MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 27, 2016 — FedEx Corp (NYSE: FDX) operating companies will send 174 drivers from each of the 50 states to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Indianapolis August 9-13. This is the largest number of drivers that FedEx has ever sent to the national competition.
Each FedEx driver earned the right to compete in the NTDC by winning at state-level truck driving championships. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) sponsors the NTDC, which is designed to recognize industry leadership in safety and to promote professionalism among truck drivers.
“Our mission statement says that safety will be the first consideration in all our operations.” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO, FedEx Corp. “The accomplishments of these 174 finalists and the almost 2,000 drivers that competed at the state truck driving championship level serve as tremendous examples of the FedEx commitment to safety.”
Here are some facts about the 2016 FedEx NTDC competitors:
- For the first time, FedEx will be represented by drivers from all 50 states at NTDC.
- These 174 drivers have more than 3,800 years of professional driving experience and more than 230 million safe driving miles among them.
- More than 100 FedEx competitors have driven professionally for 20 years or more.
- At least 100 drivers representing FedEx have accumulated one million or more accident-free miles.
- 32 FedEx competitors have won five or more state championships.
- 13 of this year’s Team FedEx drivers have previously won national championships.
At the NTDC, the FedEx drivers will be among nearly 450 competitors who will vie for national titles in nine different classes of vehicles and for the National Grand Champion title. The drivers accumulate points by demonstrating their driving skills and knowledge of the industry through a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving-skills challenge.
The 2016 FedEx NTDC team includes:
| Driver’s Name | State | Domicile Market | Hometown | Class |
| Muku Afusia | AK | Anchorage | Anchorage, AK | 3-Axle |
| Ron Bernier | AK | Anchorage | Anchorage, AK | Step Van |
| Doug Rickel | AK | Anchorage | Anchorage, AK | Straight Truck |
| Ross Garner | AL | Decatur | Hartselle, AL | Tank Truck |
| Darrell Kimbrell | AL | Birmingham | McCalla, AL | Twins |
| Chason Norris | AL | Montgomery | Marbury, AL | Step Van |
| Tim Staples | AL | Birmingham | Pell City, AL | Flatbed |
| Dan Thompson | AL | Mobile | Spanish Fort, AL | Straight Truck |
| Tyler Brown | AR | Fayetteville | Gentry, AR | Step Van |
| Jeff Cochran | AR | Texarkana | Texarkana, TX | 4-Axle |
| Larry Rhein | AR | Harrison | Harrison, AR | Twins |
| Robin Sams | AR | Texarkana | Texarkana, AR | 3-Axle |
| Albert Ochoa | AZ | Tucson | Tuscon, AZ | 3-Axle |
| Andres Orozco | AZ | Tucson | Tucson, AZ | 4-Axle |
| Michael Ortiz | AZ | Chandler | Phoenix, AZ | Step Van |
| Charlie Woodland | AZ | North Phoenix | Surprise, AZ | Straight Truck |
| Eric Damon | CA | Monterey | Salinas, CA | Step Van |
| Eddie Guerrero | CA | Fresno | Fresno, CA | Straight Truck |
| Matthew Allison | CO | Denver | Commerce City, CO | Step Van |
| Rich Merich | CO | Denver | Lochbuie, CO | Flatbed |
| Dave Mogler | CO | Denver | Brighton, CO | Twins |
| Ralph Tibbetts | CO | Grand Junction | Grand Junction, CO | 5-Axle |
| Troy Wright | CO | Grand Junction | Grand Junction, CO | 4-Axle |
| Paul Brandon | CT | New Haven | Oxford, CT | Tank Truck |
| Glen Cooke | CT | East Hartford | Enfield, CT | Step Van |
| John Greene | CT | New Haven | Torrington, CT | 5-Axle |
| Drew Martin | CT | North Haven | West Haven, CT | Straight Truck |
| Cruz Vazquez | CT | New Haven | New Haven, CT | 4-Axle |
| Chris Jenkins | DE | Salisbury | Laurel, DE | Step Van |
| Joe McConkey | DE | Wilmington | Colora, MD | 5-Axle |
| Billy Tuell | DE | Wilmington | Elkton, MD | Twins |
| Brian Cobb | FL | Ocala | Ocala, FL | Step Van |
| Denny Johnson | FL | Tampa | San Antonio, FL | Straight Truck |
| Eddie Pennington | FL | Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | Flatbed |
| Jerry Williams | GA | Valdosta | Valdosta, GA | Twins |
| Steve Haskill | HI | Kailua Kona | Waimea, HI | Step Van |
| Chad Olson | HI | Honolulu | Mililani, HI | Straight Truck |
| Allen Sohn | IA | Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | 4-Axle |
| Scott Beal | ID | Boise | Kuna, ID | Twins |
| Randy Schwasinger | ID | Boise | Boise, ID | Step Van |
| Alan Stacy | ID | Boise | Boise, ID | Straight Truck |
| Tim Banasiak | IL | Peru | Peru, IL | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Ritch Fundell | IL | Peru | Tonica, IL | 4-Axle |
| Scott Hepner | IL | Chicago | Bartlett, IL | Tank Truck |
| Jimmy Wilson | IL | Effingham | Effingham, IL | Step Van |
| Bruce Schwering | IN | Indianapolis | St. Paul, IN | 5-Axle |
| Tim Helus | KS | Wichita | Buhler, KS | Twins |
| Richie Johnson | KS | Kansas City | Olathe, KS | Step Van |
| Don Logan | KS | Topeka | Eskridge, KS | Flatbed |
| Doug Adams | KY | Hebron | Hebron, KY | 3-Axle |
| Jesse Benkert | KY | Louisville | Louisville, KY | Straight Truck |
| Mark Campbell | KY | Hebron | Milford, OH | Tank Truck |
| John Willinger | KY | Louisville | Louisville, KY | 4-Axle |
| Joey Brown | LA | Baton Rouge | Zachary, LA | 3-Axle |
| Eric Courville | LA | Lafayette | Breaux Bridge, LA | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Cheramie Courville-Finnan | LA | Lafayette | Breaux Bridge, LA | Step Van |
| Mark Judson | LA | Lafayette | Maurice, LA | Twins |
| Corey Mitchell | LA | Shreveport | Shreveport, LA | Straight Truck |
| Kyle Mitchell | LA | Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA | Tank Truck |
| Xavier Theriot | LA | Shreveport | Shreveport, LA | 4-Axle |
| Roland Bolduc | MA | Windsor, CT | Longmeadow, MA | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Bill Colantuone | MA | Raynham | Norton, MA | Straight Truck |
| Bob Ledoux | MA | Raynham | Swansea, MA | Step Van |
| T.D. Dawson | MD | Crofton | Glen Burnie, MD | Step Van |
| Chester Masser | MD | Hagerstown | Hagerstown, MD | Flatbed |
| Scott Wickstrom | ME | Bangor | Bangor, ME | Step Van |
| Dan Badalamente | MI | Warren | Clinton Township, MI | Flatbed |
| Rick Bailey | MI | Warren | Macomb, MI | Straight Truck |
| John Clouser | MI | Fremont | Concord, MI | 3-Axle |
| Ron Metternick | MI | Grand Rapids | Lowell, MI | 4-Axle |
| Reggie Copeland | MN | Minneapolis / St. Paul | Brooklyn Park, MN | 3-Axle |
| Rob Janke | MN | Minneapolis / St. Paul | Blaine, MN | 4-Axle |
| Steve Orr | MN | Roseville | Minnetonka, MN | Step Van |
| Bill Pudney | MN | Roseville | Minneapolis, MN | Straight Truck |
| Jason Budd | MO | Springfield | Nixa, MO | Twins |
| Steve Campbell | MO | Joplin | Webb City, MO | Step Van |
| Jim Houghton | MO | Kansas City | Gower, MO | Straight Truck |
| Gary Cumberland | MS | Jackson | Flora, MS | 4-Axle |
| Bobby Lane | MS | Jackson | Clinton, MS | 3-Axle |
| James McNeill | MS | Northeast Memphis | Olive Branch, MS | Twins |
| Don Smith | MS | Tupelo | Tupelo, MS | Step Van |
| John Smith, Jr. | MS | Tupelo | Mooreville, MS | Tank Truck |
| Tracey James | MT | Helena | Helena, WA | Step Van |
| Tom Miller | MT | Billings | Billings, MT | Twins |
| Russ Smith | MT | Missoula | Alberton, MT | 3-Axle |
| Rich Wayman | MT | Billings | Billings, MT | Straight Truck |
| Gus Kern | NC | Concord | Mooresville, NC | Step Van |
| Harry Leonard | NC | Greensboro | Winston-Salem, NC | Straight Truck |
| Chris Spurlin | NC | Asheville | Fletcher, NC | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Rick Hartleib | ND | Minot | Minot, ND | Straight Truck |
| Rob Nygaard | ND | Fargo/Moorhead | Fargo, ND | 4-Axle |
| Dan Nygord | ND | Grand Forks | Grand Forks, ND | Step Van |
| Chris Scholand | ND | Fargo/Moorhead | West Fargo, ND | 5-Axle |
| Toby Kort | NE | Aurora | Aurora, NE | 5-Axle |
| Adam Stroup | NE | Omaha | Council Bluffs, IA | Step Van |
| Robert Fair | NH | Belmont | Sanbornton, NH | 4-Axle |
| Paul McNutt | NH | Londonderry | Nashua, NH | Straight Truck |
| Charles Putnam | NH | Londonderry | Manchester, NH | Step Van |
| Norman Sullivan | NH | Londonderry | Londonderry, NH | Flatbed |
| Les Beben | NJ | South Brunswick | Parlin, NJ | 4-Axle |
| Jorge Cardoza | NJ | Newark | Elizabeth, NJ | Straight Truck |
| Carlos Chavarriaga | NJ | South Newark | Elizabeth, NJ | Tank Truck |
| Omar Gonzalez | NJ | Cinnaminson | Pennsauken, NJ | 5-Axle |
| Artur Lesniowski | NJ | Moonachie | Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | Flatbed |
| Elvin Ortiz | NJ | Moonachie | Dumont, NJ | Step Van |
| Joe White | NJ | Newark | Keansburg, NJ | Twins |
| Dan Bruch | NM | Albuquerque | Alburquerque, NM | 5-Axle |
| Isac Chavolla | NM | Albuquerque | Tijeras, NM | Step Van |
| Dion Saiz | NM | Albuquerque | Alburquerque, NM | 3-Axle |
| Ray Sandoval | NM | Albuquerque | Alburquerque, NM | Twins |
| Chris Shaw | NM | Albuquerque | Alburquerque, NM | Straight Truck |
| Greg Combs | NV | Las Vegas | North Las Vegas, NV | Step Van |
| Bob Fini | NV | Las Vegas | Henderson, NV | Straight Truck |
| Matt Hart | NV | Elko | Elko, NV | 3-Axle |
| Patrick Nerger | NV | Reno | Sparks, NV | 5-Axle |
| Craig Poupeney | NV | Reno | Fernley, NV | Flatbed |
| Jeff Evans | NY | Syracuse | Pennellville, NY | Step Van |
| Jim Kohr | NY | Rochester | North Chili, NY | 5-Axle |
| David Watson | NY | Newburgh | Glen Spey, NY | Tank Truck |
| Brett Brunkenhoefer | OH | Youngstown | Youngstown, OH | 3-Axle |
| Bryan Elges | OH | Youngstown | Ashland, OH | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Andrew Tuck | OH | Dayton | Xenia, OH | Straight Truck |
| Scott Woodrome | OH | Dayton | Middletown, OH | Flatbed |
| Curtis Harpole | OK | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK | Step Van |
| Larry Kendall | OK | Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | 5-Axle |
| Roscoe Purvis | OK | Oklahoma City | Jones, OK | Tank Truck |
| Randy Crafts | OR | Medford | Central Point, OR | Tank Truck |
| Curt Davis | OR | Portland | Gresham, OR | 3-Axle |
| Lalo Fernandez | OR | Portland | Battle Ground, WA | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Brad Lester | OR | Portland | Happy Valley, OR | Flatbed |
| Chris Outen | OR | Portland | Vancouver, WA | Straight Truck |
| Ryan Schmutzer | OR | Portland | Beaverton, OR | Step Van |
| Dave Siemer | OR | Medford | Grants Pass, OR | Twins |
| Sal Vincelli | PA | Allentown | Bethlehem, PA | Step Van |
| Rob Burdett | RI | Providence | North Attleborough, MA | Twins |
| David Lumpkin | RI | Warwick | Hopkinton, RI | Straight Truck |
| Karen Tierney | RI | Warwick | Blackstone, MA | 3-Axle |
| Keith Towne | RI | Warwick | Charlestown, RI | Step Van |
| Eddie Days | SC | Hilton Head Island | Bluffton, SC | Step Van |
| Ray Shelton | SC | Greenville / Spartanburg | Simpsonville, SC | Flatbed |
| Steve Ward | SC | Greer | Woodruff, SC | 4-Axle |
| Rachel Bothwell | SD | Rapid City | Rapid City, SD | 4-Axle |
| Marty Kraft | SD | Rapid City | Rapid City, SD | Tank Truck |
| Jay Love | SD | Sioux Falls | Davis, SD | Flatbed |
| Jason Skotvold | SD | Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls, SD | 3-Axle |
| Virgil Thiewes | SD | Watertown | Goodwin, SD | Straight Truck |
| Mke Whitehead | SD | Sioux Falls | Lennox, SD | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Jeff Barton | TN | Nashville | Mount Juliet, TN | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| James Sheehan | TN | Nashville | Hendersonville, TN | Step Van |
| Jamie Sowder | TN | Jackson | Toone, TN | Flatbed |
| Jeff Stinson | TN | Kingsport | Blountville, TN | Tank Truck |
| Ignacio Rodriguez | TX | Spring | Houston, TX | Step Van |
| Manny Trevino | TX | Harlingen | San Benito, TX | Twins |
| Lonnie Christensen | UT | Hurricane | Toquerville, UT | Straight Truck |
| Steven Clark | UT | Salt Lake City | Bountiful, UT | 3-Axle |
| Mike Kelly | UT | Salt Lake City | Draper, UT | Twins |
| Shawn Marshall | UT | Provo | American Fork, UT | Step Van |
| Glenn Springer | UT | Salt Lake City | Lehi, UT | 4-Axle |
| Daniel Woods | VA | Christiansburg | Shawsville, VA | Step Van |
| Jason Caron | VT | Bellows Falls | Bellows Falls, VT | 4-Axle |
| Jeremiah Jarvis | VT | Montpelier | Chelsea, VT | Twins |
| Chuck Killian | VT | St. Johnsbury | Passumpsic, VT | Straight Truck |
| Christopher Novak | VT | Williston | Williston, VT | 5-Axle |
| Chris Hemming | WA | Tacoma | Tacoma, WA | Straight Truck |
| Cedric Pack | WA | Seattle | Puyallup, WA | 3-Axle |
| Darrell Shelton | WA | Pasco | Richland, WA | 4-Axle |
| Vic Skoglund | WA | Everett | Monroe, WA | Tank Truck |
| John White | WA | Seattle | Duvall, WA | 5-Axle Sleeper |
| Brent Glasenapp | WI | Milwaukee | Franklin, WI | Straight Truck |
| Jamey Priddy | WV | Charleston | Charleston, WV | Twins |
| Franklin Vance | WV | Charleston | Chapmanville, WV | Step Van |
| Derek Gorrell | WY | Rock Springs | Fort Bridger, WY | Straight Truck |
| Al MacDonald | WY | Casper | Powell, WY | Step Van |
| Chris Prior | WY | Wamsutter | Greeley, CO | Flatbed |
In 2015, 151 driving professionals from 48 states representing FedEx Express, FedEx Freight and FedEx Ground qualified to compete at the NTDC by winning their respective state’s competition and driving accident-free for at least one year. Five drivers representing FedEx captured National Champion titles. In addition, a FedEx Freight driver was named National Rookie of the Year and nine other FedEx drivers earned top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes. With 40 National Champion, three National Grand Champion and five Rookie of the Year titles in the past 13 years, Team FedEx has established a reputation for excellence at the NTDC.