Page 40 - ATR 4 2014 web

Epic Trucking showdown

Highlights of the 2014 Arkansas Trucking Championship

by ATR staff petitors must hold an accident-free of the highest score on the written
The most talented truck drivers record of at least 12 months prior to the exam. Mars holds a no-accident record
and technicians brought their skills championship, with some participants for all of his 22-year, 2.4 million mile
to the John Q. Hammons Convention boasting no-accident records for over 20 truck driving career.
Center in Rogers, Ark. for the annual years. They come to earn the cumulative “The whole team and I are very
statewide competitions. The Arkansas top scores of three categories: pre-trip proud for Gary particularly this year,”
Trucking Championship was presented inspection, written examination, and said Walmart’s Private Fleet Safety
by the Arkansas Trucking Association driving skills. Director Steven Garrish. Mars had con-
July 10–12, 2014. One hundred and six Gary Mars made Walmart sidered dropping out of the competition
(106) drivers and 44 technicians com- Transportation proud when he won the to be with his terminally-ill mother-
peted for the right to be named “Grand 2014 Grand Champion title. Not only in-law. However, she encouraged him
Champion.” did Mars win the highest number of to compete and win for her. “Gary is
The event included something for cumulative points, he also scored the a natural leader,” continued Garrish,
everyone: a Technician Training Fair most points in his division earning 1st “Other drivers look to him for advice,
and a Commercial Vehicle Inspection place in the 5-Axle class. This was Mars’ and he serves on the accident-review
Competition for Arkansas Highway sixth year to participate in the cham- committee at Walmart and his local
Police on Thursday; the pre-trip inspec- pionship. Worthy of the highest 2014 safety committee. He does more for
tions and the Technician Championship title, Mars has consistently earned top safety than a lot of other drivers and on
on Friday; and the driving skills contest scores in multiple classes (Sleeper 2010- his own time.”
and an awards banquet for competitors 2011, Twins 2012, and 5-Axle 2013- Last year, Mars placed 11 in the
th
and their families on Saturday. 2014). He was also the 2014 recipient nation in the 5-Axle class. On August
Many competitors earn their par-
ticipation by competing in smaller
internal drills. The truck driving com-

 Jeffery helmick, J.B. Hunt Transport,
is named Rookie of the year.

 Winners group: The 2014 Arkansas Championship Team (l to r): loren hatfield,
ABF Freight; Pat hayes, Walmart Transportation; robert Williams, USA Truck; Gary
Mars, Walmart Transportation; deborah conn, FedEx Freight; eric brockette, FedEx
Freight; ronnie cotton, FedEx Freight; larry Gaskill, Old dominion Freight Line; tony
strickland, Old dominion Freight Line

40 ArkAnsAs truckinG rePort | issue 4 2014