Drivers compete at LMTA championships

Front end of a parked semi truck(Image Courtesy of LMTA)

The Louisiana Motor Trucking Association crowned the winners of its 2017 Truck Driving Championships, which took place in Baton Rouge March 24-25. In the competition, 104 drivers with a combined 161 million accident free miles faced off in several categories.

The competitors all had to face one challenge in particular, regardless of their category: weather. This year was the first time in the 31-year history of the championships that it was rained out by hail, lightning and rain.

See the winners of the 2017 LMTA Truck Driving Championships:

Straight Truck:

  1. First Place – Corey Mitchell, FedEx Freight
  2. Second Place – Michael Brian, FedEx Freight
  3. Third Place – Abraham Fisher, FedEx Freight

3 Axle Van:

  1. First Place – Henry Bruster, UPS Freight
  2. Second Place – Eric Courville, FedEx Freight
  3. Third Place – James Maxwell, Jr., XPO Logistics

4 Axle Van:

  1. First Place – Ricky Critney, Martin Brower
  2. Second Place – Mark Stevenson, YRC Worldwide
  3. Third Place – Xavier Theriot, FedEx Freight

5 Axle Van:

  1. First Place – Leslie Gamble, FedEx Freight
  2. Second Place – Tammy Clemmons, Walmart
  3. Third Place – Glen Winston, C&S Wholesale Grocers

5 Axle Tank:

  1. First Place – Curtis Mellon, XPO Logistics
  2. Second Place – Mark Judson, FedEx Freight
  3. Third Place – Raymond Acosta, Ergon Trucking

5 Axle Flatbed:

  1. First Place – Joseph Vital, FedEx Freight
  2. Second Place – Larry Smith, XPO Logistics
  3. Third Place – Kenneth Fabacher, Walmart

Twins:

  1. First Place – Richard Gibbs, FedEx Freight
  2. Second Place – Mark Judson, FedEx Freight
  3. Third Place – Jerry Farmer, XPO Logistics

Sleeper:

  1. First Place – Johnnie Long, Walmart
  2. Second Place – Chad Rudesill, FedEx Ground
  3. Third Place – James Taylor, FedEx Freight

Step Van:

  1. First Place – Leroy Williams, XPO Logistics
  2. Second Place – Donald Williams, FedEx Ground
  3. Third Place – Robin Butler, FedEx Ground

Mechanics Award: Richard Gibbs, FedEx Freight

Rookie of the Year: Demond Washington, Old Dominion Freight Line

Team Trophy: XPO Logistics

Grand Champion: Richard Gibbs, FedEx Freight