Page 42 - ATR 4 2015 web

face-Off for first place

Celebrating safe drivers and technicians at the
2015 Arkansas Trucking Championship

The rain held off for most of the tion lot for the pre-trip inspections,
weekend as the most talented truck technician test stations and a chal-
drivers and technicians gathered at the lenging written exam for both groups.
John Q. Hammons Convention Center The activity peaked on Saturday when
in Rogers, Ark. for the 2015 Arkansas everyone cheered on competitors for the
Trucking Championship, presented by driving skills contest and the drivers’
the Arkansas Trucking Association, on awards.
June 11–13, 2015. Despite the threat of Many competitors earn their par-
a downpour, 129 drivers and 67 tech- ticipation by competing in smaller
nicians competed for the right to call internal drills. To qualify, the truck
themselves the “Grand Champion.” driving competitors must hold an acci-
As in the past, the champion- dent-free record of at least 12 months
ship was three days of celebrating the prior to the championship, with some
professional skills required to keep participants boasting no-accident
roadways safe. Thursday’s activities records for more than 20 years. They
included a Technician Training Fair come to earn the cumulative top scores  Truck Tech Grand Champion aaron
and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection of three categories: pre-trip inspection, Martin, after being named 2015 Arkansas
Competition for Arkansas Highway written examination, and driving skills. Truck Technician Grand Champion, shows
off prizes donated by Jonathan carryl of
Police. And on Friday, the drivers and Dave Hall represented ABF Freight Reliance Supply.
techs filled the halls and competi- well as the winner of 2015 Grand

 The 2015 Arkansas Championship Team (l to r): Jeff cochran, FedEx Freight; Dave hall, ABF Freight; Timothy geary, FedEx
Ground; Dale Dunn, Maverick Transportation; Loren hatfield, ABF Freight; Melvin smith, J.B. hunt Transport; Michael clark,
Walmart Transportation; robert williams, USA Truck; Otto schmeckenbecher, ABF Freight

42 arkansas Trucking repOrT | issue 4 2015