Elite South Dakota Truck Drivers Set to Compete for Industry's Top Prize

ATA Welcomes State Champs to Indianapolis for National Truck Driving Championships

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Aug 03, 2016, 03:12 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Next week, American Trucking Associations is set to welcome more than 400 of the trucking industry's top professional truck drivers to Indianapolis for the 79th annual "Super Bowl of Safety," the 2016 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Championships.

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.

"The safest and most accomplished truck drivers in the country are converging on Indianapolis for what we expect to be a competitive, fun event and one that will showcase the trucking industry's number one priority - safety," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "Drivers train year round to further improve their strong safety skills in hopes of taking home top honors at the National Truck Driving Championships."

The National Truck Driving Championships open Aug. 10 with competitors registering and taking a walk-through of the driving course. From there, competitors will go on to compete in three phases of competition: a written examination testing background knowledge of rules and procedures pertinent to the trucking industry, a vehicle inspection to test competitors' ability to detect vehicle malfunctions and a driving skills test where competitors are graded on their ability to operate a truck through a series of obstacles.

Over three days, 430 competitors from all 50 states, including 34 first-time participants, representing 74 different companies will vie for honors in one of eight different classes and the title of Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion.

"These Championships are truly a win-win for both truck drivers and the motoring public," said ATA Chairman Pat Thomas, senior vice president of state government affairs with UPS Inc. "Truck drivers get a chance to demonstrate their safe-driving skills and knowledge of the industry's best practices, which they, in turn, take back to their daily work of delivering the nation's goods and safely sharing the highway with other motorists."

The competition concludes on Aug. 13 with the announcement of the Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion, along with the winners of each vehicle class and an award for the top performing state delegation.

The Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry is premiere sponsor of the 2016 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships, taking place Aug. 10-13 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

Competitors representing the state of South Dakota include:

Four-Axle: Rachel Bothwell
Five-Axle: Jeffrey Eschen
Tank Truck: Marty Kraft
Flatbed: Jay Love
Twins: James Meyer
Three-Axle: Jason Skotvold
Straight Truck: Virgil Thiewes
Sleeper Berth: Michael Whitehead

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