Poff claimed the top honor and also finished first in the Straight Truck category, showcasing his expertise behind the wheel.

Special Awards and Team Champions

Other notable recognitions from the competition include:

• Pre-trip Inspection Award: John Garza from XPO
• Rookie of the Year: William Schultz from Walmart
• Small Team Champions: ABF Freight
• Large Team Champions: Walmart

Class Winners

Winners from each competition class earned the chance to compete in the National Truck Driving Championship, scheduled for August 20-23 in Minneapolis. Here’s the full list of champions by category:

• 3-Axle: Vadim Iusin (Walmart)
• 4-Axle: Jami Draft (ABF Freight)
• 5-Axle: James Clark (Penske)
• Flatbed: Dave Evans (Walmart)
• Sleeper Berth: William Schultz (Walmart)
• Straight Truck: David Poff (Old Dominion Freight Line)
• Tanker: Travis Clark (Walmart)
• Twins: Shane Hearn (FedEx)
• Step Van: Phillip Lawrence (Sheldon Holdings, FedEx)

Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding performance and good luck to those moving forward to the national competition in Minneapolis!

Image Source: Michigan Trucking Association
Source: Truckers News

The post Old Dominion Freight Line Trucker Wins Michigan Driving Championship appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Celebrating New Talent

Michael Williams was awarded the Rookie of the Year accolade. With his impressive performance, Williams represented Walmart during the event.

Class-by-Class Highlights

Here are the other notable winners from this year’s championships, recognizing exceptional skills in different categories:

• M. Murray Knowledge of the Industry Award
  • Winner: Kenneth Smith, Old Dominion Freight Lines
• Vehicle Condition Award
  • Winner: Jimmy Islar, FedEx Express (achieving a flawless score)
• William C. Hallford Team Award (Best Team)
  • Winners: Old Dominion Freight Lines team
    • Team Members: Martin Pringle, Trent Curren, Kenneth Smith, Kevin Smith, Mark Putnam, Blake Taylor, JD Lynch

Individual Class Champions

• Dump Truck
  • Champion: Bradley Bates, Knight’s Trucking
  • Runner-up: Michael Nirella, NW White & Co.
• Step Van
  • Champion: Salena Ashbreck, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: Jamie Cashatt, FedEx Express
• Straight Truck
  • Champion: Mark Putnam, Old Dominion Freight Lines
  • Runner-up: William Jones, FedEx Freight
• Three-Axle
  • Champion: Steve Ward, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: John Spanraft, FedEx Express
• Four-Axle
  • Champion: David Fountain, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: Milom Williams, Walmart
• Five-Axle
  • Champion: Gene Summers, ADUSA
  • Runner-up: Casey Wyder, FedEx Express
• Tank Truck
  • Champion: Kenneth Smith, Old Dominion Freight Lines
  • Runner-up: Michael Williams, Walmart
• Flatbed
  • Champion: Jeffery Wyder, FedEx Express
  • Runner-up: Johnathan Cooper, New South Express
• Twins
  • Champion: JB Quarles, Walmart
  • Runner-up: Jason Owens, CVS Pharmacy
• Sleeper Berth
  • Champion: Richard McCoy, ADUSA
  • Runner-up: Timmy Allen, New South Express

State Transport Police Challenge Winners

The South Carolina State Transport Police also recognized exceptional talent during the event with these standout performances:

• Level 1 Challenge Champion – Chance Austin
• Motorcoach Champion – Mason Conley
• Hazardous Materials Champion – Chance Austin
• Grand Champion – Chance Austin

Looking Ahead to Nationals

Class champions from the SCTA event, including Steve Ward and other winners, now have the opportunity to showcase their driving prowess at the National Truck Driving Championships, which will be held from August 20 to August 23 in Minneapolis.

Congratulations to all the participants for their incredible achievements and skillful demonstrations of expertise in the trucking industry!

Source: Truckers News
Source: South Carolina Trucking Association

The post FedEx Express Driver Steve Ward Takes Home Top SCTA Honors appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The event celebrated excellence across various competition categories. Here are the top three winners in each class:

Step Van

• 1st Place: Ronald Harwood – FedEx Express
• 2nd Place: Luciano Amorim – FedEx Express
• 3rd Place: Elizabeth Landreth – FedEx Express

Twin

• 1st Place: Dan Istre – XPO
• 2nd Place: Beau Bonds – Old Dominion
• 3rd Place: Cody Tucker – FedEx Freight

Tank Truck

• 1st Place: Michael Heiner – Old Dominion
• 2nd Place: Drew Coulter – Oak Harbor
• 3rd Place: Craig Beaudin – XPO

Straight Truck

• 1st Place: William Nolan – Old Dominion
• 2nd Place: Randall Schwasinger – FedEx Freight
• 3rd Place: Joshua Jetton – XPO

Sleeper

• 1st Place: Tyler Hill – XPO
• 2nd Place: Scott Colwell – Simplot
• 3rd Place: Mark Tomasetti – Peninsula

Flatbed

• 1st Place: Adam Heim – FedEx Freight
• 2nd Place: William Hill – Old Dominion
• 3rd Place: Mike Young – Arlo G Lott

5 Axle

• 1st Place: Chad Aronhalt – Walmart
• 2nd Place: Darrik Fong – FedEx Freight
• 3rd Place: Deric Witt – Simplot

4 Axle

• 1st Place: Jeffery Halford – XPO
• 2nd Place: Scott Hansen – Old Dominion
• 3rd Place: Reuben Riddle – Old Dominion

3 Axle

• 1st Place: Ben Scholes – XPO
• 2nd Place: Matthew Housley – FedEx Freight
• 3rd Place: Mark VanBlaricom – Old Dominion

Following their impressive performances, Dan Istre and the winners of each competition category will advance to the National Truck Driving Championships, which will take place in Minneapolis from August 20 to 23. They will face off against more than 430 of the nation’s top professional drivers at this prestigious event.

Congratulations to all the winners for their exceptional skill and professionalism!

Source: Truckers News
Source: Idaho Trucking Association

The post XPO’s Dan Istre Claims Grand Champion Title at Idaho Truck Driving Championships appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Source: LMTA Foundation

The annual event saw 80 skilled drivers competing in three key challenges, each designed to showcase their expertise in the trucking profession. To qualify, participants were required to maintain an impeccable safety record, including no accidents over the past year.

The three areas of the competition included:

• Written Examination: A comprehensive test assessing industry knowledge, safety protocols, first aid, and firefighting skills.
• Pre-Trip Inspection: Drivers had to identify hidden defects on a test vehicle under strict time constraints, showcasing their vehicle inspection skills based on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines.
• Field Test Course: Participants navigated a specially crafted course designed to mimic real-world challenges encountered during daily driving duties.

Meet the Grand Champion

Chad Rudesill, a FedEx driver, emerged as the competition’s grand champion. Beyond clinching the overall title, Rudesill also took first place in the 3-Axle Van division.

Other Top Honors

• Rookie of the Year: Darrin Lemoine (Walmart)

• Team Trophy Winner: XPO

• Mechanic’s Award: Corey Mitchell (FedEx Freight)

Division Champions

Several drivers stood out for their exceptional skills and performances across various vehicle categories. Below are the winners in each division:

Step Van

1. Nicholas Burgess (Walmart)

1. Michael Brian (FedEx)

1. Mario Powell (FedEx)

Straight Truck

1. Leroy Williams (XPO)

1. Darrin Lemoine (Walmart)

1. Corey Mitchell (FedEx)

3-Axle Van

1. Chad Rudesill (FedEx)

1. David Jowers (Old Dominion Freight Line)

1. Damien Hebert (XPO)

4-Axle Van

1. Larry Peltier (Martin Brower)

1. Wallace Simien (Walmart)

1. Shelton Winn (Old Dominion Freight Line)

5-Axle Van

1. Eric Courville (FedEx)

1. Christopher Colomb (Walmart)

1. John McLean (Walmart)

5-Axle Tank Truck

1. Curtis McMellon (XPO)

1. Johnnie Long (Walmart)

1. Patrick Rudesill (FedEx)

5-Axle Flatbed

1. Mark Collins (Walmart)

1. Joseph Vital (FedEx)

1. Warren Little (FedEx)

5-Axle Sleeper Cab

1. Patrick Bonvillian (Old Dominion Freight Line)

1. Malcolm Taylor (FedEx)

1. Joseph Guidry (Walmart)

Twin Truck

1. Wilbur Sansom (FedEx)

1. Eddie Bonnet (Old Dominion Freight Line)

1. Michael Greene (Ergon Trucking)

Heading to Nationals

Each first-place driver has earned the honor of representing the LMTA Foundation and Louisiana at the 2025 American Trucking Association (ATA) National Truck Driving Championships. The national event will take place in Minneapolis from August 20 to 23, where drivers will compete on a larger stage against the best in the country.

Recognizing Skill and Excellence

This year’s competition not only celebrated safe driving but also served as a platform to highlight the expertise and dedication required in the trucking industry. With rigorous tests like the written exam, pre-trip inspection, and field driving course, the event underscored the importance of safety, knowledge, and precision behind the wheel.

Congratulations to all the winners, and best of luck to Louisiana’s top drivers as they prepare for the national stage in Minneapolis!

Source: Truckers News

The post FedEx Driver Crowned Champion at Louisiana Truck Driving Championships appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.