Monday, June 12, 2006

NM State Truck Driving Champion

Steve Limas, of Belen, was named the best professional truck driver in New Mexico after winning the five-axle competition and receiving the highest overall score in the eight competing categories at the 2006 New Mexico State Truck Driving Championships. The annual event is sponsored by the New Mexico Trucking Association.

Limas, who works for ABF Freight System, now qualifies to compete in the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) National Truck Driving Championships August 15 - 19, 2006 in New Orleans, LA - the "Super Bowl of Safety." The winners from each of the eight categories are also eligible to compete in the national championship.

The national competition includes the individual champions from each of the 50 states. The nearly 400 top professional truck drivers will travel to New Orleans to compete in their respective classes. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers-they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers will include: an ally dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.

On Saturday night, August 19, the contestant with the most points drives away as the National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

New Mexico winners for each category included:

Joe Bernal, Jr., Fed Ex Freight, Straight Truck

Patrick Delp, Fed Ex Express, Three-Axle

Daniel Bruch, Fed Ex Freight, Four-Axle

Steve Limas, ABF Freight System, Five-Axle

Ralph Garcia, ABF Freight System, Five-Axle Sleeper

Jim Wilcox, Yellow Transportation, Tankers

Carlos Sandoval, Con-Way Freight, Flatbed

Fabian Lovato, Fed Ex Freight, Twins

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