For NTDC Truckers, a Badge of Pride
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Preparation is an essential aspect of precision truck driving competitions. It is in the interest of both the professional driver and those who judge them to appreciate its importance at state and national contests.
As much as a competitor at the National Truck Driving Championships and the National Step Van Driving Championships might benefit from luck, preparation determines success. That is the viewpoint from the “Super Bowl of Safety’s” current chairman, Rodney Myers.
“For the average onlooker, you don’t realize the preparation and how serious those drivers take this event. I mean, it’s a badge of pride for them. But I mean, they truly take it very, very seriously,” Myers said recently about qualifying for the national safety tournament.
Myers, an executive with FedEx Freight, was most recently the NTDC’s organizing committee’s first vice chairman.
The Road to the 2023 National Truck Driving Championships
State Schedule | NTDC Qualifiers | Map of State Champions | Photo Gallery
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
“It speaks volumes for what these men and women do on a daily basis,” he said. “You know, we’re only celebrating a small number or a small percentage of the professional drivers out there.”
For the tournament itself, this year Myers is planning to enhance the audience experience as well as continue to return to a state of normalcy. Last year marked the tournament’s in-person return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By again meeting in person, Myers anticipates a display of enthusiasm from colleagues, volunteers and attendees.
“This year, everything will shift back to the normal pattern. So the competition will start on Wednesday. They’ll drive Thursday; drive Friday, and then the finals on Saturday,” Myers explained. “The award ceremony will be a little more traditional this year as well. It’ll be more of a banquet-type event.”
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About 400 women and men from a variety of firms representing their home states will qualify for an opportunity to compete at the National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships. To qualify, drivers must win in their truck class in state competitions. There are nine vehicle classes.
At the actual competition, scheduled for mid-August in Columbus, Ohio, professional drivers must accumulate points during the first two days. Points stem from an examination of federal rules and regulations, acuity during a vehicle safety inspection and their maneuvering on an obstacle course. On the third day the top five performers from each class advance to a final round.
En route to the big show, Myers encouraged competitors to remain safe and enjoy the time spent preparing. “I just want to wish everyone the best of luck, and regardless of if they place first in their class or last in their class,” he said. “That’s not what it’s about. It’s about the representation that they do on a daily basis; the service that they provide to all these carriers on a daily basis. And our impact on the industry as a whole. So good luck to everyone.”
Officials from American Trucking Associations, freight firms, and state and federal agencies are scheduled to attend nationals. Sponsors include ABF Freight, FedEx, Old Dominion Freight Line, Pitt Ohio, PrePass, Walmart, XPO, Yellow and R.B. Stewart.
