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National Truck Driving Championships are Aug. 15-19
By Brittani Tingle
Nearly 400 of the nation’s top professional truck drivers soon will head for New Orleans to compete in the 2006 National Truck Driving Championships, Aug. 15-19 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
The “Super Bowl of Safety,” held annually by the American Trucking Associations, attracts about 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. It is held simultaneously with the North American Inspectors Championships, the annual competition of commercial vehicle inspectors.
The trucker contestants include the state champions from all 50 states in eight different classes, including 18-wheeled five-axle sleepers, tank trucks, twin trailers and straight trucks. Collectively, the drivers represent more than 400 million accident-free miles of driving.
They will compete for four days, challenging their driving skills and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. The skills course tests drivers’ ability to judge distances, maneuver tight spaces, reverse, park, and position their vehicle exactly over scales, before barriers or around curves.
At the close of the event on Saturday, Aug. 19, a new National Grand Champion Truck Driver will be named, as well as individual class champions and a state champion team.
“The outpouring of support for New Orleans by truck drivers, their companies and their families captures the spirit of our nation,” said Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO. “Having our premier safety event in this hard-hit city demonstrates the industry’s confidence in and commitment to the city’s recovery. We encourage everyone to join us in New Orleans and experience the thrill of seeing expert driving at its best.”
Referring to the industry’s relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Cathy Gautreaux, executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, said: “From day one, the call went out for trucks, and the state trucking associations, ATA and trucking companies from all over America responded immediately. We welcome the opportunity to thank them personally in the very place they helped us so much.”
Corporate sponsors for the event include: ABF Freight System, Boeing, Con-way, Con-way Expedite, Con-way Freight, Con-way Truckload, FedEx, FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Express, FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground, FedEx Supply Chain Services, Jevic Transportation, Old Dominion Freight Line, Red Wing Shoe, Roadway Express, SwitchQuick, UPS Freight, Wal-Mart Transportation, Watkins Motor Lines and Yellow Transportation.
Other sponsors include: C & S Wholesale Services, Frito-Lay, Herzig Hauling, J.J. Keller & Associates, McKee Foods and Publix Supermarkets.
Through local dealers such as Empire Truck Sales, Idealease and Parish Truck Sales, companies providing equipment for the competition include: Freightliner, Groendyke Transport, International Truck & Engine, Mack Trucks, Utility Trailer Manufacturing, Volvo Truck North America and Wabash National. Also contributing are the state trucking associations of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.
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