Page 41 - ATR 4 2014 web

12–16, Mars joined the other eight divi-
sion Arkansas winners in Pittsburgh, Trucking Championship
Pa. to compete at the National Truck
Driving Championship.
The state event also included the sponsors
Technician Championship which is
divided into two classes: truck techni- golD sponsors:
cians and trailer technicians. The truck Abf freight
technicians competed in 12 hands-on
stations, and the trailer technicians bendix commercial vehicle systems, llc
competed in four hands-on stations to calArk international
demonstrate skills and knowledge like fedex freight
electrical tasks and drive train. All tech- J.b. hunt transport
nicians completed a written exam. southern tire Mart
Wade Ashley Thompson of Oakley summit truck Group
Trucking won top honors and was
named Grand Champion in the trailer tyson foods, inc.
technician division. Thompson also Walmart transportation llc
placed first at the electrical station and
PMI station. He has worked for Oakley sIlvEr sponsors:
Trucking for five years and is a resident FedEx Ground
of Cabot, Ark. J. J. keller & Associates, Inc.
Technician Eric Rusk of McKee Maverick Transportation, LLC
Foods Transportation earned the high- Mckee Foods Transportation, LLC
est score and the Grand Champion
title in the truck tech division. This Truck Centers of Arkansas
is Rusk’s third year to take home the Truck Lite Co. LLC
Grand Champion title (2007 and 2010) USA Truck
in the competition. “Eric consistently Wayne Smith Trucking
represents himself and his company
well by excelling in this competition,” bronzE sponsors:
said Shannon Newton, president of the Bridgestone Commercial Solutions
Arkansas Trucking Association. In addi- d.W. Story & Associates, Inc.
tion to earning the highest cumulative Meritor
score across all 12 classes, Rusk also
won first place in the electrical class Michelin North America
and the steering and suspension class. SAF Holland
The truck tech grand champion will
also compete for the national title on
September 22–24 in Orlando, Fla.
The Arkansas Trucking
Championship also hosts some
healthy competition on the sidelines.
Companies decorate tents and bring
food to cheer on their drivers and
technicians tailgate-style. Among the
companies that showed the most spirit
were the Best Dressed Driver Team - J.B.
Hunt Transport, Best Decorated Tent -
Oakley Trucking, Loudest Group - Tyson
Foods, Biggest Group - FedEx Freight,
and Best Overall - FedEx Freight.  Everyone gets into spirit of the competition. Son of FedEx
Freight’s brian figgins cheers him on.


ArkAnsAs truckinG rePort | issue 4 2014 41