Twenty-three state champions, including 10 returning state winners, will represent UPS and UPS Freight at the 2009 National Truck Driving and Step Van Driving Championships in Pittsburgh next month. Together, the 23 UPS drivers have garnered 67 state championships and more than 450 years of accident-free driving.
“These safety-first drivers, a mix of veteran and relative newcomers to the competition, represent the most skilled professionals in the trucking industry,” says Phil Warren, UPS Freight vice president for community affairs. “For UPS and all competitors, the Nationals — the acknowledged ‘Super Bowl of Safety’ — represent a showcase of our industry’s top drivers.”
The 23 UPS drivers advancing to the Nationals come from 14 states and captured team titles in the state championships of four states: South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Both the state and national competitions include difficult driving skills, maneuvering tests, equipment inspections and exams covering safety policies and regulations. More than 400 drivers from across the nation will compete in Pittsburgh in nine equipment classes between Aug. 18-22.
