United States (English)

Six FedEx Drivers Earn Honors at the Alabama Truck Driving Championship

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PELHAM, Ala. – June 11, 2013 – Six drivers representing FedEx Freight placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Alabama State Truck Driving Championship in Pelham on June 6-7.

  • Dan Thompson, domiciled in Mobile, earned first place in the Twins class for the second time in three years.
  • Richard Pratt, based in Birmingham, captured the top spot in the Straight Truck class.
  • Decatur based drivers Ross Garner and William Brandon finished second in the Tank Truck and 5-Axle classes, respectively.
  • Ballard Wilson, based in Mobile, took home the second-place trophy in the Straight Truck class. He was also awarded the Rookie of the Year honor.
  • Birmingham-based Charles Staples finished third in the Flatbed class.

Thompson and Pratt 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 Alabama state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”

The Alabama 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.