Farmington’s Quaal Wins National Truck Driving Championship
Bruce has been driving for 19 years without an accident logging over 1.9 million accident-free miles. He competed previously in the national event in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
The contestants were the state champions in nine truck types from all 50 states. Collectively they have driven 581,001,783 accident free miles.
In their respective classes, drivers tested their expertise in the driving skills they use daily. The competition course inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center challenged their knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. The skills course tested drivers’ ability to judge distances, maneuver tight spaces, reverse, park, and position their vehicle exactly over scales, before barriers or around curves.
“The National Truck Driving Championships showcase the industry’s commitment to safety,” said ATA President & CEO Bill Graves. “I applaud all the competitors for their efforts in making our highways safe.”
Joining Bruce as champions in their respective classes are:
Straight Truck: Scott Watts – FedEx Express (Anchorage, Alaska)
Three-Axle: Heladio Fernandez – FedEx Freight (Portland, Ore.)
Four-Axle: Jason Matte – FedEx Freight (Richland, Miss.)
Five-Axle: Steve Elliston – Wal-Mart Transportation (Sparta, Mich.)
Sleeper Berth Class: Bruce Quaal – YRC (Farmington, Minn.)
Twins: Don Logan – FedEx Freight (Eskridge, Kan.)
Flatbed Class: John Smith, Jr. – FedEx Ground (Mooreville, Miss.)
Tank Truck Class: Carl Krites – Con-way Freight (Wapakoneta, Ohio)
Step Van: Sean Saxon – FedEx Ground (Mesa, Ariz.)
A full list of award winners is below.
Grand Champion: Carl Krites – Con-way Freight (Wapakoneta, Ohio)
National Rookie of the Year: Joseph Hicks – Con-way Freight (Johnston, R.I.)
State Team Trophy: Oregon
Vehicle Condition Award: Will Chrvala – New Penn Motor Express (Whitehall, Pa.)
Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award: Dennis Day – Con-way Freight (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Life-Time Volunteer Award: Dave Knobloch (La Crosse, Wis.)
National Champions:
Straight Truck Class
First Place: Scott Watts – FedEx Express (Anchorage, Alaska)
Second Place: Jay Miller – FedEx Freight (Bonner Springs, Kan.)
Third Place: Daniel Norgaard– Norgaard Trucking (Arlington, S.D.)
3-Axle Class
First Place: Heladio Fernandez – FedEx Freight (Portland, Ore.)
Second Place: Ken Jensen, Jr. – Con-way Freight (Pasco, Wash.)
Third Place: Brian Singelais, Sr. – A. Duie Pyle, Inc. (Webster, Mass.)
4-Axle Class
First Place: Jason Matte – FedEx Freight (Richland, Miss.)
Second Place: Will Chrvala – New Penn Motor Express, Inc. (Whitehall, Pa.)
Third Place: Richard Seigle – YRC (Orland Park, Ill.)
5-Axle Class
First Place: Steve Elliston – Wal-Mart Transportation (Sparta, Mich.)
Second Place: Ray Jackson – H-E-B Grocery (San Antonio, Texas)
Third Place: Steve Limas – ABF Freight System (Belen, N.M.)
Flatbed Class
First Place: John Smith, Jr. – FedEx Ground (Mooreville, Miss.)
Second Place: Ray Barlow – Wal-Mart Transportation (Niles, Mich.)
Third Place: Scott Woodrome – FedEx National LTL (Middletown, Ohio)
Tank Truck Class
First Place: Carl Krites – Con-way Freight (Wapakoneta, Ohio)
Second Place: Leo Flack – A. Duie Pyle, Inc. (West Chester, Pa.)
Third Place: Dale Duncan – Con-way Freight (Spring Valley, Calif.)
Twins Class
First Place: Don Logan – FedEx Freight (Eskridge, Kan.)
Second Place: Chris Outen – FedEx Freight (Vancouver, Wash.)
Third Place: David Mogler – FedEx Freight (Brighton, Colo.)
Sleeper Berth Class
First Place: Bruce Quaal – YRC (Farmington, Minn.)
Second Place: Clarence Jenkins, Jr. – UPS Freight (Poca, W.Va.)
Third Place: Tom Pietrzak, Jr. – Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Lansdale, Pa.)
Step Van
First Place: Sean Saxon – FedEx Ground (Mesa, Ariz.)
Second Place: Aryn Pittaway – FedEx Express (Arlington, Texas)
Third Place: Jody Arnall – FedEx Freight (Hartville, Mo.)
