logistics. Joining this heartwarming event were her colleagues and family members, including her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.

Jordan Spradling, Vice President of Transportation and Logistics at Pilot, expressed his admiration by stating, “Congratulations to this year’s Road Warrior, Liz Leon, who stood out among the many deserving drivers we read about during the contest,” said Jordan Spradling, vice president of transportation and logistics at Pilot. “We appreciate all the nominations and stories of drivers like Liz, Herschel, Joe, and Roy, who show up day in and day out, put in countless hours and miles and embody everything we value at Pilot. “This year, the Road Warrior contest introduced a new format, selecting four weekly winners who each received $1,000 and a chance at the grand prize. Alongside Liz, other weekly champions included:

• Herschel Evans from Bremen, Georgia, boasts over 38 years of driving experience and 3.5 million safe miles. His dedication to helping families is evident through his involvement in initiatives like Atlanta Ride for Kids, Convoy of Care, and Safety Drive for a Cure.

• Joe Mondor from Grand Forks, North Dakota, has amassed 4.5 million safe miles during his 33 years in trucking. Renowned as a safety leader and mentor, Joe is respected for his professionalism.

• Roy Prentice from Reno, Nevada, has surpassed 3 million safe miles in more than 30 years of driving. He is celebrated for his commitment to assisting others both in the community and on the road.

These outstanding drivers exemplify the spirit of dedication and service that Pilot values and are a testament to the professionals who keep our roads safe and our supply chains running smoothly.

Source: Truckers News

Image: Pilot

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