GULPORT, Miss. – April 29, 2013 – Nine drivers representing FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2013 Mississippi State Truck Driving Championship in Gulfport on April 27.
- Jason Matte, a FedEx Freight driver based in Jackson, captured the top spot in the Tank Truck class for the second consecutive year for his fifth state title. Matte was the 2012 second-place finisher at the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in the same class and the 2010 National Champion in the 4-Axle class.
- Don Smith, owner of S&S Delivery Service Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Tupelo, earned first-place in the Step Van class for his second state title.
- FedEx Freight driver Danny Mackey (Tupelo) posted first place in the Twins class.
- Kenneth Neal, a driver for Quality Enterprises, Inc., based at the FedEx Ground station in Olive Branch, captured the first-place trophy in the 5-Axle class.
- FedEx Freight driver Tommy Boyanton (Jackson) finished second in the 5-Axle Sleeper class.
- Barbara Morris, a driver for Chism Transportation Inc. operating out of the FedEx Ground hub in Olive Branch, placed second in the 4-Axle class.
- Rus Wilson, a driver for B&C Massengale, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground station in Hattiesburg, took second place in the Step Van class.
- Jerry Robinette, a driver for FedEx Express based in Pearl, was third in the 5-Axle Sleeper class.
- Travis Crane, a driver for Wayne Young, Inc. based at the FedEx Ground hub in Olive Branch, finished third in the 5-Axle class.
Matte, Smith, Mackey and Neal will go on to compete at the American Trucking Associations’ 2013 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 Mississippi state championship demonstrates the dedication to safety of our entire team.”
The Mississippi 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.