HERMON, Maine – May 21, 2013 – Five drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Maine State Truck Driving Championship in Hermon on May 18.
- Bob Cochran, a driver for FedEx Express based in Augusta, earned his second consecutive state title with a win in the Step Van class.
- Lester Lord, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Bangor, finished second in the 4-Axle class.
- Erik Barden, a driver for Wolfe Transportation, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Portland, and Alex Hutchinson, a driver for White Family Freight Incorporated based at the FedEx Ground station in Houlton, finished the sweep of the Step Van class with their second- and third-place finishes, respectively.
- FedEx Freight driver Ray Rogers (Bangor) finished third in the Twins class.
Cochran will go on to compete at the American Trucking Associations’ 2013 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC), known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” August 20-24 in Salt Lake City. In addition, each state winner will be recognized by FedEx as part of its safe driving initiative, The Chairman’s Challenge.
“Our company is represented by professional drivers who not only strive daily to ensure shipments are delivered on time, but also that they remain safe on the road. It’s a fundamental priority in our company,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO, FedEx Corp. “The performance of these participants at the Maine state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The Maine State Truck Driving Championship is an opportunity for professional truck drivers to demonstrate their driving skills and safety expertise. The event includes a difficult driving-skills challenge, pre-trip inspection and written examination covering vehicle operation and knowledge of federal safety regulations.
In 2012, 137 driving professionals from 46 states representing FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground, FedEx Express and FedEx Custom Critical qualified to compete at the National Truck Driving Championships by winning their respective state’s competition and driving accident-free for at least one year. One FedEx competitor captured the National Grand Champion title. In addition, FedEx drivers captured National Champion titles in the Flatbed, 3-Axle and Step Van classes. Eight other FedEx drivers earned top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes.