NTDC Spotlight: A. Duie Pyle
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INDIANAPOLIS — On Friday afternoon, inside Indiana Convention Center, four A. Duie Pyle drivers surrounded a 1950s-era company truck displayed on the sidelines at the 2024 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships.
After they each had wrapped up their first-round duties, the drivers explained their success was a testament to the support from their West Chester, Pa.-based company. A. Duie Pyle ranks No. 57 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
“It’s awesome. I mean, it’s great to have all these guys here. It’s a family. It really is. This whole company is a family by [A. Duie] Pyle — they take care of us.
Everybody [is] really nice; very helpful. I’ve been with them for over a decade now and I’ve never had a bad experience here,” said James Dixon, an affable commercial driver from Connecticut who advanced to the finals in the sleeper berth class.
2024 National Truck Driving Championships
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. 21-24
Where: Indianapolis
Specific to the industry’s summer forum, Dixon explained, “It’s an unbelievable event. The amount of people here, the people competing also — they’re very supportive. We’re in the dens [waiting to drive], you got people cheering for us.”
“We’re competing against each other for a national title and everybody [is] cheering for each other. It’s one huge family. It’s an unbelievable experience. I love it. It’s awesome to be here.”
Eric Cornell from Rhode Island competing in the 5-axle observed, “It’s just a pleasure to be here. … the company takes great care of us. They make us feel like royalty.”
“It’s just a lot of work [that] goes into it. You see the appreciation and then you get here and, like, everybody [is] super nice. It’s just the camaraderie. The biggest thing you can take from it is the camaraderie.”
New Jersey’s Doug Simonelli competing in 5-axle emphasized the firm’s appreciation for its team culture.
Good luck to the drivers participating in the 2024 National Truck Driving & Step Van Driving Championships!
We'll be cheering on these amazing Pyle Drivers:
Eric C. | 5 Axle Class
Jimmy D. | Sleeper Class
Sean H. | 4 Axle Class
Doug S. | 5 Axle Class#ADuiePyle #NTDC24 pic.twitter.com/SQaalfK6as — A. Duie Pyle (@ADuiePyle) August 21, 2024
“The camaraderie is awesome and it’s just great to be here with all these safe drivers; that my company puts this much effort into it, and treats us really well. .”
Sean Huckaby from Connecticut, who is competing in the 4-axle class, is the new guy of the bunch.
“They made me feel real welcome and, you know, gave me pointers to things and just an overall great feeling.”
Pete Dannecker, vice president of risk and integrated resources at A. Duie Pyle, touted his team’s exploits at the national contest.
“We can’t get over how much we respect what they do, how hard they work — how they represent all the drivers on our team. It’s exciting. It’s fun. They’re just great people,” Dannecker affirmed. “These are the best of the best in the industry. We love the fact that our guys are here right in there fighting as part of it.”
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