FedEx driver Rebecca Nelson is Florida’s grand champion. (Image Courtesy of Florida Trucking Association)Six women – out of 427 total drivers – will be among the competitors at this year’s American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Championships (NTDC) in Pittsburgh, Aug. 14-17.
Headed to the national competition are:
- Rebecca Nelson of FedEx Express
- Christina Gaines of FedEx Express
- Ina Daly of XPO Logistics
- Nanette Harguth of Cliff Viessman Trucking
- Julie Hjelle of Altendorf
- Nikki Davis of FedEx Freight
Daly and Nelson were both grand champion in their respective states.
“Our female drivers advancing to NTDC this year – Nikki Davis, Tina Gaines and Becky Nelson – join several other women who have competed at NTDC in recent years. They are excellent examples of women excelling at FedEx and in the trucking industry. Seeing them compete at this level is an important step in promoting the diversity of our industry and communicating to others that trucking is a great and inclusive career opportunity,” Myers said.
Ina Daly has been Arizona’s grand champion for two years in a row.This marks XPO driver Daly’s second year in a row as Arizona’s grand champion.
“It’s fun and a way to show company pride but there’s a lot of takeaway from it. I’ve learned a ton,” Daly said about competing during a 2018 interview with She Drives Trucks. “I’m out here driving a truck and I want to be the best driver that I can be.”
To qualify for the national competition drivers must have maintained a year of accident-free driving and win their vehicle class at the state-level truck driving championships. They must also maintain continuous employment with a fleet for at least one year. At the NTDC, a national champion will be announced for each of the nine classes and one driver will receive the overall title of 2019 National Truck Driving Championships Bendix Grand Champion.
