Trucking groups call for action.

Major industry organizations joined forces in pressing Congress and DOT to take meaningful steps. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), American Trucking Associations, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety, PrePass Safety Alliance, and the Shippers Coalition were among those submitting formal comments.

For years, OOIDA has urged lawmakers to pass the bipartisan Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which would dedicate $755 million to building and expanding truck parking facilities. The group didn’t mince words in its latest submission:

“OOIDA will not support surface transportation reauthorization that fails to dedicate federal funding exclusively for the expansion of truck parking capacity,” the Association wrote in comments signed by President Todd Spencer. “Specifically, truckers support HR1659, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, championed by Reps. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn). This bipartisan legislation enjoys universal industry support and was reported out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in 2023 by a vote of 60-4.”

Parking shortage cuts into driver pay.

The financial impact of inadequate parking also drew attention. Even groups that often disagree with OOIDA, such as the Transportation Intermediaries Association, threw their weight behind the legislation.

“For drivers – this legislation would be transformative,” wrote Daniel Hoff, vice president of government affairs at TIA. “The chronic lack of parking forces drivers to waste valuable time searching for spots – costing the average driver about $5,500 in direct lost compensation, which adds up to about a 12% pay cut for drivers.”

Safety concerns on the rise

The PrePass Safety Alliance also weighed in, stressing that the lack of reliable parking poses a danger not only to drivers but also to the broader supply chain.

“By supporting expanded, accessible and secure truck parking and upgrading existing parking facilities with smart parking technology, DOT can address one of the most persistent barriers to both highway safety and supply chain efficiency,” wrote Ashley Simmons, vice president of policy and external affairs at PrePass Safety Alliance.

Individual drivers echoed those concerns in their own comments.

“Parking has become a huge issue and seriously needs to be addressed,” wrote trucker Jeremy Overfield.

A decade of frustration

Despite widespread agreement across the industry, many remain skeptical that Congress will act.

“Somehow, after nearly a decade of unified advocacy, the trucking industry still finds itself pleading for help and feeling anxious that Congress may again fail to act,” Spencer wrote. “Frankly, truckers are sick and tired of some lawmakers ignoring their pressing safety needs while funding other pet projects, and rest assured, they will be watching closely to see if Washington finally delivers.”

The comment period officially closed on September 8, leaving DOT and lawmakers with nearly 2,800 submissions to review. For drivers and fleets, the question remains: will Washington finally put parking on the priority list?

Source: Land Line Media

The post Trucking Industry Pushes Congress to Solve Parking Shortage appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The annual competition, hosted by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), was held August 20–23 in Minneapolis. This year’s event brought together 425 drivers from 56 companies across 49 states, collectively representing nearly 756 million accident-free miles behind the wheel.

Comings, who has logged 3.1 million safe driving miles over nearly three decades in the industry, stood out among the nation’s most skilled drivers. In addition to being named Bendix Grand Champion, he also took first place in the 5-axle vehicle category.

“Congratulations to David on his extraordinary achievement,” said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. “This week, David put on a master class of precision and professionalism that defines NTDC, emerging from an elite field of highly skilled competitors.”

A Career of Excellence

Comings has competed multiple times at both the state and national levels. In 2022 and 2023, he won first place in North Dakota’s 4-axle class, and in 2024, he claimed the 5-axle title at the state competition before advancing to the national stage.

His latest win marks his most significant achievement to date, cementing his reputation as one of the safest and most precise drivers in the industry.

Additional Awards and Highlights

The closing ceremony also recognized several other standout competitors:

• Rookie of the Year: Jeffrey Reed, UPS (New Mexico)
• State Team Champion: Colorado
• Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award: Leroy Williams Sr., XPO
• Sam Gillette Lifetime Volunteer Award: Linda Nodland

Drivers competed across nine vehicle classes, along with a written exam and a vehicle inspection challenge. A full list of winners included:

Winners Across Vehicle Classes

Step Van:
1.    Logan Montandon, FedEx, Texas
2.    Matthew Futral, FedEx, Georgia
3.    Connor Christensen, United Parcel Service, Inc., Illinois

Straight Truck:
1.    Mark Carver, FedEx Freight, Missouri
2.    Samuel Bryant, FedEx Freight, Tennessee
3.    Bryan Reynaud, Walmart Transportation, Mississippi

3-Axle: 
1.    Daniel Shamrell, FedEx Freight, Oregon
2.    Gary Luster, FedEx Freight, Tennessee
3.    Brent Darnell, Southeastern Freight Lines, Georgia

4-Axle:
1.    Stephen Johnson, FedEx Freight, Mississippi
2.    Jeremy Steger, XPO, Wisconsin
3.    Robert Crowder, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Virginia

5-Axle: 
1.    David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
2.    Roland Bolduc, FedEx, Connecticut
3.    John Willinger, FedEx Freight, Kentucky

Flatbed:
1.    Edward Hill, FedEx Freight, Delaware
2.    Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho
3.    Kenneth Rageth, FedEx Freight, Wyoming

Tank Truck:
1.    Jeff Langenhahn, XPO, Wisconsin
2.    Ernie Budlowski, XPO, Connecticut
3.    Glen Kirk, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Indiana

Twins:
1.    Miguel Sanchez, United Parcel Service, Inc., Florida
2.    David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Colorado
3.    David Hall, ABF Freight, Arkansas

Sleeper Berth:
1.    Merle Ashbaugh, DHL Supply Chain, Ohio
2.    Todd Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado
3.    Herschel Evans, Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc., Georgia

Vehicle Condition Award: 
•    Nick Gaudette, FedEx Freight, Colorado

Written Exam:
•    David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota

State Team Award: 
1.    Colorado
2.    Illinois
3.    Virginia

The 2025 National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships were made possible by the support of several corporate sponsors, including:

Additional honors included:

• Vehicle Condition Award: Nick Gaudette (FedEx Freight, CO)
• Written Exam Award: David Comings (FedEx Freight, ND)

Event Sponsors

The ATA credited strong support from sponsors, including:

• Platinum: FedEx, Old Dominion Freight Line, Walmart, XPO
• Gold: ABF Freight, Boeing, C.A. Short Company, DHL, Samsara, UPS
• Silver: PITT OHIO

Why It Matters

The NTDC is often called the “Super Bowl of Safety” in trucking, spotlighting the skills, professionalism, and safety-first mindset that keep the nation’s highways moving.

Coming’s performance this year adds to his already remarkable career and highlights the high standards professional drivers bring to their work every day.

Image Source: American Trucking Associations
Source: Truckers News

The post FedEx Freight Driver from North Dakota Crowned Bendix Grand Champion appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.