Nation's Top Truck Drivers to Compete in Minneapolis, Aug. 7-11

July 31, 2012 10:00 AM
Elisabeth Barna 202-420-8972

ARLINGTON, Va. – 426 top professional truck drivers from across the U.S. will be heading for Minneapolis, Minn. next week for the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships, to be held August 7-11 in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The "Super Bowl of Safety" is hosted annually by American Trucking Associations. This year celebrates the 75th anniversary of the National Truck Driving Championships.

The National contestants are state champions from all 50 states. States send winners from each class of competition – from 18-wheeled five-axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers to straight trucks – eight competing classes in all with an affiliated competition for step vans. The 20th annual North American Inspectors Championship will again take place alongside the National Truck Driving Championships in Minneapolis, Aug. 6-10.

Drivers will compete for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. ATA’s Chairman Dan England, Chairman, C.R. England, Inc., will kick-off the first day of driving with the ceremonial Breakfast of Champions on Thursday. Drivers then head to the competition course, which recreates real world obstacles that drivers encounter daily, such as a rear and/or front line stop, a scales stop, a right or left turn, parallel parking, or straight line driving through a diminishing clearance. Four classes will drive Thursday and five classes will take to the obstacle course Friday. Drivers will also be tested on their ability to identify and name vehicle defects during the Pre-Trip Inspection portion of the competition, as well as through knowledge of safety, security, fire safety, first aid, and health and wellness during an hour long written exam.

When it is all over on Saturday, August 11, the U.S. will have a new Grand Champion, as well as individual champions in each class, and a state champion team. Bendix is the sponsor of the Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion award.

ATA’s National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the United States competing at company, state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 7-11 in Minneapolis, Minn. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2012 National Truck Driving Championships website. Follow NTDC next week on Facebook.

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. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It! www.trucking.org.