Truck driving championship competition focuses on safety
August 16th, 2010 by Kurt Niland
The National Truck Driving Championships were held in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, August 7, drawing 415 professional commercial drivers from all over the United States vying for the title of 2010 National Truck Driving Grand Champion. The Championships are known throughout the industry as the “Super Bowl of Safety.” The event is designed to underscore the importance of safety in the trucking industry and to raise awareness of specific issues that can positively impact safety behind the wheel.
This year’s Grand Champion Trucker is Carl Krites, a driver for Con-Way Freight. A resident of Wapakoneta, Ohio, Krites has participated in state truck driving championships since 2002. This year marked his first trip to the national competition, representing Ohio as the state champion in the Tankers class. He took first place at the Nationals in the Tankers class and captured the overall title of Grand Champion based on his composite score.
The title carries the distinction of being recognized as the nation’s top truck driver. This year was is the second consecutive year the award went to a Con-Way Freight driver. Krites took the crown from his colleague Dale Duncan, a Con-Way driver from San Diego.
Krites has driven more than 3 million miles in his 31 years as a truck driver. Collectively, the 415 Championship drivers have logged 581,001,783 accident-free miles.
National efforts to improve commercial trucking safety have paid off dramatically in recent years. In 2008, the large truck fatal crash rate stood at a record low of 1.64 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles driven – a 64 percent decrease from when the Transportation Department first began keeping records in 1975. The fatality rate has declined for five consecutive years, and the 2008 rate marks the largest ever year-to-year drop.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood attended the Championships and applauded professional drivers at the event for their commitment to highway safety. “I want you to know that at DOT, we appreciate what you all do and the fact that safety is your No. 1 priority,” LaHood said.
LaHood also applauded the trucking industry for its active role in fighting the epidemic of distracted driving.
“You all are ahead of the curve on this; you all have set a standard. We appreciate that,” LaHood said during his speech.
After the event, LaHood returned to Washington and commended commercial truck drivers for their role in the American way of life. “It is thanks to America’s truckers that we enjoy the quality of life we have today. They are out there — often far from home — navigating weather and congestion, and safely transporting the goods we need and use every day.”