Three Reddaway professional drivers have won first place trophies in their respective classes at state truck driving competitions in Idaho, Utah and Oregon. Scott Colwell won in the sleeper class at the 2013 Idaho State Truck Driving Championships. Jeff Payne won in the twin trailers class at the 2013 Utah State Truck Driving Championships. John Van Buren won in the straight truck class at the 2013 Oregon State Truck Driving Championships. To qualify to compete at the state level, all drivers must drive the entire preceding year without a single accident. With these wins, Colwell, Payne, and Van Buren now qualify to participate in the 2013 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) to be held August 20-24 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Scott Colwell has been competing in truck driving competitions for the past 13 years and has had three separate first place state wins prior to this year and three showings at national competitions. He won Idaho state first place trophies in the three-axle class in 2007 and 2009, as well as first in the sleeper class in 2012 and 2013. Colwell has been in the transportation industry for 26 years, 21 of which he has spent with Reddaway. He has spent his entire Reddaway career as a local pickup and delivery driver out of the Boise, Idaho facility.
This win marks Jeffrey Payne’s twelfth Utah state title, including an 11-year streak of first place wins in the twin trailers class from 2001 to 2011. In 2011, Payne went on to take national honors in the twin trailers class at the National Truck Driving Championships. His awards history includes the title of Utah State Grand Champion for 2003 and 2011. Payne has been in the transportation industry for 26 years, 19 of which he has spent with Reddaway. He operates as a pickup and delivery driver out of the Reddaway Salt Lake City, Utah facility.
John Van Buren has been competing in truck driving competitions for the past ten years and has three separate first place Oregon state wins prior to this year and three showings at national competitions. He has won Oregon state first place trophies in the straight truck class in 2003, 2005, 2010 and 2013. Van Buren has been in the transportation industry for 24 years, 22 of which he has spent with Reddaway. He has spent his entire Reddaway career as a local pickup and delivery driver out of the Medford, Oregon facility.
“We are extremely grateful for and proud of the incredible achievements of these drivers,” said T.J. O’Connor, Reddaway President and CEO. “To qualify for these events requires a profound dedication to safety and honing your skills…going up against the very best safe drivers in the entire state and coming out number one is truly an impressive feat. With their unwavering commitment to service, safety, and constant improvement, Scott Colwell, Jeff Payne, and John Van Buren exemplify the very best of Reddaway. Team Reddaway wishes them the best of luck at Nationals in August.”
The NTDC is an annual competition of professional truck drivers hosted by the American Trucking Associations. It will test more than 400 drivers on several levels including skill behind the wheel, knowledge of safety rules and regulations, and the ability to spot safety hazards during a pre-trip inspection. The NTDC is a competitive event, but it is also a fun-filled, family activity celebrating the achievements of professional drivers and safety.
