FMCSA's Elison Touts NTDC Drivers' Dedication to Safety
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MINNEAPOLIS — To kick off four days of competition at the 88th annual National Truck Driving Championships, the chairman of praised the contributions of the 425 elite drivers vying for a national title.
From a stage at Minneapolis Convention Center, on Aug. 20 called the competitors the “finest professional drivers in the country.”
“The best of the best; the top guns of trucking. To every competitor, congratulations, you’ve earned it. You’ve earned your way to the national stage by winning at the state level. And that accomplishment makes you a champion,” he told the field during an introductory briefing prior to the official start of competition.
“You demonstrated exceptional skill, focus and dedication to safety, just to be here puts you in a league of your own,” the chairman added, pointing to the contributions truck drivers make to the economy, the freight industry and the country’s culture of transportation safety. “You are the foundation behind every safe mile and speaking of miles, this safety competition is a competition at its core. Safety is not a sometimes thing. It’s an every-day–every-mile responsibility. And you all know that better than anyone.”
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- What: 88th annual National Truck Driving Championships and Step Van Driving Championships.
- ³:Winners from eight categories at the state level who haveadvanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned.
- Defending Champion: FedEx Freight tank truck driver Jackie Reed of Mississippi.
- ³:Contestants are judged on a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving skills
- When: Aug. 20-23
- Where: Minneapolis
Winners from nine vehicle classes — including the National Step Van Driving Championships — from every state qualified for the Super Bowl of trucking safety. Industry stakeholders and other senior officials welcomed the drivers to the tournament.
Chief Counsel Jesse Elison greeted the competitors at the introductory briefing. He recognized the field for performing at “such a high level” and celebrating their commitment to safety industrywide.
“This event is to celebrate all of you. One of you will emerge the winner, which is super cool, but you all definitely deserve to be here,” the FMCSA leader said.
After the briefing, the competitors examined the driving course and proceeded to test their knowledge of industry regulations during a written exam. Over two days, the drivers will take on the ornate course in their respective vehicle classes as well as take part in a pre-trip vehicle inspection.
ATA Chairman Dennis Dellinger delivers remarks as NTDC Chairman Robert Foskey listens at Minneapolis Convention Center on Aug. 20. (American Trucking Associations)
The classes are step van, straight truck, 3-axle, 4-axle, 5-axle, sleeper berth, tanker, flatbed and twin trailers.
The top five scorers in each vehicle class will compete in the final round Aug. 23. Winners, as well as a grand champion, will be announced at an awards gala that night.
This year, a record 15 women and six former grand champions are competing in the event. FedEx Freight’s Jackie Reed, the tournament’s reigning grand champion, called on peers to have a meaningful and fulfilling event. To inspire fellow competitors, he recounted his journey to arriving at the grand champion’s podium last year in Indianapolis.
His wife, Lisa, was ill and unable to attend the tournament but told Reed: ‘ “You don’t have to bring me a souvenir back if you can bring a trophy back.’ ”
Two-time national grand champion Roland Bolduc (second from right) and other drivers take the NTDC oath at Minneapolis Convention Center on Aug. 20. (American Trucking Associations)
Reed admittedly found motivation in her remarks and came back to his home state of Mississippi with a vehicle class national title and the Bendix Grand Champion trophy.
“At the time of his win, Reed had logged more than 3 million accident-free miles across a nearly 35-year driving career. Bendix looks forward to celebrating this year’s winner — and honoring the dedication, talent and leadership of all who compete,” per background information Bendix provided.
Day 1 at is in the books! Minneapolis is buzzing as drivers tackled the tough written exam and scoped out the course, preparing for tomorrow’s hands-on challenges. Check out the highlights—from course walkthroughs to the inspiring bleacher banners. We’re ready for the… — American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG)
“The NTDC is an inspiring celebration of precision, professionalism, and pride in the craft of driving,” Nicole Oreskovic, vice president of sales and marketing at Bendix, said in a statement Aug. 14. “We’re proud to support an event that highlights the absolute best of our industry — and even more proud to recognize drivers whose commitment to safety is matched by their skill behind the wheel. We wish all contestants the best of luck.”
Jacob Pierce, executive director of the Safety Management Council and Transportation Security Council at ATA, explained the 425 truck drivers representing 56 companies accrued more than 756 million accident-free driving miles.
“This event celebrates the extraordinary commitment to safety that is upheld by the 8.5 million men and women who work in the trucking industry,” he said.
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