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Three FedEx Drivers Earn Honors at the South Dakota Truck Driving Championship

May 14, 2012 08:29 PM


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – May 14, 2012 – Three FedEx Freight drivers placed among the top finishers at the 2012 South Dakota State Truck Driving Championship in Sioux Falls on May 12.


  • Mike Whitehead (Sioux Falls) captured the top spot in the Tank Truck class for his fifth state title. He also posted the highest scores for the written exam and pre-trip inspection portions of the competition. Mike was awarded the Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of all classes.


  • Chad Vermundson (Sioux Falls) took home the first-place trophy in the 3-Axle class. He also posted the highest score on the driving course.


  • Troy Swenson (Watertown) finished first in the 5-Axle class for his fifth state title.

The Chairman’s Challenge.


“The entire team of drivers representing FedEx is dedicated to safety. It is an integral part of everything they do,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO, FedEx Corp. “The performance of these participants at the South Dakota championship is a testament to their commitment to safety excellence.”


The South Dakota 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 test, pre-trip inspection and written examination covering vehicle operation and knowledge of federal safety regulations.


In 2011, 115 driving professionals from 45 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 Champion title in the Step Van class. In addition, FedEx drivers earned nine additional top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes.