EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – May 21, 2013 – Twelve drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Wisconsin State Truck Driving Championship in Eau Claire on May 17-18.
- Gary Reimer, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Mauston, earned his fourth 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. Reimer also earned the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association’s Ray Newberry “Mr. Safety” Award.
- Milwaukee-based FedEx Express driver Brent Glasenapp captured his sixth state title with a win in the Straight Truck class. He also won the Best Pre-Trip Inspection award for the second straight year.
- Tom Schroeder, owner of Sunshine Transportation, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Madison, won his second consecutive Step Van title.
- FedEx Freight drivers Jim Duffy (Madison) and Duane Staveness (Mauston) captured the second-place trophies for the 4-Axle and 5-Axle classes, respectively.
- Completing the sweep in the 3-Axle class were Jim Burmesch (Milwaukee) of FedEx Express and Michael Grulkowski (Green Bay) of FedEx Freight with their second- and third-place finishes, respectively.
- Tim Cole, a driver for RJ Katzke Trucking, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Milwaukee, and Dennis Love, a driver for FedEx Express based at La Crosse, finished the sweep in the Step Van class with their second- and third-place finishes, respectively.
- Guy Frederickson, owner of G&K Delivery Services, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Oshkosh, placed third in the Straight Truck class.
- Roland Bates, an Oskosh-based driver for FedEx Freight, was third in the Twins class.
- FedEx Express driver Scott Parks (Milwaukee) finished third in the 4-Axle class.
Reimer, Glasenapp and Schroeder 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 Wisconsin state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The Wisconsin 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.