Qualifying Underway for 80th National Truck Driving Championships

Road to Orlando Begins with State Level Competitions

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Jun 21, 2017, 08:00 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., June 21, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations congratulated qualifiers for the 2017 National Truck Driving Championships and announced key details about the special 80th running of the event.

"The trucking industry comes together every spring and summer for a series of state truck driving championships culminating in the National Truck Driving Championships," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "ATA thanks all of the drivers and companies who made the commitment to participate in the competitions and we recognize your dedication to safety."

Professional truck drivers progress from their state truck driving championships to nationals, competing in eight classes of truck, and one step van class. They undergo a written examination that tests their knowledge of trucking facts, rules, statistics and safety protocols, look for defects as part of their pre-trip inspection, and complete a difficult driving course.

The National Truck Driving Championships take place August 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Drivers compete for the title of National Champion in eight different classes, with one driver taking home the overall title of 2017 National Truck Driving Championships Bendix Grand Champion.

One driver is also awarded National Rookie of the Year. Last year's winner was Rich Merich, a 24-year-old FedEx Freight driver from Denver who went on to appear in a Transport Topics LiveOnWeb about his win and experiences as a young driver in the trucking industry.

Several states hold truck driving championships in late June and early July. For a full list of state truck driving championships' dates and locations, view the official schedule.

Last year, ATA's Share the Road highway safety program and the National Truck Driving Championships were featured on an episode of Truckerville by Transportation Nation Network. The episode pits former NTDC Five-Axle Champion Eric Ramsdell (Walmart Transportation) against host Greg Myhre and showcases the fundamental elements that go into the competition, including the pre-trip inspection, written exam and driving course.

ATA's Safety Management Council is hosting this year's National Truck Driving Championships with Premiere Sponsor ACT 1. Dozens of industry professionals serve on the National Truck Driving Championships committee and volunteer at the event. To find out more about the competition, visit the official NTDC website. ATA continues to develop relationships with key industry partners looking to promote the elite, dedicated drivers who lead the trucking workforce. Companies interested in sponsoring segments of the event and competition are invited to contact ATA and explore the 2017 NTDC sponsorship brochure.

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.

SOURCE American Trucking Associations