Course Puts Drivers’ Skills To the Test

In the finals of the National Truck Driving Championships, there are no judges saying, “Gentleman, start your engines.” There is just a walk-through of the six-problem course, followed by long waits by 27 anxious drivers who took turns showing how they were the best in their respective classes.

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Nine classes, to be precise. Three-, four- and five-axle as well as twins, sleeper berth, flatbed, auto transporter, tankers and straight trucks.

The first thing a driver does when getting into the truck during the finals is put on the seat belt, then adjust the mirrors and seat. After negotiating those tasks, things get more hairy as the contestant is given between eight and 10 minutes to navigate the six problems on the skills course.

This year’s finals featured a simulated grease pit that the truck had to straddle without knocking the two rows of tennis balls and rubber ducks marking the mock trench’s edge.

ollowing the pit came the “bullpen” problem, where drivers maneuver their rigs into a simulated dock running parallel to the street.

For the full story, see the Aug. 21 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.