SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The finalists for the 2013 National Truck Driving Championships were announced early this morning after a three day competition that tested driver's 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.
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The top five drivers in each of the eight competing categories, along with the affiliated step van competition, 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 winning the honors of the 2013 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.
"These professional drivers deserve our heartiest congratulations," ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. "They have distinguished themselves among their fellow drivers and each of them is deserving of the title 'champion.'"
*Note: High-Resolution photos will be available of winners
2013 National Truck Driving Championship Finalists
Straight Truck Class
Judd Adams, Con-way Freight, Utah (Taylorville)
James Carver, Maryland (Owings)
Robert Dolan, Con-way Freight, Pennsylvania (Catasauqua)
Daniel Jones, FedEx Freight, Kansas (Topeka)
John VanBuren, Reddaway, Oregon (Central Point)
3-Axle Class
Roland Bolduc, FedEx Express, Massachusetts (E. Longmeadow)
Eric Courville, FedEx Freight, Louisiana (Breaux Bridge)
Kevin Dean, YRC Freight, Georgia (Rockmart)
Jason Harrington, Con-way Freight, North Dakota (Bismarck)
Paul Savill, UPS Freight, Ohio (Hamilton)
Jeffrey Thompson, FedEx Freight, Kansas (Olathe)
4-Axle Class
Charles Bowman, Walmart Transportation, Mississippi (Petal)
Ralph Garcia, ABF Freight System, New Mexico (Rio Rancho)
Thomas Griffin, FedEx Freight, Connecticut (Wallingfod)
James Roberts, Con-way Freight, Wyoming (Loveland, Co.)
Jeremy Steger, Con-way Freight, Wisconsin (Fond du Lac)
5-Axle Class
George Johnson, UPS Freight, Virginia (Aylett)
Ivan Nikolic, FedEx Ground, Illinois (Chicago)
Christopher Novak, FedEx Express, Vermont (Williston)
Andrew Rynearson, Con-way Freight, Wisconsin (Tomah)
Harold Snyder, North Carolina (King)
Flatbed Class
Paul Brandon, FedEx Freight, Connecticut (Oxford)
Joe Carson, FedEx Freight, Illinois (Strasburg)
Wayne Crowder, FedEx Freight, Kentucky (Lanesville, Ind.)
Don Logan, FedEx Freight, Kansas (Eskridge)
Larry Rhein, FedEx Freight, Arkansas (Harrison)
Tank Truck Class
Eric Carpenter, Walmart Transportation, Wyoming (Chugwater)
Ina Daly, Con-way Freight, Arizona (Avondale)
Jason Matte, FedEx Freight, Mississippi (Flowood)
Marty Mosley, Atlas Logistics, Georgia (Palmetto)
Tony Spero, ABF Freight System, Connecticut (Stratford)
Twins Class
Michael Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado (Lamar)
Barry Kraemer, Con-way Freight, Wisconsin (New Holstein)
Timothy Melody, ABF Freight System, Idaho (Fruitland)
Jeff Payne, Reddaway, Utah (Cedar City)
Alfonso Saavedra, Con-way Freight, California (Watsonville)
Sleeper Berth Class
Craig Carver, Walmart Transportation, Maine (Charleston)
Leo Flack, A. Duie Pyle, Pennsylvania (West Chester)
Gary Harms, Walmart Transportation, Kansas (Olathe)
Timothy Sproles, UPS Freight, Tennessee (Bristol, Virginia)
Lyle Stenersen, Walmart Transportation, New Hampshire (Rindge)
Step Van
Michael Forchetti, FedEx Express, Maryland (Frederick)
Robert Hinds, FedEx Ground, Washington, (Mount Vernon)
Justin Kingsley, FedEx Ground, Oklahoma (Tulsa)
Robert Ledoux, FedEx Express, Massachusetts (Swansea)
Salvatore Vincelli, FedEx Ground, Pennsylvania (Allentown)
ATA's National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the United States competing at company, state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 20-24 in Salt Lake City. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2013 National Truck Driving Championships website. Follow NTDC next week on Facebook.
American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It! www.trucking.org.
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
