AKRON, Ohio - Roadway Express, Inc. proudly announces that a record setting total of forty-one of its champion professional drivers in the country are on their way to compete at the 67th National Truck Driving Championships, August 18-21, 2004, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Salt Lake City Convention Center, 100 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. The National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC), known to many as the "Super Bowl of Safety," is sponsored by the American Trucking Association.
The championships are a great incentive for professional truck drivers who must be accident-free for at least one year prior to the competition. Described by drivers as being "like the Olympics," they come for the competition but revel in the camaraderie and excitement.
Both the state and national competitions include a difficult driving skills and maneuvering test, pre-trip inspections and a written examination covering vehicle operation and federal safety regulations. The ultimate skills test is the field course. It simulates actual driving conditions such as braking, parking, backing, and moving through tight spots. Drivers practice problem areas and increase their overall driving skills as they practice for the competition.
Let's congratulate this year's record setting total of forty-one state champions from Roadway on their first place wins as they head to the Nationals:
Reginald L. Ansbach - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Twins Champion
Steve Avramovic - Libertyville, Illinois - 5-Axle Champion
Robert G. Baker Jr. - Dover, Delaware - Flatbed Champion
Christopher G. Bates - Hermiston, Oregon - 4 - Axle Champion
Norman F. Blais - Saint Cloud, Minnesota - Sleeper Champion
Nick Caiola - Kearny, New Jersey - Straight Truck Champion
Mike Cicalese - Kearny, New Jersey - 3-Axle Champion
Terry A. Collenbaugh - Indianapolis, Indiana - Straight Truck Champion
Randy E. DeVault - Augusta, Maine - 3-Axle Champion
Theodore S. Dunn - Chicago Heights, Illinois - Straight Truck Champion
Kevin J. Eagon - Winston Salem, North Carolina - Tanker Champion
Kenneth R. Epley - Chicago Heights, Illinois - Tanker Champion
Donald R. Farris - Omaha, Nebraska - Twins Champion
Mark A. Flood - Saint Cloud, Minnesota - Tanker Champion
Robert K. Foster - Jackson, Mississippi - 4-Axle Champion
Randy K. Gregory - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Sleeper Champion
John G. Guttropf - Denver, Colorado - Flatbed Champion
Thomas Hartt - Nashua, New Hampshire - 4-Axle Champion
Dean L. Helget - Mankato, Minnesota - 4-Axle Champion
William (Willie) F. Holter - West Chester, Pennsylvania - Flatbed Champion
Jude M. Hurst - Louisville, Kentucky - Twins Champion
Michael Jackson - Brooklyn, New York - 3-Axle Champion
Billy W. Johnson - Detroit, Michigan - Flatbed Champion
Daryl G. Johnson - Lincoln, Nebraska - 3-Axle Champion
William J. MacDonald - Bellows Falls, Vermont - 3-Axle Champion
Henry Mahler - Ocala, Florida - 5-Axle Champion
Jeffrey T. Mefford - Cincinnati, Ohio - 3-Axle Champion
Lewis J. Metcalf - Tulsa, Oklahoma - 3-Axle Champion
Clint T. Monroe - Gadsden/Anniston, Alabama - Straight Truck Champion
Keith Powell - Dover, Delaware - 3-Axle Champion
Stephen D. Rogers - Hermiston, Oregon - Flatbed Champion
Steven J. Smith - LaCrosse, Wisconsin - Straight Truck Champion
John D. Snawder - Louisville, Kentucky - 5-Axle Champion
Steven A. Spradling - Lincoln, Nebraska - Straight Truck Champion
Lynn E. Springer - Portland, Oregon - 5 - Axle Champion
Scott A. Stroup - Omaha, Nebraska - Flatbed Champion
Scott M. Troyk - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 5 - Axle Champion
Steven K. Vollmer - St. Louis, Missouri - Straight Truck Champion
Timothy G. Walters - Grenada, Mississippi - Straight Truck Champion
Patrick J. (Rick) Wickman - Concord, New Hampshire - 3-Axle Champion
Ben W. Wilds - Portland, Oregon - Straight Truck Champion
GRAND CHAMPIONS: Reggie Ansbach (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Mike Cicalese (Kearny, New Jersey), Keith Powell (Dover, Delaware), Jeffrey T. Mefford (Cincinnati, Ohio), Rick Wickman (Concord, New Hampshire)
TEAM TROPHY WINNERS: Missouri, Wisconsin
SPORTSMANSHIP DRIVER OF THE YEAR: Steven A. Spradling (Lincoln, Nebraska)
BEST PRE-TRIP: Lynn E. Springer (Portland, Oregon)
TOP COURSE SCORE: Steven A. Spradling (Lincoln, Nebraska)
DRIVER OF THE YEAR: Rick Wickman (Concord, New Hampshire)
MR. SAFETY AWARD-HIGHEST COURSE & WRITTEN TEST SCORE: Reggie Ansbach (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
TOP "OFF COURSE" SCORE: Jeffrey T. Mettford (Cincinnati, Ohio)
These state champions deserve the highest recognition for their dedication to safety, driving skills and professionalism. The opportunity of participating in the National Truck Driving Championships is one of the highest honors a driver can receive during his or her career.
