Samuel Bryant wins TN driving championship; ABF takes team trophy

A FedEx Freight driver won the recent Tennessee Trucking Association’s 2025 Truck Driving Championships.

Samuel BryantTennessee Trucking AssociationSamuel Bryant, FedEx Freight, Inc. won the Fred Thayer Grand Champion award at the competition that attracted 153 truckers. He also won the straight truck class.

Raymond Hudson, who drives for. Southeastern Freight Lines, was the rookie of the year award winner. The Pre-Trip Inspection competition was won by Tim Blair, who drives for FedEx Freight, Inc.

ABF won the team trophy.

Trooper Jacob Edwards won the Inspector Challenge.

The class winners included:

Step Van

1st: Ethan Thennes – FedEx
2nd: Chase Dickens – FedEx
3rd: Jason Flowers – FedEx

Straight Truck

1st: Samuel Bryant – FedEx Freight
2nd: Christopher Massingill – ABF
3rd: Jeffrey Johnson – Old Dominion

Three-Axle Van

1st: Gary Luster – FedEx Freight
2nd: Danny Ewell – Walmart
3rd: Raymond Hudson – Southeastern Freight Lines

Four-Axle Van

1st: Hobie Eirich – FedEx Freight
2nd: Brandon Gilpatrick – FedEx Freight
3rd: Paula Harper – FedEx Freight

Five-Axle Van

1st: Juan Nava – Huff & Puff Trucking, Inc.
2nd: John Lemmons – UPS
3rd: Terry Williams – Walmart

Tank

1st: Covey Thompson – The Martin-Brower Company
2nd: Michael Bowman – FedEx Freight
3rd: Marvin Humphries – Old Dominion

Flatbed

1st: Josh Arwood – Old Dominion
2nd: Daniel Huffine – FedEx Freight
3rd: Brandon Knight – Huff & Puff Trucking, Inc.

Twin-Trailers

1st: Tim Blair – FedEx Freight
2nd: Jimmy Duncan – FedEx Freight
3rd: Chad Skeen – Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

Sleeper

1st: Michael Andrews – Walmart
2nd: Dean Hiles – Walmart
3rd: Ray Shelton – FedEx Freight

First-place winners qualify for the National Truck Driving Championships and Step Van Driving Championships in Minneapolis Aug. 20-23.