Rick Herbert, a Yellow Transportation driver based in Illinois, is the 2005 National Truck Driving Grand Champion. Herbert’s driving skills and knowledge of transportation and truck safety information topped those of 363 other drivers from all across the United States in the National Truck Driving Championships, completed Saturday, Aug. 20 in Tampa, Fla. The annual “Super Bowl of Safety” is sponsored by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
The contestants were the state champions (in eight truck types) from all 50 states. Collectively, they have driven more than 484 million accident-free miles.
In their respective classes, they tested their expertise in the driving skills they use daily. The competition course inside the Tampa Convention Center included a scale stop, a rear line stop, a rear dock parking exercise, a measured tight right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving along a narrow path of tennis balls.
Herbert, of Villa Park, Ill., also won the individual four-axle truck driving competition. He succeeds Wayne Crowder, FedEx Freight, Louisville, Ky., as the National Grand Champion. Joining Herbert as champions in their respective classes:
- Five-Axle: Ryland Hogan, Wilson Transportation, Stuart’s Draft, Va.
- Five-Axle Sleeper: Larry Warr, Wal-Mart Transportation, LaGrange, Ga.
- Tank Truck: Michael Lomastro, Publix Supermarkets, Lake Worth, Fla.
- Three-Axle: Brent Darnold, Linde Gas, Parkersburg, W.Va.
- Twins: Darrell Kimbrell, FedEx Freight, Bessemer, Ala.
- Flatbed: Mark Church, Con-Way Southern Express, Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Straight Truck: Robert Dolan, Con-Way Central Express, Catasauqa, Penn.
The Pennsylvania state truck driving championship team won honors as the highest scoring state team.
