Eight Weeks On, Victory Still Fresh for de la Cruz
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After the final round of the “Super Bowl of Safety,” Jerome de la Cruz, or “JC,” sat with his family at the precision driving tournament’s awards banquet.
When organizers called his name, de la Cruz turned to daughter Laila in disbelief. The Alaska-based driver said he was amazed they had announced him the winner of this year’s best-in-show in the step van class at the National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
“I just hugged my daughter,” he told Transport Topics a month after his big win.
“We just looked at each other,” de la Cruz added. “And she was just so excited. I think she was more excited than I [was]. And we just couldn’t believe that I actually got called [to the stage].” Laila wasn’t the only member of the de la Cruz family cheering for their patriarch the night of Aug. 19. Heath, his son, as well as Michelle, his wife, cheered him on at the awards ceremony.
2023 National Truck Driving Championships
Competition Gallery | Awards Gallery | Qualifiers | Map of State Champions
Who: Winners from nine categories at the state level who have advanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned
What: Contestants are judged on a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving skills
When: Aug. 16-19
Where: Columbus, Ohio
“I’m still soaking it in, like, I still can’t believe I actually got the first place,” he emphasized.
Slowly and methodically, de la Cruz, a driver with FedEx Express, chipped away at the competition in the step van division.
With this year being his third visit to the national forum, he sought to embrace all elements of competition. He recalled the pre-trip vehicle inspection and written exam aspects as challenging. Yet, maneuvering the vehicle delicately and smoothly helped to pave the way for his victory run at nationals.
Practicing long hours in the Last Frontier, he has become adept at turning nearly any environment into a training venue. And the weeks leading up to NTDC, he made it a point to ramp up his training.
Getting to Know You
Name: Jerome de la Cruz
Age: 42
From: Anchorage, Alaska
Vehicle: Step van
Company: FedEx Express
NTDC appearances: 2019, 2022 (3rd place), 2023 (grand champion)
Why do you compete at NTDC? “You get to meet a lot of people. Get to know a lot of them. I think it’s a pretty awesome experience.”
Professional driving career: 18 years
Favorite food: Seafood
All-time favorite vacation: Orlando, Fla.
Something people don’t know about you: “I’m a handyman. I can do anything in the house."
“Close to the [national] competition, a few weekends we practiced [with] a few FedEx drivers,” he said.
After perfecting his skills over nearly two decades as a professional, the step van virtuoso believes the “Super Bowl of Safety” is a tool for improving competitors’ appreciation for safety. “It’s just the everyday driving that you do. Kind of pick up, you know, whatever [there] is on the road. Try to be safe,” he explained. “I think everybody’s secret is being safe. I think that’s [what it takes] to be in the NTDC or at the state level.”
American Trucking Associations, which hosted the tournament, praised de la Cruz and fellow winners.
“These drivers devote an enormous amount of time preparing for this competition, and the awards reflect the extraordinary dedication and commitment to safety that they bring to their jobs every day,” said Dan Van Alstine, chairman of ATA and president and chief operating officer of Ruan Transportation Management Systems.
“A FedEx Express team member for more than 22 years, ‘JC’ has spent the better part of 18 years behind the wheel as a courier and has logged more than 290,000 safe-driving miles,” according to background FedEx Corp. provided. The company emphasized de la Cruz helped extend its longevity at the “Super Bowl of Safety.”
“This year, FedEx had the privilege of sending a total of 156 drivers from across the country to the NTDC. With five national titles won in 2023, FedEx drivers have now earned 71 national champion, seven national grand champion, and 10 national rookie of the year titles in the past 19 years. In addition to five national champions, nine drivers were top finishers in their respective driving class at this year’s championships.” per the company.
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