Festus Resident is State Truck Driving Champion
Eight Drivers Continue on to National Competition
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Aug. 13 / -- Lawrence O'Neal, of Festus, was named the best professional truck driver in Missouri after winning the twins competition and receiving the highest overall score in the eight competing categories at the 2008 Missouri Truck Driving Championships. The annual event is sponsored by the Missouri Motor Carriers Association.
O'Neal, who drives for FedEx National LTL, now qualifies to compete in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships August 19-23, 2008 in Houston, Texas -- also known as the "Super Bowl of Safety." The winners from each of the seven other categories are also eligible to compete in the national championship.
Nearly 400 drivers from all 50 states will compete in Houston for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers--they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers will include: an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.
On Saturday night, August 23, one contestant will drive away as the 2008 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.
"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's dedication to safety," said Missouri Motor Carriers Association President & CEO Tom Crawford. "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Missouri roots for our drivers as they move on to Nationals in Houston."
Missouri winners for each category included:
Jeramy Riggs, Yellow Transportation, Warrensburg, Mo. (Straight Truck)
John Barney, FedEx, O'Fallon, Mo. (Three-Axle)
Michael Gandee, Prime, Inc., Lardington, Ohio (Four-Axle)
Paul Baumhoer, Wal-Mart Transportation, Koeltztown, Mo. (Five-Axle)
Rick Hopwood, Wal-Mart Transportation, Donnellson, Ill. (Five-Axle Sleeper)
Duane Grimme, Prime, Inc., Satsuma, Fla. (Tankers)
Mitchell Stegner, Roadway, Pilot Grove, Mo. (Flatbed)
Lawrence O'Neal, FedEx National LTL, Festus, Mo. (Twins)
ATA's Truck Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the nation competing at state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 19-23 in Houston, Texas. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2008 National Truck Driving Championships website: truckline.com/aboutata/ntdc/2008
The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.
The American Trucking Associations leads the effort for safer highways, focusing on greater education, enforcement and enhancement of traffic safety laws for all drivers. ATA also supports slowing down traffic through a reinstatement of a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph for all vehicles and limiting truck speeds at the time of manufacture. www.truckline.com
CONTACT: Eric Reller of ATA, +1-703-838-1896
