FedEx Freight Driver Jackie Reed from Mississippi earned the prestigious Grand Champion title

INDIANAPOLIS, 24 August 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The American Trucking Associations today announced Jackie Reeda professional driver at FedEx Freight from Mississippithe Bendix Grand Champion at the 2024 National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships.

“Jackie demonstrated the precision and professionalism we expect from NTDC champions,” said President and CEO of the American Trucking Association Chris Spear. “Although all of our competitors are champions, he separated himself even from this elite field and demonstrated the skills that have enabled him to drive three million miles without an accident in his 34-year career. Congratulations to him and to all of our NTDC competitors.”

Known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” the ATA National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships took place from 21 to 24 August here in Indianapolisin which 422 drivers from 49 states participate, totaling nearly 685 million accident-free miles.

Over the past few days, the drivers have competed in a variety of competitions that test their driving skills, industry knowledge and commitment to safety. Reed won the Bendix Grand Champion Award and took first place in the tanker class.

Reed has been a professional driver for 34 years and has accumulated three million safe driving miles. In 2022, he was named Mississippi Grand Champion in the 3-Axle category. Last year, he took second place in Mississippi 2-axle category.

In addition, ATA honored Todd Gimpela professional driver at FedEx Freight from Nebraskawith the Rookie of the Year Award 2024, and the state of Colorado was crowned team champion because he achieved the highest total score.

“On behalf of all ATA members, I would like to congratulate Jackie – and all our winners – on participating and completing another great NTDC,” said the first vice chairman of the American Trucking Association Dennis DellingerPresident and CEO of Cargo Transporters Inc. “Every year I am amazed at the passion and enthusiasm that NTDC inspires for this industry – from our state competitions to the naming of a Grand Champion. Congratulations to all the participants and thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who make this event so special.”

At the closing ceremony this evening, ATA also honored Richard Sweeney by XPO with the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award. David Wiechers of ABF Freight was selected as the recipient of the Sam Gillette Lifetime Volunteer Award.

This year’s event included driving competitions in nine vehicle classes, a vehicle inspection and a written test. A full list of award winners can be found below.

Step trolley:

1. Matthew Montandon, FedEx, Texas
2. Scott Wickstrom, FedEx, Maine
3. Travis Hutchinson, FedEx, Oregon

Straight axis:

1. James Kohr, FedEx, New York
2. Christopher Shaw, FedEx, New Mexico
3. Corey Mitchell, FedEx Freight, Louisiana

3-axle:

1. David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Colorado
2. Ritch Fundell, FedEx Freight, Illinois
3. Daniel Shamrell, FedEx Freight, Oregon

4-axle:

1. Joseph Hicks, XPO-X, Rhode Island
2. Dustin Scholle, United Parcel Service, Inc., Illinois
3. Paul Swan, FedEx Freight, Colorado

5-axle:

1. Brandon Hardy, XPO-X, Nevada
2. Eric Courville, FedEx Freight, Louisiana
3. Nick Gaudette, Fedex Freight, Colorado

Flatbed:

1. Ruben Cortes, HEB Grocery Co., Texas
2. Larry Rhine, FedEx Freight, Arkansas
3. Martin McMahon, RIST Transportation, New York

Tanker:

1. Jackie Reed, FedEx Freight, Mississippi
2. Glen Kirk, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Indiana
3. Terry Covey, FedEx Freight, Kansas

Twins:

1. Connor Dent, FedEx Freight, Wisconsin
2. Michael Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado
3. Jeffrey Cochran, FedEx Freight, Arkansas

Sleeping place:

1. Gregory Ryan, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Arizona
2. Andrew Girdley, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Missouri
3. James Dixon, A. Duie PyleInc., Connecticut

Award for vehicle condition:

• James Quarles, Walmart Transportation, LLC, South Carolina

Written exam:

• Ritch Fundell, FedEx Freight, Illinois
• Jason Damron, Convoy Systems, LLC, Kansas

State team award:

1. Colorado
2. Illinois
3. New York

The 2024 National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships have been made possible by the generous support of a number of corporate sponsors including:

Platinum:

• FedEx
• Old Dominion freight line
• Walmart Transportation
• XPO

Gold:

• A. Duie PyleInc.
• ABF Freight
• DHL
• Samsara
• UPS

Silver:

• DMC Insurance
• USDepartment of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Administration
• PITT OHIO

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the transportation industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state transportation associations and industry-related conferences and committees, the ATA is the voice of the industry America most relies on to move our nation’s freight. Follow the ATA on Twitter or Facebook. Nothing without transportation.

SOURCE: American Trucking Associations