FedEx driver Jeremy Thomas was named grand champion in his second year of competing at the West Virginia Truck Driving Championship. (Image Courtesy of West Virginia Trucking Association)FedEx Freight driver Jeremy Thomas was named the grand champion at the West Virginia Truck Driving Championship in just his second year of competing. Thomas competed for the first time last year and earned the 2017 Rookie of the Year award. While he may be a relatively new competitor, Thomas is not new to trucking: He’s been in the industry for 13 years.
Thomas also won first place in the Tanker class.
This year’s Rookie of the Year award went to Neil Austen, a FedEx Ground driver. Austen also won first place in the Step Van class.
The West Virginia Trucking Association hosted the event June 9 in Buckhannon.
The winners were:
Grand Champion: Jeremy Thomas, FedEx Freight
Professional Driver of the Year Award: Keith Miller, Burns Motor Freight
Rookie of the Year: Neil Austen, FedEx Ground
Team Champion Award: Pitt Ohio
Straight Truck: Charles Randolph, Pitt Ohio
3-Axle: James May, FedEx Freight
4-Axle: Randy Thomas, FedEx Freight
5-Axle: Jason Smith, Walmart Transportation
Tank Truck: Jeremy Thomas, FedEx Freight
Flatbed: Paul Norman, Pitt Ohio
Twin Trailers: Greg Brooks, FedEx Freight
Sleeper Berth: William Adkins, FedEx Freight
Step Van: Neil Austen, FedEx Ground
Pre-Trip Inspection Award: Charles Randolph, Pitt Ohio
State Police Safety Award: Harold Saunders, Walmart Transportation
Public Service Commission Driver of the Year Award: Bruce Chapman, Walmart Transportation
