MEMPHIS, Tenn.--()--Ninety-eight drivers from 42 states representing the FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) operating companies will compete in the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Pittsburgh Aug. 18-22.
“Competing at the NTDC is like playing in the Super Bowl”
Each FedEx driver earned the right to compete in the NTDC by qualifying at state-level truck driving championships. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) sponsors the NTDC, which is designed to recognize industry leadership in safety and to promote professionalism among truck drivers.
“The backbone of our company is made up of thousands of professional drivers and contractors who not only strive to deliver every shipment on time but also ensure that safety remains a fundamental priority in everything they do,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Corp. “The overall performance of the more than 1,400 FedEx drivers, couriers and contractors who competed in their respective state championships and the accomplishments of our 98 NTDC competitors in particular exemplify the commitment of our entire driving force to safely share the road with other motorists each day.”
Here are some facts about the 2009 FedEx NTDC competitors:
- Collectively, the drivers have more than 1,880 years of professional driving experience among them.
- In total, the team has safely driven more than 96 million miles during their careers – enough to circle the globe almost 3,855 times.
- Forty-eight of the FedEx competitors have driven professionally for 20 years or more.
- Forty-one of them have each accumulated at least one million miles of safe driving.
- Eight of them have won five or more state championships.
At the NTDC, the FedEx drivers will be among nearly 450 competitors who will vie for national titles in nine different classes of vehicles and for the National Grand Champion title. The drivers accumulate points by demonstrating their driving skills and knowledge of the industry through a written exam, pre-trip inspection and field test.
John Smith Jr., a contractor for FedEx Ground based in Tupelo, Miss., will be competing at his fifth NTDC. The reigning National Champion in the Tank Truck class and the National Flatbed Co-Champion in 2007, he has driven more than 1.7 million miles during his 17-year career without ever having had an accident.
“Competing at the NTDC is like playing in the Super Bowl,” said Smith. “The competitors at this event represent the safest and most professional drivers on the road today. To be counted among them is truly an honor.”
The 2009 FedEx National Truck Driving Championships team includes:
| Driver | State | Domicile | Class | Special Awards | ||||
| AK | Anchorage | Step Van | ||||||
| AK | Anchorage | 3-Axle | Grand Champion | |||||
| AK | Anchorage | Straight Truck | ||||||
| AL | Mobile | Straight Truck | ||||||
| AR | Little Rock | Step Van | ||||||
| AZ | Tucson | Twins | ||||||
| AZ | Tempe | Straight Truck | ||||||
| AZ | Tempe | Step Van | Rookie of the Year; Highest Driving Score | |||||
| CA | Lancaster | Step Van | ||||||
| CA | Fontana | 3-Axle | ||||||
| CO | Denver | Step Van | ||||||
| CO | Denver | 4-Axle | ||||||
| CT | Windsor Locks | 3-Axle | ||||||
| CT | New Haven | Flatbed | ||||||
| CT | Hartford | 4-Axle | ||||||
| CT | New Haven | 5-Axle Sleeper | ||||||
| CT | Hartford | Step Van | ||||||
| CT | Hartford | Straight Truck | ||||||
| DE | New Castle | Straight Truck | ||||||
| DE | Salisbury, Md. | Step Van | ||||||
| DE | Wilmington | Twins | ||||||
| FL | Lakeland | Step Van | ||||||
| FL | Orlando | Twins | ||||||
| FL | Ocala | 3-Axle | ||||||
| IL | Peru | Twins | ||||||
| IN | Indianapolis | 3-Axle | ||||||
| KS | Topeka | 3-Axle | Grand Champion; Highest Written Exam | |||||
| KY | Lexington | Twins | ||||||
| KY | Louisville | 5-Axle | ||||||
| LA | Lafayette | 5-Axle | ||||||
| LA | Baton Rouge | Tank Truck | ||||||
| MA | East Boston | 5-Axle | Best Pre-Trip Inspection | |||||
| MA | Needham | Step Van | ||||||
| MA | Springfield | Twins | ||||||
| MD | Rockville | Step Van | ||||||
| MD | Hagerstown | Tank Truck | ||||||
| MD | Hagerstown | Twins | Grand Champion | |||||
| ME | Portland | Straight Truck | ||||||
| ME | Bangor | Step Van | ||||||
| ME | Augusta | Twins | Grand Champion; Rookie of the Year | |||||
| MI | Toledo, Ohio | 3-Axle | ||||||
| MI | Grand Rapids | Tank Truck | ||||||
| MI | Flint | Twins | ||||||
| MN | Minneapolis | Straight Truck | ||||||
| MN | Minneapolis | 4-Axle | ||||||
| MN | White Bear Lake | Step Van | ||||||
| MN | Minneapolis | Twins | Best Pre-Trip Inspection | |||||
| MO | St. Louis | Tank Truck | ||||||
| MO | St. Louis | Straight Truck | ||||||
| MO | St. Clair | 3-Axle | Grand Champion | |||||
| MO | Columbia | Step Van | ||||||
| MS | Jackson | 3-Axle | ||||||
| MS | Tupelo | Tank Truck | Grand Champion | |||||
| MS | McComb | Step Van | Rookie of the Year | |||||
| MT | Billings | Twins | ||||||
| NC | Greensboro | Straight Truck | ||||||
| NC | Greensboro | 4-Axle | ||||||
| NC | Greensboro | Tank Truck | ||||||
| ND | Fargo | 5-Axle | Best Pre-Trip Inspection | |||||
| NE | Lincoln | Straight Truck | ||||||
| NH | Londonderry | 4-Axle | ||||||
| NH | Londonderry | Flatbed | ||||||
| NH | Manchester | Step Van | ||||||
| NJ | S. Brunswick | 5-Axle | Grand Champion | |||||
| NJ | Mount Laurel | Step Van | ||||||
| NM | Albuquerque | 5-Axle | ||||||
| NM | El Paso, Texas | Step Van | ||||||
| NM | Albuquerque | Twins | Grand Champion | |||||
| NV | Las Vegas | Straight Truck | ||||||
| NV | Las Vegas | Step Van | Rookie of the Year | |||||
| NV | Reno | 5-Axle Sleeper | ||||||
| NY | Rochester | Straight Truck | Grand Champion | |||||
| NY | Newburgh | Twins | Highest Written Exam | |||||
| NY | Jamaica | 4-Axle | ||||||
| OH | Dayton | 3-Axle | ||||||
| OR | Portland | Twins | ||||||
| OR | Portland | Step Van | ||||||
| OR | Portland | 3-Axle | Grand Champion; Best Pre-Trip Inspection | |||||
| PA | Harrisburg | 3-Axle | ||||||
| PA | Harrisburg | Step Van | ||||||
| RI | Providence | Step Van | ||||||
| SD | Watertown | 5-Axle Sleeper | Highest Written Exam | |||||
| SD | Sioux Falls | Twins | ||||||
| TN | Dresden | Tank Truck | ||||||
| TN | Memphis | Step Van | Rookie of the Year | |||||
| TX | Dallas | 4-Axle | ||||||
| VA | Fredericksburg | Step Van | ||||||
| VT | Alburg | Straight Truck | ||||||
| VT | Lebanon, N.H. | Step Van | ||||||
| VT | Williston | 5-Axle Sleeper | ||||||
| VT | Williston | Flatbed | ||||||
| VT | Williston | 3-Axle | ||||||
| WA | Seattle | Step Van | ||||||
| WI | Milwaukee | 3-Axle | ||||||
| WI | Milwaukee | Straight Truck | ||||||
| WI | Madison | 4-Axle | ||||||
| WV | Charleston | 4-Axle | ||||||
| WV | Parkersburg | Tank Truck |
In 2008, FedEx drivers captured National Champion titles in the Tank Truck, 4-Axle and Twins classes and the NTDC Rookie of the Year honor. In addition, FedEx drivers earned three other top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $35 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 280,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.
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