Printer-Friendly Two Dozen Drivers Advance to the NTDC!


It was a weekend of “firsts” for Team FedEx as FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx National LTL both gained their first winners of the TDC season. Team FedEx also picked up our first female champ and first Flatbed winner of the year following the eight state championships held the weekend of June 5-7. After 24 more drivers earned the right to compete at the NTDC, the total number of FedEx state champs headed to the Steel City now stands at 58.

Vermont
Five FedEx drivers drove home with titles from the Green Mountain State’s TDC. Carroll Bean (FedEx Custom Critical owner-operator, Alburg) won the Straight Truck class for the third time since 2005. Christopher Novak, Bernie Spine and Chris Goddard (FedEx Express) also became multiple winners with victories in the Flatbed, 3-Axle and 5-Axle Sleeper classes, respectively. This is Christopher’s third title and the second each for Bernie and Chris. Danielle Carbonneau (FedEx Ground contractor, Lebanon, N.H.) earned the Vermont Step Van title – becoming our first female champ of the year.

Seven other competitors placed among the top finishers in Vermont:

  • Marty Goodell (FedEx Custom Critical owner-operator, Wilmington): second, Straight Truck and Rookie of the Year
  • David Fountain (FedEx Express, Williston): second, Twins
  • Jeff Whittemore (FedEx Ground contractor, Lebanon): second, Step Van
  • Mark Lovering (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver, Lebanon): third, Step Van
  • Bruce Kennedy (FedEx Express, Williston): third, Straight Truck
  • Jeremiah Jarvis (FedEx Freight,Montpelier): second, Tank Truck
  • Robert Weller (FedEx Freight, Bellows Falls): third, 3-Axle

Minnesota
Bill Pudney (FedEx Express, Minneapolis) qualified to become a member of the elite FedEx Aces team after he captured his fifth Minnesota title – this one in the Step Van class. Rob Janke (FedEx Express, Minneapolis) earned his second state crown with a win in 4-Axle. Two other competitors won for the first time:

  • Mike Westphall (FedEx Freight, Minneapolis) finished atop the Twins class and also posted the highest score in the Pre-Trip Inspection.
  • Reginald Copeland (FedExFreight, Minneapolis) earned first place in Straight Truck.

Seven other competitors finished among the top three in their respective classes:

  • Mark Leino (FedEx Freight, Duluth): second, 5-Axle and Best Written Exam
  • Christian Rapsch (FedEx Express, Minneapolis): second, Step Van
  • Angela Weicherding (FedEx Express, Minneapolis): third, Step Van
  • Stephen Laubach (FedEx Freight, Minneapolis): second, Straight Truck
  • Larry Steffensen (FedEx Freight, Minneapolis): second, 3-Axle
  • Don Adamski (FedEx Freight, Duluth): third, 4-Axle
  • Tim White (FedEx Freight, Minneapolis): third, 5-Axle Sleeper

New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, Paul Robichaud (FedEx Express, Londonderry) captured the top spot in the 4-Axle class to earn his sixth state title. Fellow Londonderry driver Norman Sullivan won the Flatbed class for the second straight year. Curt Wheeler (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver, Manchester) won his first Step Van title.

Other top finishers from FedEx in the Granite State included:

  • Kurt Crear (FedEx Express, Londonderry): second, Step Van
  • Edward Gertz (FedEx Express, Londonderry): third, Step Van
  • Samuel Foulds (FedEx Ground contractor, Boston): second, 3-Axle class and Rookie of the Year
  • Kevin Messier (FedEx Ground contractor, Boston): second, Twins and Best Pre-Trip Inspection
  • Peter Allen (FedEx Express, Londonderry): second, 5-Axle Sleeper
  • Paul McNutt (FedEx Express, Londonderry): second, Straight Truck

Missouri
Joe “Mango” Mangiaracino (FedEx Freight, St. Clair) returned to the winner’s circle for the fourth time in the Show Me State with a victory in the 3-Axle class. He also won the coveted Grand Champion title. Three other FedEx drivers earned the right to compete at the NTDC. Jon Hume (FedEx Freight, St. Louis) won the Tank Truck class, while Greg Kauffmann (FedEx Express, Hazelwood) earned the Straight Truck title and Rick Surrisi (FedEx Freight, Columbia) captured the Step Van crown.

Six other drivers turned in top-notch performances:

  • Matthew Meadows (FedEx Ground contractor, St. Louis): second, Step Van
  • John Aquino (FedEx Express, Kansas City): third, Step Van
  • Larry O’Neal (FedEx National LTL, St. Louis): second, Twins
  • Mike Meyer (FedEx Express, Hazelwood): second, 3-Axle
  • John Barney (FedEx Express, Berkeley): third, 3-Axle
  • Jody Arnall (FedEx Freight, Willow Springs): third, Straight Truck

In addition, FedEx Freight captured the Team Trophy, with the team from FedEx Express finishing just six points behind to take second.

Colorado
Out in the Rocky Mountain State, Paul Frisby (Denver)won the first championship of the year for FedEx National LTL by finishing atop the 4-Axle class. This marks Paul’s second state title since 2006. FedEx Ground contractor Matthew Allison (Denver) earned the Step Van title, while his drivers, Peter Allison and Vanessa Hubb, finished second and third, respectively, in the class. Rounding out the top finishers in Colorado was Michael Kumm (FedEx Freight, Colorado Springs), who was second in 4-Axle.

California Finals

Anaheim-based Luis Hernandez (contractor’s driver)and Daniel Saldana (contractor)completed FedEx Ground’s domination of the Step Van class by finishing second and third, respectively. John Anderson (FedEx National LTL, San Jose) placed third in 4-Axle.

Indiana
In the Hoosier State, Brian Clark (FedEx Express, Indianapolis) became a three-time TDC champ by capturing the top spot in the 3-Axle class. Bruce Schwering (FedEx Freight, Indianapolis) finished second in 4-Axle. Tom Crowe (FedEx Ground contractor, Terre Haute) posted a third-place finish in Tank Truck, while Karen Litzelman (FedEx Express, Indianapolis) was third in Straight Truck.

New York
In the Empire State, Jim Kohr (FedEx Express, Rochester) earned the Straight Truck title as well as the Grand Champion honor. Mark McLean (FedEx Freight, Newburgh) drove his way to a fourth New York title since 2003 – this one in the Twins class. He also posted the best score on the written exam. Robert Wakely (FedEx Express, Jamaica) captured first place in the 4-Axle class. Rich Bentley (FedEx Freight, Syracuse) also turned in a top-three finish with a third place in 4-Axle.

Additionally, FedEx Freight captured the New York Team Trophy.

California Central Regional
One driver earned berth in Pittsburgh with a victory in the Golden State. Michael Thacker (FedEx Freight, Fontana) won the 3-Axle title.

Three FedEx drivers earned spots in the Golden State finals at the Central Region competition on June 6. Bhupinder Jhanjar (FedEx Ground, Bakersfield) was first in the Step Van class, while Luis Hernandez (FedEx Ground, Anaheim) was second. David Marques (FedEx Freight, Fresno) finished third in Twins.

Texas San Antonio Regional

At the San Antonio Regional, Frank Munoz (FedEx Freight, Laredo) advanced to the state finals next weekend with a second-place finish in the 4-Axle class. Michael Garcia (FedEx Freight, San Antonio) placed third in Twins.

Get ready for the biggest weekend of the TDC season with 14 state competitions June 12-13: Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. Best of luck to all of the Team FedEx competitors!

News Archive
06/01/2009 - And Two More Makes 34
05/18/2009 - Team FedEx Scores State Titles in Bunches!
05/11/2009 - A Big Weekend for FedEx!
05/04/2009 - Team FedEx Doubles Number of Champs in Stellar Weekend of Competition
04/20/2009 - Team FedEx Continues to Roll in Third Weekend of Competitions
04/06/2009 - Two States Down, Two More Wins in the Books
03/30/2009 - We’re Off to a Great Start in Arizona!