FedEx Corporation, your single source for time-sensitive and time-deferred package, document, and freight transportation services internationally.
 

Newsroom

FedEx News

FedEx Spotlight

FedEx to Send 72 Drivers to National Truck Driving Championships

Competitors Reflect FedEx Commitment to Safety

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.