GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – June 11, 2013 – Seven drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Nebraska State Truck Driving Championship in Grand Island on June 7-8.
- Korey Clifton, an Omaha-based driver for FedEx Express, captured his second consecutive first-place trophy in the Step Van class.
- FedEx Freight driver John Poppen (Grand Island) finished first in the 4-Axle class.
- George Chaney, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Aurora, attained the first-place trophy in the Flatbed class.
- Aurora-based FedEx Freight drivers Toby Kort and Tim Helus finished second in the Twins and 3-Axle classes, respectively. Kort also posted the highest score on the written exam portion of the competition.
- Joe Helmer and Ben Okeefe, both FedEx Express drivers based in Omaha, completed the sweep in the Step Van class with their second- and third-place finishes, respectively.
The FedEx competitors also placed second in the team competition.
Clifton, Poppen and Chaney 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 Nebraska state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The Nebraska 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.