Old Dominion Freight Line drivers take top honors in RI competition

2024 Rookie of the Year Mathew Burke (L) and to the 2024 grand champion Donaldo Afonseca (r)Rhode Island Trucking AssociationLast year's rookie of the year was this year's grand champion of the Rhode Island Truck Driving Championship held recently at the FedEx facility in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Donaldo Afonseca, a driver for old Dominion Freight Line took first place in the Straight Truck Class and had the highest combined score in the written, pre-trip and driving course segments of the competition.

This year's top rookie was Matthew Burke, who also drives for Old Dominion. He placed second in the twin trailers class.

The class winners included:

• Straight Truck Class – Donaldo Afonseca, Old Dominion Freight
• 3-Axle Class – James Bergin, FedEx
• 4-Axle Class – Joseph Hicks, XPO
• 5-Axle Class – Eric Cornell, A. Duie Pyle
• Twin Trailer Class – Ray Nightingale, XPO

All class winners are eligible to compete in the national competition held Aug. 21-25 in Indianapolis.