Balancing Work, Family Key for California Grand Champion Steve Hutton
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Steve Hutton of Walmart Transportation first started driving at 23 to support his family. Sixteen years later, the job has become not just a source of income, but a rewarding career.
“I was a young father,” Hutton said. “I needed a good, steady income to raise my family. I saw the growth potential in the trucking industry and the possibility to make a steady income, and so that’s how I ended up here.”
Hutton, now 39, lives in Yuba City, Calif. with his wife and two daughters. On May 19, he claimed the title of Grand Champion at the California Truck Driving Championships, scoring 411 points in the Flatbed division. The competition was held at the FedEx Facility in West Sacramento.
To qualify for the state competition, drivers had to first make it through regionals. Almost 800 drivers competed in regional championships for Southern and Northern California. The Southern California Championships were April 27 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, and the Northern California Championships were May 18, just one day before the State competition.
The 2019 National Truck Driving Championships
Qualifiers | Map | Photos | Video
Who: Winners from nine categories at the state level have advanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned
What: Contestants are judged on a written examination and their driving skills
When: Aug. 14-17
Where: Pittsburgh
Hutton competed in the Northern regional category for the state, scoring 295 points out of a possible 300 on the driving portion.
“It was truly a record-setting weekend for me,” Hutton said. “I was just a couple inches away from putting up a perfect score, which is yet to be done. I was so close.”
Hutton has been competing in the California Truck Driving Championships since 2016. That year, he won Rookie of the Year and placed first in the Flatbed category, giving him the opportunity to attend the National Truck Driving Championships in Indianapolis. This year, Hutton is focusing on studying for the written portion of the competition in preparation for nationals, which will be held in Pittsburgh on Aug. 14-17.
“It’s just about keeping my nose in the book,” he said. “At that level, it can really come down to a few points between winning and not winning. The line between making it and not making it to the following part of the competition is very tight. Every point counts.”
CALIFORNIA ARCHIVE PAGE: Previews, recaps and more
The competition is divided into three sections: a written portion, a pre-trip inspection and a driving skills test.
“Driving we do on a daily basis,” Hutton said. “Studying for a written test is not something that falls into the normal part of my job, and so to prepare for that part is probably the biggest challenge of the three-part competition.”
Hutton’s wife, Nickie, and his two daughters, Dakota and Kelsey, attended the championships. His family is very supportive of his career as a driver, although it sometimes prevents him from spending time with them.
“The biggest challenge for me with this job is being away from home for nights and sometimes over a week at a time,” Hutton said. “I’ve never had a problem staying safe and maintaining a good driving and safety record. The real challenge is juggling a family and a home life along with this career.”
All competitors moving on to nationals:
- 3-Axle: Carlos Montoya, Reddaway
- 4-Axle: Jose A. Villela, Old Dominion Freight Line
- 5-Axle: Gary Laugen, Safeway
- Flatbed: Steve Hutton, Walmart Transportation
- Sleeper Berth: Kurt Tanneberg, Walmart Transportation
- Straight Truck: Marcos Reyes, FedEx Freight
- Tank Truck: Richard Prescott, Walmart Transportation
- Twins: Robert Campos, Reddaway
- Step Van: Cha Xiong, FedEx Ground
