MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 26, 2022 – Four drivers representing FedEx Corp. were recognized with top honors at the 2022 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships (NTDC/NSVDC). The champions include Roland Bolduc of FedEx Express, who earned the Bendix National Grand Champion Award.
In total, Bolduc has competed at the NTDC 17 times and won four national titles. He also won the coveted Bendix National Grand Champion Award in 2017.
The competition, which took place Aug. 16-19 in Indianapolis, is hosted each year by the American Trucking Associations and has a long history dating back to 1937, when it was known as the National Truck “Roadeo.”
Drivers qualify for the NTDC by winning their state’s truck driving championship in one of nine different classes of vehicles. They accumulate points by demonstrating their driving skills and knowledge of the industry through a written exam, pre-trip inspection, and a driving skills challenge.
This year, FedEx sent a total of 158 drivers from across the country to the NTDC. With seven National Grand Champion, 66 National Champion, and 10 National Rookie of the Year titles in the past 18 years, Team FedEx has established a reputation for excellence at the NTDC.
Individuals honored this year include:
- Roland Bolduc (East Longmeadow, Massachusetts) won the National Sleeper Berth Championship and was honored as the 2022 Bendix National Grand Champion. He was also the Connecticut Grand Champion this year. Bolduc has worked for FedEx Express for nearly 29 years and has accumulated more than 2.5 million miles without an accident during his 38-year professional driving career. He serves as president of the Connecticut Professional Driver’s Association.
- Todd Flippin (Lamar, Colorado) won the National Tank Truck Championship. The Highest Written Exam Award was also presented to Flippin, who was the only driver at this year’s NTDC to post a perfect score. In the absence of the NTDC last year, Flippin placed second in the National Battle of the States Virtual Truck Driving Championships. During his 36-year professional driving career—including 12 years with FedEx Freight—Flippin has logged more than 3.5 million safe-driving miles.
- Greg Long (Frederick, Maryland) won the National Step Van Championship. He was the 2019 National Step Van Runner-up and 2018 third-place finisher. Long has been a FedEx Express team member for 21 years and has logged more than 500,000 miles of safe driving.
- Chris Shaw (Albuquerque, New Mexico) won the National Straight Truck Championship. He was also recognized with the Vehicle Condition Award for having the best pre-trip inspection score. The 2014 National Step Van Champion and the 2022 New Mexico Grand Champion, Shaw made his 10th appearance at NTDC this year. A 29-year driver for FedEx Express, Shaw has logged nearly 1 million safe-driving miles.
- Tyler Tollefson (Fargo, North Dakota) was named the National Rookie of the Year. To compete as an NTDC rookie, a driver must be a first-time competitor at their state competition who advanced to nationals. Tollefson, a six-year driver for FedEx Freight, was the North Dakota Grand Champion and Rookie of the Year.
Along with class champions and individual award winners, nine drivers were top-three finishers in their respective driving class:
- Mike Bills, FedEx Express (Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina), 2nd Place, Straight Truck
- Eric Courville, FedEx Freight (Breaux Bridge, Louisiana), 2nd Place, Sleeper Berth
- Lalo Fernandez, FedEx Freight (Battle Ground, Washington), 2nd Place, Tank Truck
- Les Smyth, FedEx Freight (Jennings, Florida), 2nd Place, Twins
- Ray Waage, FedEx Freight (Marlboro, New York), 2nd Place Flatbed
- Jesse Benkert, owner of Aced Management Inc., a service provider contracted by FedEx Ground (Louisville, Kentucky), 3rd Place, Straight Truck
- JC de la Cruz, FedEx Express (Anchorage, Alaska), 3rd Place, Step Van
- Kenny Rageth Jr., FedEx Freight (Pine Bluffs, Wyoming), 3rd Place, Flatbed
- Dave Rohman, FedEx Express (Charlotte, North Carolina), 3rd Place, 4-Axle
Also, four drivers from FedEx were members of North Carolina’s NTDC Team Championship:
- Mike Bills, FedEx Express (Fuquay-Varina), Straight Truck
- Kevin Lackey, of Team Hamby Inc., a service provider contracted by FedEx Ground (Lincolnton), Step Van
- Basher Pierce, FedEx Freight (Sophia), 5-Axle
- Dave Rohman, FedEx Express (Charlotte), 4-Axle