15 ABF Drivers Bound for ATA National Truck Driving Championship

ABF Freight System, Inc., is sending 15 professional truck drivers from 10 states to the 69th National Truck Driving Championships, August 15-19, 2006, in New Orleans. Drivers earn the right to compete in the National Championships by winning state driving championships and by maintaining an accident-free driving record for the past year.

"ABF's excellent reputation for safety and security, backed by an unmatched number of industry awards, comes directly from outstanding employees, like these championship drivers," says ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Davidson. "Behind the wheel, on the dock, in the office, or wherever duty calls, ABF employees are committed to adding value to our customers' supply chain by maintaining the highest performance standards."

Known informally as the "Super Bowl of Safety," the annual event is sponsored by the Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council of the American Trucking Associations to promote driving safety among the nation's three million professional truck drivers. Competitive divisions include straight truck, three-axle, four-axle, five-axle, tank truck, flatbed, five-axle sleeper, twins and auto transporter. The comprehensive competitions include a written examination, personal interview, pre-trip inspection and a driving skills test.

ABF's state champions, including three repeat winners from 2005 and two Grand Champions, are:

Chris Blandford Kentucky Flatbed

Larry Burney Wyoming Tank

Ralph Garcia* New Mexico Sleeper

Paul Good Indiana Five-axle

John Heckman Kentucky Twins

Don Herzog Massachusetts Four-axle

A J Kelly Wyoming Twin

Patrick Leary Minnesota Four-axle

Steve Limas New Mexico Five-axle

Gary Mason Wyoming Five-axle

Nate McCarty* Wyoming Straight

Robert Redding Oklahoma Straight

Dwight Sall Nebraska Three-axle

David Schmuecher Illinois Twins

Tony Spero* Connecticut Flatbed

Steve Limas and Nate McCarty are Grand Champions, each scoring the highest of all drivers in their state championship. An asterisk (*) denotes repeat winners from 2005 state championships.