National Truck Driving Championships
An accident-free driving record and safe driving practices aren’t just company goals for FedEx drivers, they’re also sport –– and a challenge from FedEx Chairman, President and CEO Fred Smith. That’s because each year, hundreds of FedEx drivers, couriers and contractors practice and study –– both on and off the job –– to compete in the "Super Bowl of Safety,” the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC). The NTDC recognize industry leadership in safety and promote professionalism among truck drivers. Drivers who have been accident-free for one year can participate in the championships that begin at the state level. Drivers who earn first-place honors in statewide championships progress to the NTDC.At the NTDC, the Team FedEx drivers compete against over 400 others for national titles in nine different classes of vehicles and for the National Grand Champion title. The drivers accumulate points by demonstrating their driving skills and knowledge of the industry through a written exam, pre-trip inspection and field test.
With twenty-four National Champions, two National Grand Champions and four ‘Rookie of the Year’ titles in the past seven years, Team FedEx has established a reputation for excellence at the NTDC. In 2003, the first year for the Chairman's Challenge, 902 drivers and contractors from FedEx operating companies competed in state-level competitions from which FedEx registered 58 state champions. In 2006, more than 1,700 drivers and contractors participated in state competitions, and FedEx sent a record 76 competitors to the NTDC. In 2007, FedEx sent 78 drivers to the National Truck Driving Championships. In 2008, 1,582 drivers and contractors participated in state TDCs from which FedEx earned 70 state champions. In 2009, the first year the Step Van class was included, 1,419 drivers and contractors participated in their state TDC, 98 were state TDC champions who moved on to compete at Nationals. This year (2010), FedEx had 1,357 drivers and contactors compete at the state TDCs, from which 115 drivers and contactors competed at the National Truck Driving Championships in Columbus, OH. FedEx drivers and contractors earned 6 National Champions out of the nine classes.
