Arizona Crowns State Truck Driving Champion

Nine Drivers Continue on to National Competition

Gregory Nauertz, of Peoria, was named the best professional truck driver in Arizona after winning the five axle competition and receiving the highest overall score in the nine competing categories at the 2009 Arizona Truck Driving Championships. The annual event is sponsored by the Arizona Trucking Association.

Nauertz, who drives for YRC Worldwide, now qualifies to compete in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships August 18-22, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Penn. -- also known as the "Super Bowl of Safety." The winners from each of the eight other categories are also eligible to compete in the national championship.

Nearly 400 drivers from all 50 states will compete in Pittsburgh for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to double trailers -- they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers may include: an alley 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 22, one contestant will drive away as the 2009 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's dedication to safety," said Arizona Trucking Association President & CEO Karen Rasmussen. "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Arizona roots for our drivers as they move on to Nationals in Pittsburgh."

Arizona participants at National for each category include:

Joseph Gross, FedEx Ground, Chandler, Ariz. (Straight Truck)

Jerry Baker, Con-way Freight, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Three-Axle)

Jose "Manny" Franco, UPS Freight, Avondale, Ariz. (Four-Axle)

Gregory Nauertz, YRC Worldwide, Peoria, Ariz. (Five-Axle)

Rafael Palomino, Swift Transportation, Goodyear, Ariz. (Five-Axle Sleeper)

Tim Grogan, Shamrock Foods Company, Goodyear, Ariz. (Tankers)

David Messmer, YRC, Phoenix, Ariz. (Flatbed)

Brad Clyne, FedEx Freight, Sahuarita, Ariz. (Doubles)

Sean Saxon, FedEx Ground, Mesa, Ariz. (Step Van)

West Virginia Motor Truck Association Champion Named

Tim Bailey, a Con-way Freight driver from West Union, was named the grand champion of the West Virginia Motor Truck Association's truck driving championship May 30 in Charleston.

Bailey took top honors after competing in a variety of skill and safety tests.

George "Mike" Miller, a driver with Burns Motor Freight and a Marlinton resident, earned the 2008 Driver of the Year award. Miller has driven for 30 years and logged more than 2.7 million miles behind the wheel with no accidents.

Roger L. Lanham, who drives for UPS Freight, is a Winfield resident and was honored with the 2008 State Police safety award. Lanham has driven for 37 years and 4.2 million miles accident free.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission 2008 Driver of the Year Award was presented to Charles C. Maynard of Hurricane, who drives for UPS Freight. He has 36 years of driving experience.

Other awards included team champion, Con-way Freight of Ann Arbor, Mich., and rookie of the year, John "Tim" Hodges, Con-way Freight, Hurricane.

First place awards were presented for:
straight truck, Tim Bailey, Con-way Freight, West Union;
3-axle tractor semi-trailer, Eddie Thomasson, YRC, Culloden;
4-axle tractor semi-trailer, Daryl England, FedEx Freight, Elkview;
5-axle van, Ralph Gragg, UPS Charleston, South Charleston;
tank truck, Gerald Pugh, FedEx Freight, Marietta, Ohio;
flatbed, Kenneth Grimmett, Con-way Freight, Fayetteville;
twin trailers, Larry Gorby Jr., Con-way Freight; and
sleeper berth, Steve Looney, Petroleum Transport Inc., St. Albans.

All first place drivers are eligible to compete in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championship.

Four YRC Worldwide Drivers Were Named State Champions at Idaho Truck Driving Championships

Four YRC Worldwide drivers won their classes at the May 1-2, 2009, Idaho State Truck Driving Championships in Meridian.

YRC Driver Paul Unser of Boise won the straight truck championship and received the award for best Pre-Trip inspection. Unser has competed at National Truck Driving Championships (NTDCs) in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Reddaway Driver Ron Coles of Boise has earned the right to compete at nationals in the Flatbed class. Coles has competed at NTDCs in 2002, 2003 and 2006.

Scott Colwell, driving for Reddaway out of Boise, won the championship in the sleeper class. He competed at the 2007 NTDC.

Daniel Istre of Reddaway in Boise is the 2009 Twins champion. Istre competed at NTDCs in 1999 and 2002.

These YRC Worldwide drivers will represent Idaho and their companies at the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships from Aug. 17-22, 2009, in Pittsburgh, PA.

YRCW now has seven state champions ready to participate at NTDC.

Louisiana YRC Driver Named Twin Trailers Champion in State Competition

YRC Driver Stacy Sansom of Shreveport, La. (510), has won his class, Twin Trailers, at the April 3–4 Louisiana State Truck Driving Championships in Baton Rouge. Sansom also received an award for a perfect score on the pre-trip inspection portion of the competition.

He is Truck Driver of the Year for Louisiana and has participated in past National Truck Driving Championships competitions, including the 2008 competition in Houston.

Sansom will represent Louisiana and YRC at the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships from Aug. 17-22 in Pittsburgh.

Two YRC drivers named champions in Arizona Truck Driving Championships

Two YRC drivers won their classes at the 2009 Arizona State Truck Driving Championships on March 28 in Phoenix.

*David Messmer, of our Glendale, Ariz. (841), service center won the Flatbed class.

*Greg Nauertz, also of the Glendale service center, is the 5-Axle champion and was also named state Grand Champion.

Messmer and Nauertz will represent YRC at the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships, which are scheduled for Aug. 17–22 in Pittsburgh. Both are previous state champions.