Drivers Representing FedEx Take Home Top Honors at the 2024 National Truck Driving Championships
FedEx Freight’s Jackie Reed named Bendix NTDC Grand Champion
MEMPHIS, Tenn., October 4, 2024 /3BL/ - FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announced that five drivers representing the global transportation company were recognized with top honors at the 2024 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) and National Step Van Driving Championships (NSVDC) held Aug. 21-24 in Indianapolis.
FedEx Freight driver Jackie Reed (Hattiesburg, Miss.) won the Tank Truck class and took home the Bendix NTDC Grand Champion Award for the best overall performance by a competitor.
At the NTDC, drivers completed a written examination that covered material found in the American Trucking Associations’ Facts for Drivers book, were scored on a pre-trip inspection of equipment, and collected points for their skills on a driving course. To be eligible to compete at the state level to qualify and advance to Nationals, competitors had to be accident-free for at least one year prior to the championships.
In addition to winning five National Championships, FedEx had 18 total top-three finishes at this year’s championships, representing two-thirds of the driving class awards.
“At FedEx, Safety Above All is one of our founding principles and our greatest priority,” said John A. Smith, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. and Canada Ground Operations at FedEx. “I couldn’t be prouder of the achievements of the FedEx team at this year’s National Championships.”
FedEx has established a reputation for excellence at the NTDC and this year had the privilege of sending a total of 167 drivers from across the country to the championships. Collectively, the team represented 610 state titles, nearly 4,000 years of professional driving experience, and 280 million safe-driving miles.
Drivers who won their respective classes include:
· Connor Dent (Mauston, Wis.) won the Twins National Championship after qualifying for his first NTDC. Dent has accumulated more than 260,000 safe-driving miles during his nearly three years as a professional driver with FedEx Freight.
· James Kohr (Rochester, N.Y.) won the Straight Truck National Championship. A nine-time state champion and national qualifier, Kohr has accumulated 1.55 million accident-free miles during his 38 years of professional driving for Federal Express Corporation.
· Dave Mogler (Denver, Colo.) won the 3-Axle National Championship, marking his second national title. He was also the 2015 National Twins Champion. He has now finished in the top five in his class eight times in 18 years competing at NTDC. A 37-year team member with FedEx Freight, Mogler has logged more than 4.9 million safe-driving miles during his 42-year career.
· Logan Montandon (Tyler, Texas) won the Step Van National Championship driving for contracted service provider Grant Leigh Services Inc. Montandon was also the 2024 Texas Grand Champion. He has logged more than 50,000 safe-driving miles in four years providing service to FedEx.
· Reed won the Tank Truck National Championship in his third appearance at NTDC. He was the 2022 Mississippi Grand Champion. Reed is a 34-year professional driver who has logged more than three million miles without an accident. He’s been a FedEx Freight team member for 32 years.
“Jackie demonstrated the precision and professionalism we have come to expect from NTDC champions,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “While all our competitors are champions, he separated himself from even this elite field, showing the skills that have produced three million miles of accident-free driving over his 34-year career. Congratulations to him and to all our NTDC participants.”
In addition to five national champions, 13 drivers representing FedEx were top finishers in their respective driving class at this year’s championships:
· Jeff Cochran, FedEx Freight (Texarkana, Ark.), 3rd Place, Twins
· Eric Courville, FedEx Freight (Lafayette, La.), 2nd Place, 5-Axle
· Terry Covey, FedEx Freight (Wichita, Kan.), 3rd Place, Tank Truck
· Todd Flippin, FedEx Freight (Springfield, Colo.), 2nd Place, Twins
· Ritch Fundell, FedEx Freight (Joliet, Ill.), 2nd Place, 3-Axle and Highest Score on the Written Exam (tie)
· Nick Gaudette, FedEx Freight (Denver), 3rd Place, 5-Axle
· Travis Hutchinson, Service Provider, Blazer Blue Logistics Inc. (Sherwood, Ore.), 3rd Place, Step Van
· Corey Mitchell, FedEx Freight (Shreveport, La.), 3rd Place, Straight Truck
· Larry Rhein, FedEx Freight (Harrison, Ark.), 2nd Place, Flatbed
· Dan Shamrell, FedEx Freight (Portland, Ore.), 3rd Place,3-Axle
· Chris Shaw, Federal Express Corporation (Albuquerque, N.M.), 2nd Place, Straight Truck
· Paul Swan, FedEx Freight (Denver), 3rd Place, 4-Axle
· Scott Wickstrom, Federal Express Corporation (Bangor, Maine), 2nd Place, Step Van
Competing in the Twins Class, FedEx Freight Driver Todd Gimpel (Aurora, Neb.) was named the National Rookie of the Year.
Also, seven drivers from FedEx were members of Colorado’s Team Champions:
· Dutch Burch, FedEx Freight (Denver), Tank Truck
· Todd Flippin
· Nick Gaudette
· Brian Hoy, FedEx Freight (Denver), Step Van
· Dave Mogler
· Tyler Rogers, FedEx Freight (Grand Junction), Sleeper Berth
· Paul Swan
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenue of $88 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions utilizing its flexible, efficient, and intelligent global network. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.
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