Michigan Trucks and Drivers Compete in Michigan Truck Driving Championships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Detroit, Michigan, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) November 14, 2010 -- LANSING, M.I. – Michigan trucks competed in several categories of competition at the 2010 Michigan Truck Driving Competition, which is an annual event sponsored by the Michigan Trucking Association. The best professional driver of Michigan trucks was awarded to Steve Elliston, of Sparta, after winning the five axle competition. Elliston received the highest overall score in the competition.

According to the Michigan Trucking Association, drivers of commercial Michigan trucks are scored based on a pre-trip inspection, personal interview, written exam and the actual driving portion of the competition. The driving portion entails stopping, backing up, turning and serpentine maneuvers made in the same type of trucks the drivers use on a daily basis. Scores are combined and the top three winners are named in each category.
Elliston’s win qualifies him for competition in the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships to be held Aug. 3-7, 2010, in Columbus Ohio. The event also goes by the name of “Super Bowl of Safety.” The event will culminate with one winner announced as the 2010 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

“The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry’s dedication to safety,” said Michigan Trucking Association Executive Director Walter Heinritzi in a press release. “I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Michigan cheers for our drivers as they move on to Nationals in Columbus.”
The seven other category winners who may also head to the national competition are as follows:
• Ronald Looks, Con-way Freight, Le Roy, Mich. (Straight Truck)
• Skip Johnson, Wal-Mart Transportation, Lansing, Mich. (Three-Axle)
• Richard Bailey, FedEx Freight, Macomb, Mich. (Four-Axle)
• Steve Elliston, Wal-Mart Transportation, Sparta, Mich. (Five-Axle)
• James Fisher, FedEx Freight, Oak Park, Mich. (Five-Axle Sleeper)
• Ron Metternick, FedEx National, Lowell, Mich. (Tankers)
• Ray Barlow, Wal-Mart Transportation, Niles, Mich. (Flatbed)

• Charles 'Chuck' Foults, Con-way Freight, Eaton Rapids, Mich. (Twins)

This year’s Michigan competition took place at the Lansing Community College, West Campus, in Lansing, M.I. To enter the competition drivers must have a clean accident report for a minimum of 12 months prior to the championship; must reside in Michigan; must regularly perform duties as a professional truck driver; must meet Department of Transportation (DOT) physical requirements and have all the necessary endorsements for the particular class of competition; and must be employed by one employer for at least 12 months before the championship contest. Laid off drivers may still be eligible so long as they have not been laid off for a cumulative 60 calendar days in the year before the driver submits his or her entry.
The Michigan drivers advancing to the national competition will be joined by almost 400 truck drivers from all 50 states.
For more information, visit MI Auto Times at www.miautotimes.com or the 2010 National Truck Driving Championships website: www.truckline.com/Federation/Councils/slpmc/NTDC/Pages/Default.aspx
MI Auto Times will continue to post results as they become available.

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