18 STATE CHAMPIONS & DEFENDING WINNERS
FedEx Freight will have one of the largest teams competing when the 2026 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) get underway this week at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The company will be represented by 111 professional drivers competing across the championship's driving categories, making FedEx Freight a major presence at the annual event widely regarded as the “Super Bowl of Safety.”
The strength of this year's team is highlighted by the fact that 18 FedEx Freight drivers were named grand champions in their respective states during this year's state-level competitions. Those drivers now advance to the national stage, where they will compete against the best professional truck drivers from across the country.
Returning Grand Champions & Defending Titles
FedEx Freight enters the competition with three defending national champions who won their respective classes at the 2025 NTDC, alongside two previous National Grand Champions:
- Jackie Reed (Hattiesburg, MS) — 2024 National Grand Champion
- David Comings (Wahpeton, ND) — 2025 National Grand Champion
- Three 2025 defending class champions eager to retain their national titles
Professional haulers seeking consistent home time and steady regional freight lanes can build career momentum through regional CDL-A truck driving jobs to sharpen their skills for upcoming safety competitions.
DECADES OF SUCCESS & 230 MILLION SAFE MILES
FedEx Freight has established itself as one of the most successful carriers in the history of the National Truck Driving Championships. Since 2003, FedEx Freight drivers have accumulated:
53 National Titles
Class Championships Since 2003
Earned across all major equipment classes through rigorous training and safety discipline.
7 Grand Champions
Overall NTDC Winners
Demonstrating overall driving mastery, regulatory expertise, and inspection accuracy.
The experience represented by the FedEx Freight team extends well beyond competition results. Collectively, the 111 drivers have logged more than 230 million safe-driving miles throughout their professional careers.
Team Safety Highlights:
- 96 drivers have surpassed 1 million safe-driving miles
- 22 drivers have exceeded 3 million accident-free miles
- Collectively represents more than 2,950 years of professional driving experience
Drivers looking to build a reliable local driving career with steady daily routes can apply for local CDL-A truck driving jobs USA to join safety-first fleet cultures.
WRITTEN, PRE-TRIP & DRIVING CHALLENGES
The National Truck Driving Championships are designed to test professional drivers on much more than their ability to maneuver a tractor-trailer. Competitors earn points through three critical stages:
Competition Stages:
- Written Examination: Drivers must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of commercial vehicle safety regulations, equipment, defensive driving practices, and industry standards.
- Pre-Trip Inspection: Competitors are required to identify hidden safety defects and demonstrate flawless pre-trip inspection procedures within strict time limits.
- Driving Skills Challenge: Drivers navigate a demanding obstacle course testing precision, clearance awareness, backing accuracy, and vehicle handling.
Long-haul drivers mastering interstate safety rules and vehicle handling on high-mileage runs can explore high-paying routes through OTR CDL-A jobs across the USA.
Drivers planning their career progression and calculating mileage pay projections can use an interactive truck driver salary calculator to evaluate earnings across local, regional, and long-haul sectors.
HISTORY SINCE 1937 & 9 TRUCK CLASSES
The National Truck Driving Championships are organized annually by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and have a rich history stretching back nearly 90 years.
The competition began in 1937 under the name National Truck Roadeo. Over the decades, it evolved into today's National Truck Driving Championships while maintaining its central focus on professional driving skills and highway safety. Today, the event brings together state champions from throughout the United States to compete for national recognition.
Nine Truck Classes & Grand Champion Award
Drivers compete in nine distinct equipment classes—including Straight Truck, 3-Axle, 4-Axle, 5-Axle, Sleeper Berth, Tank Truck, Flatbed, Twin Trailers, and Step Van. The event culminates with the crowning of the prestigious National Grand Champion.
Experienced owner-operators seeking full independence and fleet management autonomy can explore opportunities through owner-operator CDL-A trucking jobs USA.
With 111 competitors, 18 state grand champions, defending national champions, and two former National Grand Champions, FedEx Freight enters Pittsburgh as one of the top teams to watch at the 2026 competition.