FORT SMITH, Ark., July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ABF Freight System, Inc.(R), is sending 15 championship drivers from 11 states to the 70th National Truck Driving Championships, August 21-25, 2007, in Minneapolis. Among them is Anthony Spero, the 2006 National Champion Flatbed Driver. Professional drivers earn the right to compete in the National Championships by winning state driving championships and by maintaining an accident-free driving record for the past year. ABF's state champions, including five repeat winners from 2006, are:
Richard Alford Kentucky Three-Axle
Larry F. Burney * Wyoming Tanker
David A. DeCarli California Flatbed
Ralph Garcia * New Mexico Flatbed
Paul D. Gattin Arkansas Three-Axle
Kevin Scott Harris New York Five-Axle
John Hazlett Pennsylvania Three-Axle
Daniel R. Hiser Arkansas Twins
Thomas Martin Wyoming Twins
Gary L. Mason * Wyoming Five-Axle
Nathan A. McCarty * Wyoming Three-Axle
Clinton L. Rast Nebraska Twins
Anthony J. Spero * Connecticut Flatbed
James R. Tenbrink Michigan Three-Axle
Lonnie P. Walker Mississippi Four-Axle
An asterisk (*) denotes repeat winners from 2006 state championships.
"Thanks to the commitment and leadership of outstanding employees, as represented by these 15 champion drivers, ABF enjoys a great reputation as a trusted supply-chain partner. Their productive, conscientious work helps to bring unmatched value-added logistics solutions to ABF customers," said Jim McFarlin, ABF safety and security director. "These drivers have distinguished themselves with professionalism behind the wheel and devotion to safety on and off the road. Everyone at ABF is proud of the way they represent ABF and the trucking industry."
Known informally as the "Super Bowl of Safety," the annual event is sponsored by the Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council of the American Trucking Associations to promote driving safety among the nation's three million professional truck drivers. Competitive divisions include straight truck, three-axle, four-axle, five-axle, tank truck, flatbed, five-axle sleeper, twins and auto transporter. The comprehensive competitions include written examinations, personal interviews, pre-trip inspection test and a driving test of braking, parking, backing and maneuvering skills.
Established in 1923, ABF(R) is best-in-class for safety, security, technology and freight-handling. InformationWeek, CIO, InfoWorld, and BtoB magazines have cited ABF's strategic use of information technology as exemplary. ABF is the only five-time winner of the American Trucking Associations President's Trophy for Safety and the only four-time winner of the Excellence in Security Award. ABF also is the only carrier to earn both the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award and the Excellence in Security Award in the same year, which ABF accomplished twice.
ABF provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments via its TimeKeeper(R) service. Regional shipments are handled via the carrier's RPM Network, providing next-day and second-day shipping. The ABF system stretches throughout North America, with local service centers serving all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Guam and Puerto Rico. Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries.
ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation .
Contact: Mr. Danny Loe, director of marketing & public relations
Telephone: (479) 785-8803
