Page 30 - ATR 4 2015 web

“compeTiNg makes you more aware wheN
you’re goiNg dowN The road—more
coNscieNTious. oNe wreck aNd you’re ouT The

compeTiTioN NexT year so you doN’T waNT To
puT yourself iN ThaT predicameNT To NoT Be
aBle To compeTe. compeTiNg makes you ThiNk
oN a higher level.”

–dave hall,
aBf freighT

hall

safeTy shOwDOwn they’re professionals that know how to a while. Then I saw the line-haul driv-
Each summer, the Arkansas operate the equipment safely.” ers coming in and out, and I decided I
Trucking Association hosts the Arkansas But how did they earn those titles? wanted to do that. I’ve been driving ever
Trucking Championship. Professional What constitutes a professional and since.”
commercial truck drivers and tech- how do they beget championships? It It’s not just something he’s been
nicians enter for the chance to win turns out that’s fairly straightforward: doing, Hall is dominating profes-
the state title and the opportunity to Work within a corporate culture that sional driving. Not only does he boast
compete at the national level. They are demands excellence; avoid complacency a remarkable safety record with over 2
tested in both written and hands-on and take pride in your work. million accident-free miles, but he is
competitions. Knowing where someone came also a force to be reckoned with at driv-
This year’s championships from can explain a lot about a person. ing competitions.
were held June 11-13 at the John Q. And for Dave, Darren and Aaron, it all “A buddy of mine always wanted
Hammons Convention Center in begins with their fathers and a truck. me to get into it while I was up in New
Rogers, Ark. York,” Hall said. “When I got down here
Technicians were categorized as MeeT Dave in 2002, I decided to see what it was all
truck or trailer competitors, the former Dave Hall, 48, has been driving for about. And after that, I was hooked.”
competing across 13 fields and the lat- 28 years including the past year-and-a- In 2007, Hall placed first in the
ter across five. In the end, the top two half with Fort Smith, Arkansas-based 4-axle division and took home the
contestants from each field were named ABF Freight. But he got his first taste of Grand Champion award and qualified
and a Grand Champion was crowned. trucking when he was a boy, riding with him to compete at the National Truck
Enter Aaron Martin. his dad to New York City. Driving Championship.
Drivers compete in one of nine “We backed the trailer in, and I “It was pretty exciting,” Hall said of
classes (three-axle, four-axle, five-axle, said ‘I’ll help you unlock the doors,’ winning the Grand Champion award. “I
five-axle sleeper berth, tank truck, then he looked at me and said, ‘You’re knew I did well. You kind of know how
straight truck, flatbed, step van and going to help me unload this thing,’” you did after running the course, but
twin trailers), completing a written Hall chuckled. “It taught me a les- winning Grand Champion was a total
exam, pre-trip inspection and dem- son about how much work he had to surprise. It was exhilarating.”
onstrating their skills on the actual do, and it helps me appreciate my job The next year Hall once again won
course. more.” his division and went on to compete at
“These professionals are some of His own career began in 1987, on Nationals. “My family was excited,” he
the safest, most knowledgeable, expert the docks of Yellow Transportation said. “They were as excited as I was.”
drivers and technicians in the country,” (now YRC Freight). “I saw guys moving Hall was happy to meet a fellow
ATA President Shannon Newton said. trailers around the yard, and I decided driver who was recently turned onto the
“It’s a lot of fun, but at the same time, I wanted to do that. So I got my CDL competition, Darren Tyler.
it is an honor and it demonstrates that and started driving around the yard for

30 arkansas Trucking repOrT | issue 4 2015