NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 29, 2013 – Ten drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Tennessee State Truck Driving Championship in Nashville on April 26-27.
- Dave Magee, a driver for FedEx Freight domiciled in Dresden, captured the top spot in the Flatbed class for his fourth state title. He also earned the Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of all classes.
- James Apodaca, a driver for Apodaca Package System, Inc. stationed at the FedEx Home Delivery station in Knoxville, took home the first-place trophy in the Step Van class.
- James Sheehan, owner of Sheehan Trucking, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Nashville, finished second in the Straight Truck class. He also earned the Best Pre-Trip Inspection award.
- FedEx Freight driver Danny Huffine (Kingsport) posted second-place in the 5-Axle class.
- Caleb Nicola, a driver for Apodaca Package System, Inc. stationed at the FedEx Ground Knoxville station, and Dallas Wycoff, a driver for Specialized Rural Transportation, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Nashville, finished second and third in the Step Van class, respectively.
- FedEx Freight drivers Andy Bryant (Kingsport), Jeff Stinson (Kingsport), Ronny Hamill (Chattanooga) and Travis Young (Cookeville), posted third-place finishes in the Straight Truck, Tank Truck, Twins and 3-Axle classes, respectively.
Magee and Apodaca 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 Tennessee state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The Tennessee 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.