Fedex to send 115 drivers to national truck driving championships

Memphis, tenn.--(business wire)--one hundred and fifteen drivers from 45 states representing the fedex corp. (nyse: fdx) operating companies will compete in the national truck driving championships (ntdc) in orlando, fla., august 9-13. each fedex driver earned the right to compete in the ntdc by qualifying at state-level truck driving championships. the american trucking associations (ata) sponsors the ntdc, which is designed to recognize industry leadership in safety and to promote professionalism among truck drivers. “at fedex, safety is a top priority in every aspect of our business,” said frederick w. smith, president, ceo and chairman, fedex corp. “this commitment is evident through the performance of the more than 1,400 fedex team members who competed in their respective state truck driving championships and of our 115 national finalists.” here are some facts about the 2011 fedex ntdc competitors: collectively, the drivers have 2,202 years of professional driving experience among them. in total, the team has safely driven nearly 125 million miles during their careers – enough to circle the globe more than 5,019 times. sixty-one of the fedex competitors have driven professionally for 20 years or more. fifty-nine of them have each accumulated at least one million miles of safe driving. eleven of them have won five or more state championships. at the ntdc, the fedex drivers will be among nearly 450 competitors who will vie 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. sean saxon, owner of berly q inc. domiciled at the fedex ground station in tempe, ariz., will be competing at his third ntdc. the reigning national champion in the step van class, he has driven professionally for five years without ever having an accident. “competing at the ntdc is like playing in the world series or super bowl,” said saxon. “winning a national title last year was my most rewarding experience as a professional driver because i competed against the safest drivers from the across the country and came out on top. it’s truly an honor to have earned the right to return to the competition again this year.” the 2011 fedex national truck driving championships team includes: kirt hartshorn ross garner martin mcdonald gary ramsey charlie salter dan thompson paul roe russ norman bob petersen sean saxon scott watts troy astrande gary martin dave mogler tony singh paul swan paul brandon tom griffin ed oakes keith towne cruz vazquez j.r. argo rick albritton rene molinary greg sams luis soto kenny davis allen sohn jeremy alt daryl barnett tim miller randy schwasinger joe carson shay gibson tony malloy dean harris don logan clifford mcconico jay miller jeff thompson janet hoard ben noschang david proctor paul book milton hebert pat rudesill xavier theriot roland bolduc rich gray bob ledoux mike woltz john clouser doug davidson mark duensing jim fisher paul butkowski chris rapsch mike hausner richard o’brien tommy boyanton randy byrd don smith erik lilleberg tom miller mike bills cecil hicks joe honek chris tande andy james lester beben jim erickson dave font louie hermida chris shaw chad stahnke christina fleury matt hart john lugo patrick nerger gragg wilson mike guanciale randy merle scott brown scott woodrome russell beachler patrick corrente larry kendall jerry lambert chris outen nick paradiso jim rud dan shamrell chuck digiovanni jerry avossa dubby freeman ray shelton tommy winston mike whitehead tony ellison dave magee james sheehan aryn pittaway tamra o’mealy mark brundage andre kazouh cass bresette chris goddard marty goodell bruce kennedy christopher novak bob hinds jim burmesch tim cole bill adkins jerry pugh in 2010, drivers representing fedex captured national champion titles in the flatbed, 3-axle, 4-axle, straight truck, twins and step van classes. in addition, fedex drivers earned six additional top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes. about fedex fedex corp. (nyse: fdx) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. with annual revenues of $39 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected fedex brand. consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, fedex inspires its more than 290,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. for more information, visit news.fedex.com.
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