ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The finalists for the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships were announced early this morning after a three day competition that tested drivers' knowledge of safety, equipment, the industry and driving skills. Considered the "Super Bowl of Safety," the competition is in the midst of a drive-off. 483 competitors traveled to Orlando to represent their home states.
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The top five drivers in each of the nine competing categories will now run a specially designed obstacle course that will be unveiled this morning to determine the top driver. At the end of the day, the best driver from all nine categories will be named, with one driver named the 2011 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion Award.
*Note: High-Resolution photos will be available of winners
2011 National Truck Driving Championship Finalists
Straight Truck Class
AZ - Sean Saxon, FedEx Ground, Scottsdale, Ariz.
CA - Paul Phillips, Con-way Freight, Coarsegold, Calif.
CO - John Lopez, Reddaway, Ranch, Colo.
HI - Joel Ramos, Airgas/Gaspro, Mililani, Hawaii
UT - Judd Adams, Con-way Freight , West Jordan, Utah
3-Axle Class
CA - Alfonso Saavedra, Con-way Freight, Watsonville, Calif.
IN - Charles M. White, Walmart Transportation LLC, Nineveh, Ind.
MS - Virgil Boyanton, FedEx Freight, Florence, Miss.
PA - John Hazlett, ABF Freight System, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.
VA - Michael Stickley, Con-way Freight, Middletown, Va.
4-Axle Class
IL - Richard Seigle, YRC, Orland Park, Ill.
KS - Gary Harms, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Olathe, Kan.
MA - Kenneth Ferencie, Norwell, Mass.
NH - Patrick Wickman, YRC, Epsom, NH
OK - Larry Kendall, FedEx Express, Tulsa, Okla.
5-Axle Class
GA - Hershel Evans, Holland, Bremen, Ga.
NJ - James Erickson, FedEx Freight, Marlton, N.J.
OK - Russell Beachler, FedEx Freight, Moore, Okla.
TX - David Martinez, H-E-B, Natalia, Texas
WA - John Enyeart, Safeway Stores, Inc., Ravensdale, Wash.
Flatbed Class
OH - Scott Woodrome, FedEx Freight, Middletown, Ohio
NH - Mark Bailey, Walmart Transportation LLC, Springdale, Maine
KY - Charles Lanter, Con-way Freight, Georgetown, Ky.
ME - Robert Magnuson, Hannaford Trucking Company, Portland, Maine
OR - Edward Hawkins, Leavitt's Freight Service, Springfield, Ore.
Tank Truck Class
TX - Thomas Wilson, H-E-B, Katy, Texas
MS - John Maddox, Ergon Trucking, Inc., Stringer, Miss.
PA - Leo Flack, A. Duie Pyle, Inc., Westchester, Pa.
KS - Donald Logan, FedEx Freight, Eskridge, Kan.
SC - Thomas Winston, FedEx Freight, Greenville, S.C.
Twins Class
CA - Gary Martin, FedEx Ground, Galt, Calif.
CO - David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Brighton, Colo.
MS - Marcus Byrd, FedEx Freight, Florence, Miss.
NY - Gerald Thompson, Con-way Freight, Grand Island, N.Y.
UT - Jeffrey Payne, Reddaway, Cedar City, Utah
Sleeper Berth Class
LA - Pat Rudesill, FedEx Ground, Hammond, La.
MT - Brandon Hicks, Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage, Helena, Mont.
OR - Joshua Carr, Walmart Transportation, LLC , McCall, Idaho
WA - Roy Garcia, Peninsula Truck Lines, Inc., Elk, Wash.
WY - Eric Carpenter, Walmart Transportation LLC, Laramie, Wyo.
Step Van
CA - Troy Astrande, FedEx Express, Redlands, Calif.
CT - Keith Towne, FedEx Express, Sharpstown, R.I.
MA - Robert Ledoux, FedEx Express, Swansen, Mass.
TN - James Sheehan, FedEx Ground, Hendersonville, Tenn.
WI - Timothy Cole, FedEx Ground, Muskego, Wis.
ATA's Truck Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the nation competing at state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 7-13 in Orlando, Fla. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships website: www.truckline.com/Federation/Councils/slpmc/NTDC/Pages/Default.aspx
The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States. Follow us on TrucksBringIt Facebook and Twitter.
The American Trucking Associations leads the effort for safer highways, focusing on greater education, enforcement and enhancement of traffic safety laws for all drivers. www.truckline.com
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
