## ABF drivers stand out for their skills and professionalism during state competitions

Every year, state trucking associations host truck driving championships (TDC) for drivers to showcase their industry knowledge, driving and inspection skills, and dedication to safety. ArcBest LTL carrier ABF Freight is known for having some of the best drivers on the road. Participating in TDCs is a unique way for them to demonstrate their expertise while having fun competing against peers. In 2024, 41 of our drivers won grand champion, first, second or third-place titles — we have 16 grand champion and first-place winners advancing to nationals. ABF Freight also won team trophies in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and city driver Shaun Roth won the Ronald E. Williams Rookie of the Year award in Kansas.

 

 

 

    ![ABF TDC AR Team holding a trophy](http://arcbestprod.arcb.com/sites/www/files/2024-07/ABF-TDC-AR-team-trophy-copy.jpg) 

 

    ![ABF TDC Missouri team trophy](http://arcbestprod.arcb.com/sites/www/files/2024-07/ABF-TDC-MO-team-trophy-copy.jpg) 

 

    ![ABF TDC Oklahoma Team Trophy](http://arcbestprod.arcb.com/sites/www/files/2024-07/ABF-TDC-OK-team-trophy-copy.jpg) 

 

  To be eligible to compete, participants must have at least one year of continuous employment with a motor carrier and, during that time, be accident-free with fewer than 30 days away from their regular duties. Competitions include a written exam, a pre-trip inspection and a skills test in one of the following classes: straight truck, 3-axle, 4-axle, 5-axle, tank, flatbed, sleeper cab or twin trailers. States present trophies to the winners, and ABF awards our winning drivers with cash prizes ranging from $750 to $2,500, as well as a congratulatory letter from ABF’s director of safety and compliance.

## Congratulations to our 2024 state champions!

We’re incredibly proud of all our drivers who competed and represented ABF Freight well. We also appreciate the ABF Freight Safety team, who attended these events and cheered them on. Congrats to all who participated and to those who brought home a win!

### First-place winners

    **AJ Kelly**  
 Road driver, Cheyenne, WY  
 Wyoming TDC — 3-axle  
 and grand champion

  **James Fabian**  
 City driver, Oklahoma City, OK  
 Oklahoma TDC — 3-axle

  **Mike Alpine**   
 Road driver, Mohave Valley, AZ  
 Arizona TDC — twin trailers

    **Alan Levy**  
 City driver, Dummerston, VT  
 Vermont TDC — 3-axle

  **Jason Vanscoten**  
 City driver, Ocala, FL  
 Florida TDC — twin trailers

  **Nate McCarty**  
 Road driver, Denver, CO  
 Colorado TDC — straight truck, pre-trip inspection and highest course test (tied)

    **Bob Bramwell**  
 City driver, Sedalia, MO  
 Missouri TDC — tank

  **Justin Gallant**  
 Road driver, Albuquerque, NM  
 New Mexico TDC — 4-axle

  **Ralph Garcia**  
 Road driver, Albuquerque, NM  
 New Mexico TDC — 5-axle sleeper

    **Bruce Hoyes**  
 City driver, Olathe, KS  
 Missouri TDC — 4-axle  
 and grand champion

  **Kirk Weis**  
 Road driver, Albuquerque, NM  
 New Mexico, TDC — flatbed  
 and grand champion

  **Robert Zamora**  
 Road driver, Albuquerque, NM  
 New Mexico TDC — tank

    **Bryan Holewinski**  
 City driver, Baltimore, MD  
 Maryland TDC — flatbed

  **Loren Hatfield**  
 Road driver, Little Rock, AR  
 Arkansas TDC — 3-axle

  **Tom Tweten**  
 City driver, Fargo, ND  
 North Dakota TDC — 3-axle

     

 

 

  ### Second-place winners

    **Brendan Hennessy**  
 City driver, Stratford, CT  
 Connecticut TDC — 3-axle

  **Donnie Pace**  
 Road driver, Little Rock, AR  
 Arkansas TDC — twin trailers

  **Pete Vidovic**  
 City driver, Cleveland, OH  
 Ohio TDC — tank

    **Chuck Smetzer**  
 City driver, Hagerstown, MD  
 Maryland TDC — 3-axle

  **Felix Hernandez**  
 City driver, Sacramento, CA  
 California TDC — 4-axle

  **Shawn Hale**  
 Road driver, Albuquerque, NM  
 New Mexico TDC — tank

    **Dave Podelco**  
 Road driver, Omaha, NE  
 Nebraska TDC — twin trailers

  **Matt Meadows**  
 City driver, Charleston, WV  
 West Virginia TDC — 4-axle

      **David Weichers**  
 Road driver, Kansas City, MO   
 Missouri TDC — straight truck

  **Mark Behr**  
 City driver, Auburn Hills, MI  
 Michigan TDC — tank

       

 

 

  ### Third-place winners

    **Allen McNeely**  
 City driver, Charlotte, NC  
 North Carolina TDC — tank

  **Eric LaCourse**  
 City driver, Toledo, OH  
 Ohio TDC — twin trailers

  **Kent Jones**  
 City driver, Tulsa, OK  
 Oklahoma TDC — twin trailers

    **Ben Atkinson**  
 City driver, Jacksonville, FL  
 Florida TDC — twin trailers

  **Frank Leyba**  
 Road driver, Albuquerque, NM  
 New Mexico TDC — 4-axle

  **Kraig Keller**  
 City driver, Camp Hill, PA  
 Pennsylvania TDC — 3-axle

    **Chuck Pearson**  
 City driver, Tifton, GA  
 Georgia TDC — 3-axle

  **Jim Emerick**  
 Road driver, Pittsburg, PA  
 Pennsylvania TDC — twin trailers

  **Melvin Martel**  
 Road driver, Atlanta, GA  
 Georgia TDC — flatbed

    **Dave Hall**  
 Road driver, Little Rock, AR  
 Arkansas TDC — flatbed

  **Jim Emerick**  
 Road driver, Pittsburg, PA  
 Pennsylvania TDC — twin trailers

  **Steven Holewinski**  
 City driver, Baltimore, MD  
 Maryland TDC — flatbed

    **David Meineka**  
 Road driver, Wichita, KS   
 Kansas TDC — twin trailers

  **John Hemmingson**  
 City driver, Minneapolis, MN  
 Minnesota TDC — 4-axle

  **Tim Melody**  
 Road driver, Pendleton, OR  
 Oregon TDC — 5-axle

     

 

 

  ## Next Up: 2024 National Truck Driving Championships 

The American Trucking Associations will host the [2024 National Truck Driving Championships](https://ntdc.trucking.org/) August 21-24 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Good luck to our 16 drivers headed to nationals — we’re excited to cheer you on as you compete among the best of the best!