YRC Freight announced that it will be sending 23 state champion drivers to participate in the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) to be held August 12 – 16 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. YRC Freight drivers have a long history of competing in this event which originated in 1937. Several YRC Freight drivers have won the Grand National Championship at past competitions.
The 23 YRC Freight state champion drivers competing for the national championship have a combined 500 years of service and 26 million miles of operating YRC Freight equipment without a preventable accident.
“This event is a celebration of safety and we have 23 participants who are not only state champions but also champions of safety and service at YRC Freight. We are proud of their achievement and the entire YRC Freight team will be cheering them on as they compete for the national title at the NTDC,” stated Darren Hawkins, president of YRC Freight. “While these drivers have been preparing for months to compete in this event, in reality what makes them champions is a career-long dedication to safety and customer service,” Hawkins said.
To qualify for the competition drivers must be accident free – regardless of fault – for one year prior to the event and win their class at the state truck driving championship where they are domiciled. Both the state and national competitions include challenging driving skills and maneuvering tests, a pre-trip inspection, and a written examination covering vehicle operation and federal safety regulations.
The 2014 YRC Freight National Truck Driving Championships Team:
| Champion | State | Class |
| Dave Messmer | Arizona | 3-Axle |
| Mike Jundt | Arizona | Straight Truck |
| Mark Livingston | California | Flatbed |
| Henry Mahler | Florida | Flatbed |
| Tim Marchand | Illinois | 3-Axle |
| Don Conklin | Indiana | Tanker |
| Chris Ballard | Indiana | 4-Axle |
| Doug Pohl | Kansas | Straight Truck |
| Jude Hurst | Kentucky | Twins |
| James McKeen | Maine | Straight Truck |
| Duane Maroney | Minnesota | 5-Axle |
| Bruce Quaal | Minnesota | Twins |
| Russ James | Montana | Straight Truck |
| Robert Stephenson | Montana | 4-Axle |
| Neil Nogues | New Hampshire | Straight Truck |
| Mark Hewitt | Ohio | 4-Axle |
| Kevin Slavens | Oklahoma | 5-Axle |
| Mike Erick | Rhode Island | Twins |
| Wade Wagemann | South Dakota | 3-Axle |
| George Swanson | Tennessee | Tanker |
| Tony Dorries | Texas | 3-Axle |
| Ricardo Molina | Texas | Straight Truck |
| Todd Butler | Utah | 3-Axle |
