TEMPE, Ariz. – April 15, 2013 – Nine drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Arizona State Truck Driving Championship in Tempe on April 12-13.
- Mohammed Khan, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Tucson, captured first place in the Twins class for his second state title. He also took home the Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of all classes.
- Russ Norman, a driver for Three BT, Inc., based at the FedEx Ground station in Tempe, earned first place in the Step Van class.
- Sean Saxon, owner of Berly Q Inc. domiciled at the FedEx Ground station in Tempe, placed second in the Step Van class. The 2010 National Step Van Champion, he also earned a second-place finish in the same class at the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC).
- FedEx Express driver Scott Watts earned a second-place finish in the Straight Truck class. Watts is based in Phoenix.
- Charlie Woodland, a driver for FedEx Freight based in North Phoenix, took home the second-place trophy in the 3-Axle class.
- Phoenix-based FedEx Express driver Frank Logan placed third in the 5-Axle class.
- Joe Gross, owner of Three BT, Inc. domiciled at the FedEx Ground station in Tempe, and Ruban Montoya, a driver for Lerma Transport, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Yuma, both earned third-place finishes in the Straight Truck and Step Van classes, respectively.
- Albert Ochoa, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Tucson took home the third-place trophy in the 3-Axle class. He also won the Rookie of the Year award.
Khan and Norman 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 Arizona state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The Arizona 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 NTDC 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.