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Printer-Friendly Twenty-Two More Drivers Headed to Steel City


With 22 more state champs in the books following 14 TDCs held the weekend of June 12-13, the total number of FedEx drivers headed to the NTDC in Pittsburgh currently stands at 80. This marks the largest contingent that Team FedEx has ever sent to the NTDC – with 10 state competitions still to come.

Connecticut
Team FedEx continued its tradition of strong showings in the Constitution State by driving home with a whopping 14 top-three finishes.

Roland Bolduc (FedEx Express, Windsor Locks) captured the 3-Axle crown to win his eighth state title – the most by any driver for FedEx Express. Hartford-based FedEx Ground contractors Dennis Lavallee and Karen Roderick earned their third and second state titles, respectively. Dennis won the Step Van class, while Karen finished first in Straight Truck. FedEx Freight drivers Tom Griffin and Paul Brandon also advanced to the NTDC with wins in the 5-Axle Sleeper and Flatbed classes. This is Tom’s second straight title and the first for Paul.

Other top finishers for FedEx in Connecticut included:

  • Bruce Brailsford (FedEx Ground contractor, New Haven): second, Step Van
  • Tim Cohen (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver, Hartford): second, 4-Axle
  • Andrew Martin (FedEx Express, Stamford): second, Straight Truck
  • Brian Chick (FedEx Express, Windsor Locks): third, 4-Axle
  • Barron Cromartie (FedEx Freight, Hartford): third, 3-Axle
  • Eric Gothing (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver, Hartford): third, Twins
  • Bert Howard (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver, Hartford): third, 5-Axle Sleeper
  • Raymond Ramsey (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver, Hartford): third, 5-Axle
  • Cruz Vazquez (FedEx Freight, New Haven): third, Straight Truck

Nevada
In spite of the rain showers that interrupted the competition, FedEx drivers took home 10 top awards in the Silver State. Gragg Wilson (FedEx Freight, Reno) picked up his seventh state title with a win in the 5-Axle Sleeper class. Las Vegas-based FedEx Ground contractor Matthew Meyer and his driver, Arthur Corral Jr., are both headed to the NTDC. Matthew won the Step Van class and the Rookie of the Year honor, while Arthur finished atop the Straight Truck class.

Also taking home hardware in Nevada were the following competitors:

  • Archie Candalaria (FedEx Ground contractor, Reno): second, Step Van
  • Robert Fini (FedEx Express, Las Vegas): second, Straight Truck
  • Craig Poupeney (FedEx Freight, Reno): second, Tank Truck
  • Omar Talavera (FedEx Ground contractor, Las Vegas): second, Twins
  • Patrick Nerger (FedEx Freight, Reno): third, 5-Axle
  • Efrain Mercado (FedEx Ground contractor, Las Vegas): third, Step Van
  • Sergio Romero (FedEx Ground contractor, Las Vegas):third, Straight Truck

Illinois
In the Land of Lincoln, Tim Banasiak ( FedEx Freight, Peru) will be heading to the NTDC for the second time after earning the Twins title. Seven other FedEx drivers turned in top-three performances:

  • Emilijan Asentic (FedEx National LTL contractor, Schaumburg): second, 5-Axle Sleeper
  • Ritch Fundell ( FedEx Freight, Peru): second, 4-Axle
  • Blanche Payton (FedEx Express, South Holland): second, Step Van
  • Dan Harmening (FedEx Freight, Rock Island): third, 3-Axle
  • Scott Hepner (FedEx Express, Chicago): third, Tank Truck
  • Pamela Nealy (FedEx Express, South Holland): third, Step Van
  • Dean Wessley (FedEx Freight, Rock Island): third, Straight Truck

Wisconsin
Brent Glasenapp (FedEx Express, Milwaukee) earned his fourth Wisconsin state title since 2005 with a win in the Straight Truck class. Two other FedEx drivers also won Badger State crowns: Jason Hillier (FedEx Freight, Madison) captured in the top spot in the 4-Axle class, and James Burmesch (FedEx Express, Milwaukee) took home the 3-Axle title.

Additional top finishers in Wisconsin were:

  • Robert Diehl (FedEx Express, Waukesha): second, Step Van
  • Scott Parks (FedEx Express, Milwaukee): second, 5-Axle
  • Gary Reimer (FedEx Freight, Mauston): second, 3-Axle
  • Guy Fredrickson (FedEx Ground contractor, Oshkosh): third, Straight Truck
  • Gail Wurch (FedEx Express, Waukesha): third, Step Van

The team from FedEx Express posted the highest team average.

Maryland
FedEx Ground contractor Tom Shope ( Hagerstown) not only earned the Old Line State’s Twins title but was also recognized as the Grand Champion. Mike Forchetti (FedEx Express, Gaithersburg) won his second Step Van crown in three years, and Chester Masser (FedEx Ground contractor, Hagerstown) earned the top spot in the Tank Truck class.

Carl Shazor (FedEx Home Delivery contractor, Baltimore) finished second in the Step Van class. FedEx Ground contractors Duane Clever ( Hagerstown) and Gary Wilson ( Baltimore) posted third-place finishes in the 4-Axle and Flatbed classes, respectively.

Arkansas

In the Natural State, David Thompson (FedEx Ground contractor, Little Rock) drove his way to the Step Van title. David Van Dusen (FedEx Freight, Little Rock) placed second in the 5-Axle class and was also named the Arkansas Rookie of the Year.

Other top finishers in Arkansas included:

  • George Bareis (FedEx Ground contractor, Fayetteville): second, Straight Truck
  • Jeremy Byerley (FedEx Ground contractor, Fayetteville): second, Step Van
  • Ed Heacox (FedEx Ground contractor, Little Rock): third, Step Van
  • Chris Parker (FedEx Freight, Pine Bluff): third, 4-Axle

In addition, Scott Morrow (FedEx Freight, Texarkana) posted the best score in the Pre-Trip Inspection.

Washington
In the Evergreen State, where the weather was as good as it gets for the Washington TDC, FedEx Ground contractor Tony Todd (Seattle) took home the Step Van trophy. Vic Skoglund (FedEx Freight, Everett) was second in the Tank Truck class. Michael Burkhart (FedEx Ground contractor, Seattle) and Ed Sutherland (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver, Seattle) turned in third places in the Step Van and Twins classes, respectively.

Nebraska
In addition to capturing the top spot in the Straight Truck class in the Cornhusker State, Steve Tucker (FedEx Freight, Lincoln) also received the Jerry Wessel Award. The honor is presented annually by the Nebraska Trucking Association to the driver who best exemplifies professionalism, industry knowledge and attitude.

Toby Kort (FedEx Freight, North Platte) finished second in the 5-Axle class. In addition, he was honored with the Nebraska Trucking Association’s Professional Excellence Award. FedEx Freight drivers Elmer Branzovsky (Omaha) and George Chaney (Lincoln) posted third-place finishes in the 3-Axle and Flatbed classes, respectively.

Virginia
FedEx Ground contractor Matthew Bartnett (Fredericksburg, Md.) continued the strong showing for FedEx in the Step Van class by winning the Virginia title. Emmette McCormick Jr. (FedEx Ground contractor, Fredericksburg) finished second in the class. FedEx Express drivers Tony Dorsey (Dulles) and Dwight Lynch (Sandston) posted third-place finishes in the 3-Axle and 4-Axle classes, respectively.

Montana
In Big Sky Country, where the weather was perfect for the competition, Brad Butler, a driver for FedEx Ground contractor Jim Butler (who is Brad’s father), earned his second Montana title with a win in the Twins class. Two other Billings-based drivers posted top-three performances: Tom Miller (FedEx Freight) was second in the Twins class, and Dean Harding (FedEx Ground contractor’s driver) finished second in Straight Truck.

In addition, FedEx Ground placed second in the team competition.

Texas
At the Lone Star State finals, Frank Munoz (FedEx Freight, Laredo) topped the competition in the 4-axle class. Mike Lopez (FedEx Freight, Dallas) finished second in 4-Axle and also posted the best pre-trip inspection score in this category.

Kimberly Marburger (FedEx Express, Fort Worth) was second in Step Van and Manny Trevino (FedEx Freight, Harlingen) took third in Twin. Additionally, Roger Wood (FedEx Freight, Fort Worth) turned in the highest pre-trip inspection mark in the Flatbed class.

Ohio
In the Buckeye State,FedEx National LTL driver Scott Woodrome (Dayton) captured an Ohio title for the fourth consecutive year with a win in the 3-Axle class. Al Little (FedEx Freight, Mansfield) finished second in the 4-Axle class.

Wyoming
In the Cowboy State, three FedEx Freight competitors earned third-place finishes:

  • Howard Cole (Rock Springs): Twins
  • John Cooper (Casper): 4-Axle
  • Scott Preheim (Cheyenne): Tank Truck

Utah
Although there were no top finishers from FedEx in the Beehive State, Team FedEx still enjoyed a great day of camaraderie with fellow drivers, family and supporters.

There are five more TDC events the weekend of June 19-20: Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Oregon and Rhode Island. Best of luck to all of the Team FedEx competitors!

News Archive
06/08/2009 - Two Dozen Drivers Advance to the NTDC!
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!