After a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we finally got to the third weekend in May of 2022. This is when one of the KTA’s greatest events — the annual Truck Driving Championships — was held at the Kentucky Motor Speedway in Sparta, KY, with Belterra Resort being the host hotel for the awards banquet.

This year the KTA TDC Committee registered 88 professional drivers competing in nine different classes. We hope this means we are doing something right, by giving the drivers the recognition and VIP treatment they should be receiving daily for their attention to safety. These professional men and women stepped up these past two years — while most people were home with their families — to deliver the goods we use every day including PPE, pharmaceuticals, and even the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you for keeping America moving forward!

The event begins once drivers register by submitting their eligibility packets, which include an entry application, their CDL, driving history record, National TDC Form, and their entry fee. This year, we switched administrative software for the event which was a tremendous help in preparing for this event and for future competitions.

An event of this size is no weekend project; it requires the hands of many talented folks, countless hours of labor, generous donations, and companies willing to volunteer and supply well over $2 million dollars in equipment offline to allow three days for this to take place.

On that note, we want to personally extend our appreciation, gratitude, and sincere thanks to all the 2022 sponsors: M & M Cartage, UPS, FedEx Freight, Walmart, Usher Transport, Trivista, Hill Transportation Services, FedEx Ground, the Kentucky State Police — Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Louisville Metro Police Department, and Lexington Metro Police Department. Without their equipment, personnel, and monetary donations, this event simply would not have taken place.

Let the competition begin!

Friday night, all the drivers gathered in a ballroom at the Belterra Resort and Casino to review the rules and road course problems. Once completed, it was time to test the drivers’ knowledge of the 2022 Facts for Drivers.

Saturday morning, 8:30 a.m., began the “big day!” Drivers reported to the “bull-pen” area and after the course “walk-through” they settled into their “home” for the next few hours and waited to be called one by one to their respective competition courses. Drivers competed at two levels: first, each driver completed testing in the pre-trip inspection area. Next, they moved to the skills course. Following completion of the skills course, drivers were released until the banquet that evening.

Banquet and awards time! All the years’ safe driving, planning, preparation, practicing, skills, and testing came down to just one grand finale Saturday night. Drivers and their families filled the banquet hall in anticipation of winners being announced in each of the nine classes.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the family, friends and company team members in attendance on Saturday to cheer their competitors/teams to victory. A big thank you to FedEx Freight and UPS for providing and cooking lunch for all in attendance. Also, we really appreciate Bobby Covert, retired UPS, and the Kentucky Road Team for organizing a classic truck show for all to see — the vehicles were amazing!

We would also like to thank and recognize our 2022 TDC Chair Matt McHendry; FedEx Freight, Vice-Chair, Marcus Potter; UPS, and all our other committee members: Dallas Barnes, Jerry Ogle, Brian Runnels, Stewart Easter, Sgt. Jared Newberry, Tracy Stephens, Bill Wright, Justin Willard, Tristan Truesdell, and all the volunteers who stepped up to help us run and coordinate the TDC this year. Job well done by all, thank you!