Road | 288 days ago |

One hundred and thirty-seven drivers from 47 states representing FedEx Corp. operating companies will compete in the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Minneapolis, Minn., August 7-11.  This is a record number of competitors going to the NTDC for FedEx.

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.

“Our company is made up of thousands of team members that strive to keep safety as a top priority in every aspect of our business,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO, FedEx Corp.  “The performance of the more than 1,300 FedEx team members who competed in their respective state truck driving championships and of our 137 national finalists is an example of our commitment to safely share the road each day.”

Here are some facts about the 2012 FedEx NTDC competitors:

  • Collectively, the drivers have 2,783 years of professional driving experience among them.
  • In total, the team has safely driven nearly 166 million miles during their careers—enough to circle the globe more than 6,659 times.
  • Seventy-nine of the FedEx competitors have driven professionally for 20 years or more.
  • Seventy-four have each accumulated at least one million miles of safe driving.
  • Twenty-one 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.