Minnesota’s grand champion is YRC Freight driver Bill Krouse. (Image Courtesy of Minnesota Trucking Association)YRC Freight driver Bill Krouse earned the grand champion at the Minnesota Truck Driving Championship for having the highest overall score. He also won first place in the flatbed class.
FedEx Freight driver Jeremy Thomas was named grand champion at the West Virginia Truck Driving Championship for the second year in a row. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has been a trucker for 14 years. Thomas also won first place in this year’s 3-axle class. The West Virginia competition was held June in Nitro.
Old Dominion Freight Line driver Timothy Whitley claimed North Caroline’s grand champion spot and also won first place in the straight truck class. The North Carolina Truck Driving Championship was held May 9-11 in Raleigh.
Minnesota’s winners:
- Grand Champion: Bill Krouse, YRC Freight
- Rookie of the Year: Tim Davis, Ruan
- 3-Axle: Paul Butkowski, FedEx Freight
- 4-Axle: Nick Farness, XPO Logistics
- 5-Axle: Scott Post, FedEx Ground
- Flatbed: Bill Krouse, YRC Freight
- Sleeper Berth: Steve Shanda, Halvor
- Step Van: Alex Lofgren, FedEx Ground
- Straight Truck: Reggie Copeland, FedEx Freight
- Tank Truck: Larry Steffensen, FedEx Freight
- Twin Trailers: Duane Maroney, ABF Freight
FedEx Freight driver Jeremy Thomas is FedEx Freight’s grand champion for the second year in a row. (Image Courtesy of West Virginia Trucking Association)
West Virginia’s winners:
- Grand Champion: Jeremy Thomas, FedEx Freight
- Rookie of the Year: Daniel Knight, FedEx Freight
- Straight Truck: Chad Sheets, FedEx Freight
- 3-Axle: Jeremy Thomas, FedEx Freight
- 4-Axle: Daniel Knight, FedEx Freight
- 5-Axle: Aaron Belcher, FedEx Freight
- Tank Truck: Robert Johnson, Pilot Thomas Logistics
- Flatbed: Kenneth Grimmett, XPO Logistics
- Twin Trailers: William Adkins, FedEx Freight
- Sleeper Berth: Larry Gorby, XPO Logistics
- Step Van: Chad Taylor, FedEx Express
- Professional Driver of the Year Award: David Phelix, FedEx Freight
- State Police Safety Award: Russell Alan Smith, FedEx Freight
- West Virginia Public Service Commission Driver of the Year Award: Jeff Smith, XPO Logistics
- Pre-Trip Inspection Award: Jeremy Thomas, FedEx Freight
- Team Champion Award: XPO Logistics
North Carolina’s winners:
- Grand Champion: Timothy Whitley, Old Dominion Freight Line
- 3-Axle: Brian Walker, UPS
- 4-Axle: David Rohman, FedEx Express
- 5-Axle: Johnny Willard, FedEx Ground
- Flatbed: Basher Pierce, FedEx Freight
- Sleeper Berth: Christopher Gibbons, FedEx Freight
- Tank Truck: Cecil Hicks, FedEx Freight
- Twin Trailers: David Wagoner Jr., Old Dominion Freight Line
- Straight Truck: Timothy Whitley, Old Dominion Freight Line
- Step Van: Antonio Toon, FedEx Freight
