The annual Truck Driving Championships (TDC) was held at FedEx Freight and the Downtown Lexington Hilton as the host hotel for the awards banquet. This year the KTA TDC Committee registered 109 professional drivers competing in nine different classes. This competition hopes to give the drivers the recognition and VIP treatment they should be receiving daily for their attention to safety. Whether it’s through delivering essentials or through aiding in business operations, there truly is nothing without trucking. Thank you to every driver out there!

The event began once drivers registered by submitting their eligibility packets, which included an entry application, their CDL, driving history record, National TDC Form and their entry fee. An event of this size was no weekend project; it required the hands of many talented folks, countless hours of labor, generous donations and companies willing to volunteer and supply well over $2 million in equipment offline for three days for this event to take place. On that note, we want to personally extend our appreciation, gratitude and sincere thanks to all the 2024 sponsors:

• United Parcel Service
• FedEx Freight
• M&M Cartage
• Key Oil Company
• Walmart
• Great West Casualty Company
• Trucksafe
• Usher Transport Inc.
• Ascendence Truck Centers
• Marvin Johnson and Associates and Hill Transportation Services Inc.
• The Kentucky State Police — Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
• Other law enforcement agencies

Without their equipment, personnel and monetary donations, this event simply would not have been able to take place.

Let the competition begin! Friday night, all the drivers gathered in a ballroom at the Downtown Lexington Hilton to go over the rules and review the road course problems. Once this was completed, then it was time to test the drivers’ knowledge of the 2024 Facts for Drivers.

When Saturday hit, it was time for the big day of the competition, where drivers got to show off their skills. Drivers reported to the “bullpen” area, and after the course “walk-through,” the drivers settled into their homes for the next few hours, waiting to be called one by one to their respective competition courses. Drivers competed at two levels. First, each driver had to complete testing in the pre-trip inspection area. Next, drivers moved to the skills course. Following completion of the skills course, drivers were released until the banquet on Saturday night.

We would also like to extend a huge thank you to all the family, friends and company team members that were in attendance on Saturday to cheer their competitor/team to victory. A big thank you to FedEx Freight, UPS and Walmart for providing and cooking lunch for all in attendance.

All the years of safe driving, planning, preparation, practicing, skills and testing came down to just one grand finale on 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 thank and recognize our 2024 TDC co-chairs, Mr. Matt McHendry with FedEx Freight and Marcus Potter with UPS, along with our core committee members: Dallas Barnes, Jerry Ogle, Wayne Andrews, Cam Johnson, Brian Runnels, Stewart Easter, Sgt. Jared Newberry, Officer Corey Payton, Tracy Stephens, Justin Willard, Chris McKnight, Bill Koopman, Jim Murphy and Bill Wright.

Additionally, we would like to thank ALL of the volunteers who stepped up to help us run and coordinate the TDC this year. This included, but was certainly not limited to: Tristan Truesdell, Hillary Truesdell, Kevin Augustyne, Vince May, Don Logan, Willie Baylor, Mike Smith, Mike Kelly, Jeff Stinson, Jeremy Morrill, Dylan West, David Murphy, Tim Murphy and Allison Smith.