Lansing — The Michigan Trucking Association (MTA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2007 Michigan Truck Driving Championship, held June 22-23 in Lansing, Michigan.

MTA would like to express our thanks to our Premium Sponsors.
Thank you for the continued support!

America’s Transportation Resources, ArvinMeritor, Inc., Baker College,
FedEx Freight – East, Michigan Cat, Navigator Truck Insurance Agency,
Northland Insurance Company, Spartan Stores, Inc. and Two Men & A Truck.
 

2007 Grand Champion:  Thane Barden of USF Holland Barden received a cash prize of $500 along with a trophy for being the overall winner with the highest point score.

Thane Barden pictured on left

Mark O'Dea pictured on left

Rookie of the Year: Mark O’Dea from Con-way Freight - Central Awarded to the First Time competitor with the highest score.

Pre-Trip Inspection: Ermelindo (Chico) Maldonado from Roadway Express Awarded to the participant who scores the highest on the pre-trip inspection.

Ermelindo Maldonado pictured on left

Winners in the Straight Truck Division are:

• First Place – James Fisher, FedEx Freight, Oak Park, MI
• Second Place – Ron Looks, Con-way Freight, LeRoy, MI
• Third Place – Robert Andrus, FedEx Ground, Jackson, MI
   

Winners in the Flat Bed Division are:

• First Place – Gregory Toupin, UPS Freight, Boon, MI
• Second Place – Gary Prater, FedEx Freight East, Union City, MI
• Third Place – Billy Johnson, Roadway Express, Allen Park, MI
   

Winners in the 5-Axle Tractor Trailer are:

• First Place – Thane Barden, USF Holland, Jenison, MI
• Second Place – Ronald Baship, Wal-Mart Transportation - Coldwater, MI
• Third Place – David Evans, Automotive Component Carrier, Davisburg, MI
   

Winners in the 4-Axle Tractor Trailer are:

• First Place – Lenard Cross, Automotive Component Carrier, Standish, MI
• Second Place – Steven Reposa, UPS Freight, Belleville, MI
• Third Place – Richard Bailey, FedEx Freight - East, Macomb, MI
   

Winners in the Tank Trailer Division are:

• First Place – Steve Hosmer, Marathon Petroleum LLC, Muskegon, MI
• Second Place – Robert Gordon, Wal-Mart Transportation – Coldwater, MI
• Third Place – Jerrald Reid, Modular Transportation, Lansing, MI
   

Winners in the Twin Trailer Division are:

• First Place – Mark O’Dea, Con-way Freight - Central, Taylor, MI
• Second Place – Andrew Teadt, Con-way Freight - Central, Athens, MI
• Third Place – Ermelindo (Chico) Maldonado, Roadway Express, Lincoln Park, MI
   

Winners in the 3-Axle Tractor Trailer are:

• First Place – James TenBrink,ABF Freight System, Inc.,Fremont, MI
• Second Place – Edward O’Mara, Con-way Freight - Central, Westland, MI
• Third Place – Eric Halchishak, Yellow Transportation, Tecumseh, MI
   

Winners in the Sleeper Berth Division are:

• First Place – Ryan Hastings, Jevic, Mason, MI
• Second Place – Willie Bell, America’s Transportation Resources, Battle Creek, MI
• Third Place – Steven Bentley, Wal-Mart Transportation - Coldwater, MI
   

Get final scores here

Participant scores were based on a written exam, a pre-trip inspection, personal interview along with the driving competition. These professional drivers compete in stopping, backing, turning and serpentine maneuvers in the same sort of trucks they drive every day. Driver scores were then combined and top three winners in each category were announced during the Banquet. First place winners may move onto the American Trucking Associations Truck Driving Championship held this year in Minneapolis, MN, August 21-26, 2007.
 

Congratulations to all! 

Want to know more? Call Jill Skutar at (517) 321-1951.