A driver for Cliff Viessman, Inc. was the grand champion at the recent South DakotaTrucking Association's 43rd Annual Truck Driving Championships.
Gary Schmidt was the competition's grand champion. He also won the tank truck portion of the competition and had the best skills course performance.
The other top finishers and their categories include:
Straight Truck
1st: Teri Spencer, A&A Express, Brandon
2nd: Troy Swenson, FedEx Freight, Watertown
3-Axle Truck
1st: Jason Skotvold, FedEx Freight, Sioux Falls
2nd: Brian McCoy, Dakotaland Transportation, Sioux Falls (Rookie)
Professional Excellence Award Winner Dan Norgaard, who drives for Old Dominion Freight
1st: Dean Bowar, FedEx Freight, Sioux Falls
2nd: Wade Wagemann, Yellow, Aberdeen
3rd: Alex Curry, Old Dominion Freight, Sioux Falls (Rookie)
5-Axle Van
1st: Jeremy Senger, FedEx Freight, Rapid City
2nd: Joshua Worthington, K&J Trucking, Sioux Falls (Rookie)
3rd: Todd Anderson, Johnson Feed, Canton (Rookie)
5-Axle Sleeper Berth
1st: Craig Ellingson, K&J Trucking, Sioux Falls
2nd: Dan Norgaard, Old Dominion Freight, Watertown
3rd: Jamie Friedman, Johnson Feed, Canton
Tank
1st: Gary Schmidt, Cliff Viessman, Inc., Gary
2nd: Nan Harguth, Cliff Viessman, Inc., Gary
3rd: Everett Barr, FedEx Freight, Sioux Falls
Flatbed
1st: Kevin Woods, Johnson Feed, Canton (Rookie)
2nd: Jere Rions, Old Dominion Freight, Sioux Falls
3rd: Josh Kelley, FedEx Freight, Rapid City
Twin Trailers
1st: Mike Whitehead, FedEx Freight, Sioux Falls
2nd: Rick Witczek, Old Dominion Freight, Sioux Falls
3rd: Virgil Thiewes, FedEx Freight, Watertown
Grand Champion: Gary Schmidt, Cliff Viessman, Inc., Gary
Company Award: FedEx Freight (accumulative score of top three finishers per company)
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Woods, Johnson Feed, Canton
Best Written Exam: Joshua Woods, K&J Trucking, Sioux Falls
Best Pre-Trip Inspection: Wade Wagemann, Yellow, Aberdeen
Best Skills Course: Gary Schmidt, Cliff Viessman, Gary
Professional Excellence Award Winner: Dan Norgaard, Old Dominion Freight, Watertown
