All Roads Lead to Indianapolis for Nation's Top Professional Truck Drivers

ATA Hosts 79th Annual National Truck Driving Championships

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Aug 08, 2016, 05:00 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This week, American Trucking Associations is set to host the 79th annual National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships, taking place Aug. 10-13 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.Trucking Moves America Forward.

"Indianapolis has a prolific history of welcoming major motor sport events, so we are excited to reintroduce our industry and top drivers to the city this week," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "The entire trucking industry is looking forward to seeing a fun, intense competition between hundreds of the nation's safest and most dedicated professional truck drivers.

"These drivers collectively have driven more than 630 million accident-free miles," he said. "Their dedication to safety and professionalism has earned them the chance to compete, not at the famed Brickyard, but for a title just as prestigious - 2016 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion."

The National Truck Driving Championships feature more than 430 professional truck drivers from all 50 states. Drivers compete in one of eight different classes for top honors and the chance to be named the 2016 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion. The competition includes three phases of challenges: a pre-trip inspection, a written examination and the driving course where participants navigate obstacles and tight turns.

The event is open to the public and free to attend.

"Safety is our industry's calling card and these men and women are the leaders in their field," said ATA Chairman Pat Thomas, senior vice president of state government affairs for UPS."Watching these professional drivers compete and strive for excellence is an impressive sight and one that gives me confidence that our safety focus reaches all parts of the country and all sectors of the industry."

The competition begins Aug. 10 with registration and the course walk-through, where drivers will get their first glance at the obstacles and begin to plan their driving approach. The following morning, festivities resume with the Breakfast of Champions and the first day of challenges.

Competition concludes Aug. 13 with the crowning of the 2016 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion, as well as with awards for drivers in every vehicle class and for the top state delegation.

Since 2011, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has been the sole sponsor of the Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.

ACT 1 is a premier sponsor of the 2016 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships.

For a preview of what the NTDC is all about, watch these highlights from last year's event in St. Louis.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward.

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations