CHARLESTON, W. Va. – June 18, 2013 – Ten drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 West Virginia State Truck Driving Championship in Charleston on June 15.
- Kevin Asbury, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Charleston, captured his first state title with a win in the 3-Axle class. He also took home the Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of all classes.
- Charleston-based FedEx Freight driver Jamey Priddy won his third state title after finishing first in the Step Van class.
- Vince May, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Huntington, won the Twins class for his second state title. May also received the Driver of the Year award from the West Virginia Trucking Association.
- Charleston-based FedEx Freight drivers Tom Edens and Ken Barnett finished second in the Twins and 5-Axle classes, respectively.
- Greg Brooks, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Huntington, and Stephen Estep, a driver for Straight Transportation Services Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Charleston, completed the sweep in the Step Van class with their second- and third-place finishes, respectively.
- FedEx Freight drivers Bill Adkins and Courtney Clary posted third-place finishes in the 5-Axle Sleeper and Flatbed classes, respectively. Both are based in Huntington.
- Gerald Pugh (FedEx Freight, Parkersburg) finished third in the Tank Truck class.FedEx Freight and FedEx Ground received Fleet Safety Awards.
In addition, Terry Adkins, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Huntington, was recognized with an Outstanding Driver award.
Asbury, Priddy and May 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 West Virginia state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The West Virginia 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.