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FedEx to Send 72 Drivers to National Truck Driving Championships

Competitors Reflect FedEx Commitment to Safety
July 21, 2008

Seventy-two drivers from 36 states representing the FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) operating companies will compete in the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Houston Aug. 20-23.

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 1,750 FedEx drivers, couriers and contractors who competed in their respective state championships and the accomplishments of our 72 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 2008 FedEx NTDC competitors:

  • Collectively, the drivers have nearly 1,450 years of professional driving experience among them.
  • In total, the team has safely driven more than 75 million miles during their careers " enough to circle the globe almost 3,024 times.
  • 40 of the FedEx competitors have driven professionally for 20 years or more.
  • 30 of them have each accumulated at least one million miles of safe driving.

At the NTDC, the FedEx drivers will be among nearly 400 competitors who will vie for national titles in eight 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, personal interview, pre-trip inspection and field test.

Former National Grand Champion Wayne Crowder, a FedEx Freight driver based in Louisville, Ky., is looking forward to once again testing his skills at the national level. He said, "As a professional driver, safety is my first responsibility. I am honored to be part of a program that challenges all drivers to continuously improve their performance. I am also proud to be employed by FedEx, a company that actively promotes both safety and professional development for all team members."

The 2008 FedEx National Truck Driving Championships team includes:

Driver State Domicile Class Special Awards

Scott Watts

AK

Anchorage

5-Axle

Grand Champion

Greg Logsdon AR Little Rock Straight Truck Best Written Exam
Brad Clyne AZ Phoenix Twins
Rob Romando AZ Phoenix 3-Axle
Tim O'Donnell AZ Tucson 5-Axle
Stu Creps CA Eureka Tank Truck Rookie of the Year
Todd Sobol CA Eureka 3-Axle
Ramon Guzman CA San Bernardino Flatbed
Tim Cohen CT Hartford 4-Axle
Eric Gothing CT Hartford Twins
Tom Griffin CT New Haven 5-Axle Sleeper
Joey Moniz CT New Haven 5-Axle Grand Champion
Michael Conaway DE Salisbury, Md. Straight Truck

Randy O'Dell

DE Wilmington 3-Axle Grand Champion
Don Nemeth FL Orlando 4-Axle

Eddie Pennington

FL Jacksonville Twins Best Pre-Trip Inspection
Ryan Kelley IA Mason City 4-Axle
Matt Housley ID Boise 3-Axle Best Pre-Trip Inspection
Dean Wessley IL Rock Island Straight Truck Grand Champion
Willie Baylor IN Indianapolis 4-Axle Grand Champion
Mike Gilstrap KS Coffeyville Flatbed Best Pre-Trip Inspection
Don Logan KS Topeka 3-Axle

Harold Clemons

KY Independence Tank Truck Grand Champion
Wayne Crowder KY Louisville Flatbed
John Higgs KY Louisville 4-Axle
John Willinger KY Louisville 5-Axle
Eric Courville LA Lafayette 3-Axle Grand Champion; Best Pre-Trip Inspection
Bill Anthony MA East Boston 5-Axle Sleeper
Elliott Smith MA East Boston Tank Truck
Brad Bartlett ME Portland Straight Truck
Jared Elston ME Portland 5-Axle
Jimmy Franklin ME Portland 3-Axle
Bob Kierstead ME Portland Twins Grand Champion
Chris Thomas MI Flint Twins
Paul Butkowski MN Minneapolis 3-Axle
Shawn Smith MN Minneapolis 4-Axle Rookie of the Year
John Barney MO St. Louis 3-Axle
Larry O'Neal MO St. Louis Twins Grand Champion
Jason Matte MS Jackson 5-Axle

John Smith Jr.

MS Tupelo Tank Truck Grand Champion

James Kilpatrick

MS Jackson Twins
Erik Lilleberg MT Billings Twins
Tom Miller MT Billings Straight Truck
Matt Alberts NC Greensboro Straight Truck
Phil Peterson NC Charlotte 5-Axle
Elmer Branzovsky NE Omaha Tank Truck
Jimmy O'Neill NE Omaha 3-Axle Grand Champion
Toby Kort NE North Platte 5-Axle Best Pre-Trip Inspection
Peter Allen NH Londonderry 5-Axle Sleeper
Paul Robichaud NH Londonderry Straight Truck Best Written Exam
Norman Sullivan NH Londonderry Tank Truck

Kevin Wilkening

NJ Parsippany 4-Axle Rookie of the Year
Brooks Washburn NM Albuquerque 5-Axle
Luis Hermida NM Lordsburg Twins Grand Champion
Hal Staley NM Silver City 5-Axle Sleeper
Gragg Wilson NV Reno 4-Axle
Mitch Scott OH Columbus Twins
Scott Woodrome OH Dayton 3-Axle
Dan Shamrell OR Portland 3-Axle
Jerry Barndt PA Allentown Straight Truck
Mike Wiest PA Harrisburg Twins
Brandon Gill PA Pocono Summit Flatbed
Chip Taylor SC Columbia Straight Truck
Troy Swenson SD Watertown 5-Axle Sleeper Best Pre-Trip Inspection and Highest Written Exam
Manny Trevino TX Harlingen Twins
Scott Ambler UT Salt Lake City Flatbed
Cody Dangel UT Salt Lake City 4-Axle

Chris Mahony

UT Salt Lake City Twins
David Fountain VT Williston 5-Axle Best Written Exam

Bernie Spine

VT Williston 3-Axle
Scott Parks WI Milwaukee 4-Axle Grand Champion
Gary Reimer WI Mauston 3-Axle Best Driving Course and Written Exam Score

In 2007, FedEx drivers captured National Champion titles in the Flatbed and Straight Truck classes and the NTDC Rookie of the Year honor. Additionally, FedEx drivers earned five 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 $38 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 290,000 employees and contractors 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.