San Diego Trucker Wins 'Super Bowl of Safety'
The American Trucking Associations said Dale L. Duncan of Con-way Freight won the 72nd annual competition over 415 other drivers.
Dale L. Duncan, a Con-way Freight truck driver, is the 2009 National Truck Driving Grand Champion, winning the 72nd annual National Truck Driving Championships held over the weekend in Pittsburgh, Pa., by the American Trucking Associations' Safety Management Council. Duncan's driving skill and knowledge of transportation and truck safety information boosted him above 415 other drivers in what ATA calls the "Super Bowl of Safety."
The organization says Duncan has logged more than 1.25 million miles during 26 accident- and injury-free years as a driver. He began competing in the National Truck Driving Championships in 1995, when he placed sixth in his division.
Duncan won the individual five-axle truck driving competition. Con-way Freight, part of San Mateo, Calif.-based Con-way Inc., sent 89 of its drivers to the championships -- the most in the company's history.
Other champions crowned in Pittsburgh were:
- Straight Truck: Robert J. Dolan, Con-way Freight (Catasauqua, Pa.)
- Three-Axle: Don Logan, FedEx Freight (Eskridge, Kan.)
- Four-Axle: Mike Stickley, Con-way Freight (Winchester, Va.)
- Sleeper Berth Class: Troy Swenson, FedEx Freight (Watertown, S.D.)
- Twins: Mark McLean, FedEx Freight (Gardiner, N.Y.)
- Flatbed Class: Mick Simpson, Family Dollar Trucking, Inc. (Rose Hill, N.C.)
- Tank Truck Class: Tony Spero, ABF Freight System (Stratford, Conn.)
- Step Van: David Thompson, FedEx Ground (Alexander, Ark.)
They competed on a course set up inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center that tested their ability to judge distances, maneuver in tight spaces, reverse, park, and position their vehicles exactly over scales, before barriers, or around curves.
"The National Truck Driving Championships showcase the industry's commitment to safety," said ATA President/CEO Bill Graves. "I applaud all the competitors for their efforts in making our highways safe and congratulate Dale for demonstrating how a dedication to safe driving skills can make you a grand champion."