Five FedEx drivers earn honors at the National Truck Driving Championships

MEMPHIS , Tenn. —Aug. 22, 2005—Five drivers representing FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2005 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Tampa August 16-20. The five driving professionals, who each earned the right to compete in the NTDC by capturing first-place honors in state-level truck driving championships, competed against nearly 400 others for national titles in eight different classes of vehicles.

Darrell Kimbrell, a 12-year FedEx Freight driver from Birmingham , Ala. , earned the title of National Champion in the Twins class. Kimbrell has accumulated more than a million accident-free miles during his 24-year driving career.

Additionally, four other FedEx drivers finished among the top three in their respective classes:

• Louisville, Ky.-based FedEx Freight Driver Wayne Crowder, the 2004 National Grand Champion, placed second in the Flatbed class.
• Don Nehring, a contractor for FedEx Ground domiciled in Memphis , was third place in the Straight Truck class.
• Steve Thordarson, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Fargo , N.D. , took third place in the 4-Axle class.
• FedEx Freight Driver Thomas Winston, based in Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C., finished third in the Tank Truck class.

“The honors achieved by Darrell, Wayne, Don, Steve and Tommy exemplify the superior level of professionalism and dedication that our 76,000-plus drivers, couriers and contractors bring to every delivery, every day,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Corp. “In addition, the performance of the entire FedEx team at the NTDC reflects our collective ongoing commitment to the safety of our driving force and the motoring public.”

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) sponsors the annual championships, known as the “Super Bowl of Safety.” A record 68 professional drivers from 35 states representing FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground, FedEx Express and FedEx Custom Critical competed at the national event by winning their respective state’s competition and driving accident-free for at least one year. Each driver was required to demonstrate his driving skills and knowledge of the industry through a series of tests, including written and oral examinations, a vehicle pre-trip inspection test and a driving-skills test.

In addition to industry-wide recognition, the five FedEx drivers who earned first-, second- and third-place finishes at the national championships are eligible for a variety of awards through the FedEx Corp. safe driving initiative, The Chairman’s Challenge. This program provides the corporation with an opportunity to further reward drivers for their commitment to safety.

About FedEx

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $29 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 250,000 employees and contractors to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit fedex.com.