This weekend in Pittsburgh, 34 XPO Logistics drivers will compete for the title of Grand Champion at the National Truck Driving Championships. The four-day competition, often referred to as the “Superbowl of Safety,” tests the driving skills and safety acumen of the nation’s finest truck drivers – and gives us the opportunity to celebrate our industry’s best safety ambassadors.

Over the past decade, XPO has had more NTDC champions than any other less-than-truckload carrier. We’re looking forward to this weekend and the opportunity to honor our 34 drivers and focus attention on safety.

At XPO, our first priority is to build a culture where everyone is empowered to do whatever it takes to ensure our colleagues, customers and communities are safe, all while delivering the best customer service in the industry. To advance that vision, last month we introduced an enhanced safety policy that governs pre-trip inspections, distracted driving prevention, forklift safety on our shipping docks and much more. As president of XPO’s LTL business, fostering a culture of safety that every employee understands and owns is a mission I take very seriously.

Our 34 NTDC competitors exemplify that safety culture better than anyone. Their talents and expertise have already been recognized at the state level – each of our competitors won their respective heats in their home states’ truck driving competitions – and I’m hopeful they’ll be recognized at this weekend’s championships. I encourage you to follow along on Instagram as we travel to Pittsburgh and cheer on XPO’s finest drivers in their efforts to bring home another national title.


Andy Rynearson
4-Axle
Tomah, WI

Anthony Cottrell
3-Axle
Roanoke, VA

Barry Kraemer
3-Axle
Fond Du Lac, WI

Bob Dolan
Straight Truck
Allentown, PA

Bobby Tinsley
5-Axle
Fort Worth, TX

Brandon Hardy
5-Axle
Las Vegas, NV

Christopher Poynor
3-Axle
Pasco, WA

Damien Hebert
Twin Trailers
Lafayette, LA

Ernest Budlowski
Straight Truck
Bridgeport, CT

Gerald Dube
3-Axle
Worcester, MA

Ina Daly
5-Axle
Phoenix, AZ

James Bishop
4-Axle
Grand Rapids, MI

Jeremy Paulsen
4-Axle
South Boston, MA

Jerry Melton
5-Axle
Wytheville, VA

John Griswold
4-Axle
Indianapolis, IN

John Reyes
3-Axle
St Louis, MO

Joseph Hicks
3-Axle
Providence, RI

Kenneth Grimmett
Flatbed
Charleston, WV

Larry Gorby
Sleeper Berth
Charleston, WV

Lee Eastburn
4-Axle
Billings, MT

Lenny Trifaro
Tank Truck
Burlington, VT

Leroy Williams
Straight Truck
Baton Rouge, LA

Lorenso Ramos
Straight Truck
East Brunswick, NJ

Matthew Ketcham
5-Axle
Burlington, VT

Nick Farness
4-Axle
Minneapolis, MN

Paul Tyler
Straight Truck
St Louis, MO

Prisli Salkic
Flatbed
Burlington, VT

Rich Sweeney
Tank Truck
Springfield, MA

Richard Barre
Straight Truck
Ottumwa, IA

Scott Courtney
Flatbed
Missoula, MT

Steve Johnson
5-Axle
Fargo, ND

Thomas Fullerton
Tank Truck
Green Bay, WI

Tommy Pearce
3-Axle
West Chester, PA

Wilbert Vano
Twin Trailers
Newark, NJ