The American Trucking Associations Tuesday released the list of 34 professional truck drivers named as finalists for the 2019-2020 term of America’s Road Team. The finalists have a combined total of 90 million safe-driving miles and 946 years as professional truck drivers.
The finalists include:
- Ronald Baird, Hoffman Transportation/G&D Trucking; Thorntown, Indiana
- William C. Bennett III, UPS Freight; Maytown, Pennsylvania
- Dale Brenaman, UPS Freight; Stamping Ground, Kentucky
- Sammy Brewster, ABF Freight; Powder Springs, Georgia
- Jorge Chavez, Jetco Delivery; Houston, Texas
- Timothy Chelette, Big G Express; Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- James Clark, Penske Logistics; Otter Lake, Michigan
- April Coolidge, USA Truck; Mint Hill, North Carolina
- Scott Davis, ABF Freight; Kearney, Missouri
- Jesse Wayne Dennis, Prime Inc.; Springfield, Missouri
- Ken Duncan, Walmart Transportation; Gorham, Maine
- Douglas Frombaugh, FedEx Freight; Carlisle, Pennsylvania
- William Goins, Old Dominion Freight Line; Cloverdale, Indiana
- Billy Hambrick, Werner Enterprises; Yoder, Wyoming
- Russell James, YRC Freight; Bonner, Montana
- Ronnie Luckadoo, UPS Freight; Forest City, North Carolina
- Gary Martin, FedEx Ground; Galt, California
- William McNamee, Carbon Express; Christopher, Illinois
- Dave Peterson, FedEx Ground; Blaine, Minnesota
- Tine Peterson, FedEx Ground; Blaine, Minnesota
- Brian Petrovcic, ABF Freight; McAlisterville, Pennsylvania
- Robert Preston, Werner Enterprises; Winder, Georgia
- Roger Price, TCW Inc.; Olive Branch, Mississippi
- Jeff Rose, YRC Freight; Creston, Ohio
- Rodney Rutledge, FedEx Freight; La Union, New Mexico
- Richard Slack Jr., TCW Inc.; Savannah, Georgia
- Theldorine Sova, Prime Inc.; Sacramento, California
- James Starr, Groendyke Transportation; Wichita, Kansas
- Clarence Taylor, Walmart Transportation; North Chesterfield, Virginia
- Paul Wahlster, Holland; Rolling Prairie, Indiana
- Nicolette Weaver, FedEx Freight; New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania
- Todd Wilemon, ABF Freight; Fulton, Mississippi
- James Gragg Wilson, FedEx Freight; Reno, Nevada
- Ronald Vandermark, UPS Freight; Delran, New Jersey
This year’s finalists hail from 22 different states, haul a diverse assortment of products and materials, and range from short-haul drivers to over-the-road drivers operating in all of the lower 48 states. The finalists represent a cross-section of the industry with experience ranging from 6 years to 55 years as professional truck drivers with anywhere from 600,000 to 6.9 million safe driving miles.
The 34 finalists advance to the final round of the selection process, being held Jan. 27-30 in Arlington, Virginia. A panel of evaluators, including industry officials and trucking news media representatives, will judge the contenders on their knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s messages and overall safe driving record.
The newly chosen 2019-2020 America’s Road Team will be announced on Jan. 30 following a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington.
“ATA believes the men and women who work safely day after day to deliver our goods – truck drivers – are the best representatives of the trucking industry and we are inspired by the finalists for the upcoming class of America’s Road Team,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Throughout the evaluation process, we read and heard stories from truck drivers about pride, courage, and selflessness – the kinds of stories we are excited to share with the public, media and elected officials.”
America’s Road Team is sponsored by Volvo Trucks.