American Trucking Associations announced the finalists for the 2015 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships following a three-day competition that tested the driver’s knowledge of safety, equipment, the trucking industry and driving skills.
“The competitors at the National Truck Driving Championships demonstrate the commitment to safety that truck drivers throughout America exhibit on the nation’s highways each day” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “I congratulate all the finalists for their proven dedication to safety and applaud each of the competitors for their efforts in showing what it means to be a champion on our country’s roads.”
Considered the “Super Bowl of Safety,” the top five drivers in seven of the eight competing categories, along with the affiliated step van competition, are now set to complete a specially designed obstacle course to determine the top driver. Six competitors will drive this morning in the 3-axle class.
The top driver in each of the nine driving categories will be honored, and one will be named the 2015 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.
2015 National Truck Driving Championship Finalists
Straight Truck Class
Jeremy Steger, Con-way Freight, Plymouth, Wis.
Loren Hatfield, ABF Freight System, Inc., Maumelle, Ark.
Paul Styzinski, Golden State Foods, Arlington Heights, Ill.
Ernest Budlowski, Con-way Freight, Shelton, Conn.
Paul Caruolo, FedEx Express, Cary, N.C.
3-Axle Class
Donald Logan, FedEx Freight, Eskridge, Kan.
David May, Con-way Freight, West Seneca, N.Y.
Dwayne Heaverin, FedEx Express, Dry Ridge, Ky.
Barry Kraemer, Con-way Freight, New Holstein, Wis.
Michael Clark, Walmart Transportation, Bixby, Okla. – competing in Ark.
Paul Butkowski, FedEx Freight, Sauk Rapids, Minn.
4-Axle Class
Bradley Lester, FedEx Freight, Happy Valley, Ore.
Scott Donaldson, Holland, Loganville, Ga.
Albert Hockett, Con-way Freight, Rolla, Mo.
David Hall, ABF Freight System, Inc., Austin, Ark.
James Quarles, Walmart Transportation, Laurens, S.C.
5-Axle Class:
Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Transportation, Wittmann, Ariz.
Basher Pierce, FedEx Freight, Sophia, N.C.
Chad Rudesill, FedEx Ground, Tickfaw, La.
Richard Gagnon, New Penn, Woonsocket, R.I.
William Brandon, FedEx Freight, Athens, Ala.
Flatbed Class
Scott Woodrome, FedEx Freight, Middletown, Ohio
James Mills, AAA Cooper Transportation, Covington, Ga.
John Wiley, Walmart Transportation, London, Ky.
Roland Bolduc, FedEx Express, East Longmeadow, Mass.
Kenny Jenkins, Walmart Transportation, Newport, N.H.
Tank Truck Class
Geoffory Davis, Walmart Transportation, Ottawa, Kan.
Paul Brandon, FedEx Freight, Oxford, Conn.
John Maddox, Jr., Ergon Trucking, Inc., Stringer, Miss.
Brian Singelais, Sr., A. Duie Pyle, Inc., Webster, Mass.
David Magee, FedEx Freight, Huntingdon, Tenn.
Twins Class
David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Commerce City, Colo.
Jeffrey Langenhahn, Con-way Freight, Plover, Wisc.
Henry Mahler, Jr.,YRC Freight, Ocala, Fla.
Gerald Thompson, Con-way Freight, Grand Island, N.Y.
Louis Petrovia, Con-way Freight, Baltimore, Md.
Sleeper Berth Class
Wayne Gootee, Walmart Transportation, Brooklyn, Mich.
Ronnie Davis, Brookshire Grocery Co., Lindale, Tex.
Ronald Emenheiser, Walmart Transportation, Yorkana, Pa.
Eric Courville, FedEx Freight, Breaux Bridge, La.
Bryan Elges, FedEx Freight, Ashland, Ohio
Step Van
James Sheehan, FedEx Ground, Hendersonville, Tenn.
Andrew Tuck, FedEx Ground, Xenia, Ohio
Nick Frazier, FedEx Ground, Granby, Mo.
Robert Ledoux FedEx Express, Swansea, Mass.
Dean Harris, FedEx Freight, Shawnee, Kan.