KENT, Wash. – June 25, 2012 – Four drivers representing FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2012 Washington State Truck Driving Championship in Kent on June 23.
- Tony Todd, owner of Todd Distribution Services, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Seattle, earned his third title in four years with a win in the Step Van class.
- FedEx Freight driver Vic Skoglund (Everett)earned his second state title this weekend after his win in the Tank Truck class.
- Robert Hinds, owner of R.R. Ground Home, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Everett, and Eder Ballen, a driver for Blessings on Wheels, Inc. based at the FedEx Home Delivery station in North Seattle, finished second and third in the Step Van class, respectively.
- In addition, Brad Harlan, owner of B. Harlan Enterprises based at the FedEx Ground station in Olympia, earned the Best Pre-Trip Inspection award.
Todd and Skoglund will go on to compete at the American Trucking Associations’ 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC), known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” August 7-11 in Minneapolis, Minn. In addition, each state winner will be recognized by FedEx as part of its safe driving initiative, The Chairman’s Challenge.
“The entire team of drivers representing FedEx is dedicated to safety. It is an integral part of everything they do,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO, FedEx Corp. “The performance of these participants at the Washington championship is a testament to their commitment to safety excellence.”
The Washington 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 test, pre-trip inspection and written examination covering vehicle operation and knowledge of federal safety regulations.
In 2011, 115 driving professionals from 45 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 Champion title in the Step Van class. In addition, FedEx drivers earned nine additional top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes.