SPARKS, Nev. – June 25, 2013 – Fourteen drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Nevada State Truck Driving Championship in Sparks on June 22.
- Jeffrey Dionne, a South Las Vegas-based driver for FedEx Freight, earned the top spot in the 3-Axle class. He also took home the Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of all classes.
- Gragg Wilson, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Reno, captured his tenth state title with a win in the Tank Truck class.
- Art Corral Jr., a driver for M.K. Courier Services, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Las Vegas, won his third state title after taking home the Straight Truck title.
- FedEx Freight driver Kirk Kelley (Reno) attained first place in the 4-Axle class.
- Bob Cromley, a driver for FedEx Express based in North Las Vegas, won the Step Van state title.
- Paul Baars, a driver for M.J. Ryckebosch Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Reno, finished second in the Twins class.
- FedEx Express driver Patrick Nerger (Reno) took home the second-place trophy in the 5-Axle class.
- Wesley Repp (FedEx Freight, Las Vegas) and Dale Jaffke (FedEx Express, Reno) placed second and third, respectively, in the 4-Axle class.
- Bob Fini, a driver for FedEx Express based in Las Vegas, and Jessica Crossley, a driver for Blake Express, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Reno, finished the sweep in the Straight Truck class with their second- and third-place trophies, respectively.
- Archie Candelaria, a driver for Prime Time Deliveries based at the FedEx Ground station in Reno, and Jim Papio, a driver for Nevada’s Finest, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Las Vegas, completed the sweep in the Step Van class with their second- and third-place finishes, respectively.
- Bruce Wilson, a driver for FedEx Freight in Reno, took third in the Flatbed class.
Dionne, Wilson, Corral, Kelley and Cromley 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 Nevada state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The Nevada 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.