Driving Champions Talk Safety

TAMPA, Fla. — The National Truck Driving Championships has a major role in promoting safety behind the wheel of tractor-trailers, according to a panel of experts assembled to kick off this year’s championship round at the Tampa Convention Center.

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Marty H. Lawson Jr., the 1998 grand champion, led off the discussion Aug. 17 by pointing out that a driver won’t be eligible if he or she has an accident during the year. NTDC rules require competitors to be “accident-free” for one year.

Those who aspire to compete in the challenge “work all week, then on our days off, we go out and practice,” he said. “We always have to be conscious of the fact that we just can’t have an accident. Even one accident, and we are out of the running.”

Lawson, who drives for Harley Davidson Transportation Co., said participation in the championships fosters an attitude that leads to safer driving.

“You don’t want to take chances,” he said. “I know I’m a different kind of driver than I was 10 years ago. My contribution to truck driving safety would be to get drivers involved in the competition.”

Mark Darling, director of safety at Oakley Transportation, Lake Wales, Fla., is 1999 chairman of the NTDC.

“Think about the direct effect,” he said. “You have about 350 or so drivers here who have all had a full year accident-free. And then there were all those who competed at the state level who had to have an accident-free year. Look at all the safe driving the championships caused to happen right there.”

For the full story, see the August 23 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.