UPCOMING EVENTS
- August 22nd, 2026 – Briderland Technical College Equipment Show
- August 25th, 2026 – Free Driver Health Webinar for Your Carrier Members
- August 28th, 2026 – BUTA Summer Luncheon / 1st Annual Putt Putt Golf Tournament
- August 28th – 29th, 2026 – The Basin’s Black Gold Truck Show
- September 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2026 – Fishing the Green Experience
- September 1st, 22nd, 2026 – Smarter Business Summit
- September 10th, 2026 – Free Driver Health Webinar for Your Carrier Members
- September 14th – 18th, 2026 – Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- September 29th, 2026 – Utah Trucking Association 2026 TruckPAC Golf Tournament
- October 7th, 2026 – Smarter Business Summit
- October 28th, 2026 – Medicare Seminar (Happy Hour) – Open House
- October 29th, 2026 – Smarter Business Summit (Doughnuts & Coffee) – Open House
Announcements
Congratulations to Lynn Wilson of Walmart Transportation, who finished 3rd Place nationally in the Straight Truck Division
Events:
FREE WEBINAR: BRING PROJECT 61 TO YOUR FLEET
Project 61, a nonprofit focused on helping truck drivers live longer, healthier lives, is hosting a free 45-minute webinar for fleet leaders focused on practical ways to support better driver health.
Learn why driver health matters, how it connects to safety, and how your fleet can take advantage of free health resources designed specifically for professional drivers and the realities of life on the road.
Choose from two upcoming sessions:
– Tuesday, August 25 at 12:00 p.m. ET
– Thursday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Resources:
Truckin Hot News:
Washington – Today, the American Trucking Associations applauded the introduction of the Uniform Vehicle Safety Standards Act. The bicameral bill would affirm that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the primary authority over motor vehicle safety regulations, ensuring that there are consistent standards for the trucking industry across all 50 states.
“When NHTSA establishes a federal safety standard, manufacturers and motor carriers should be able to rely on that determination. Allowing lawsuits to effectively impose equipment mandates that diverge from federal requirements creates uncertainty, drives up costs, and threatens the uniformity that keeps our nation’s supply chain moving safely and efficiently,” said ATA’s SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen. “The trucking industry applauds Reps. Flood, Obernolte, Rouzer, and Ellzey and Sens. Fischer and Lummis for introducing this commonsense legislation to affirm NHTSA’s role as the nation’s expert regulator for motor vehicle safety standards. If NHTSA, after evaluating the available evidence through its rulemaking process, determines that a particular standard strikes the appropriate balance to maximize motor vehicle safety, that expert determination should carry greater weight than the hindsight judgments advanced by profit-seeking trial attorneys in individual courtrooms.”
For six decades, Congress has entrusted NHTSA to set vehicle standards that are “practicable,” “objective,” and meet the need for safety. NHTSA administers an open, transparent rulemaking process that considers engineering data, public input, costs, and safety outcomes. The trucking industry follows these standards and takes a proactive approach to safety, investing $14 billion annually in equipment, technologies, and driver training. Manufacturers also devote substantial resources to designing, testing, and producing trucks and trailers that satisfy NHTSA’s engineering-based requirements. Yet they increasingly face the prospect that meeting every applicable federal standard may still be deemed legally insufficient years later.
Due to an ambiguity in current law, NHTSA’s evidence-based standards are being superseded by state common-law claims. Juries are applying state tort law to effectively impose standards that differ from or exceed those adopted by NHTSA at the time the equipment in question was manufactured. The result is legal uncertainty that undermines nationwide motor vehicle safety standards.
The Uniform Vehicle Safety Standards Act would preserve NHTSA’s role as the nation’s primary motor vehicle safety regulator, as Congress intended. This clarification would benefit manufacturers and the broader trucking industry by allowing businesses to make long-term equipment investments with confidence, which in turn would help to prevent supply chain disruptions and lower costs for consumer goods. The bill complements similar language for which ATA advocated that was included in the BUILD America 250 Act earlier this year.
The Uniform Vehicle Safety Standards Act was introduced by Representatives Mike Flood (R-NE), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and David Rouzer (R-NC) in the House and Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) in the Senate.
Other organizations that joined ATA in endorsing the bill include the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, American Bus Association, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, International Foodservice Distributors Association, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, National Motor Freight Traffic Association, National Tank Truck Carriers, Nebraska Trucking Association, Timpte, Truck Renting and Leasing Association, Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association, Truckload Carriers Association, and Werner.
Pittsburgh, PA — Today, the American Trucking Associations’ Safety Management Council kicked off the driving portion of competition at the 2026 National Truck Driving Championships and Step Van Driving Championships at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs welcomed the competitors to Pittsburgh yesterday, congratulating them on earning a place at this year’s championships and wishing them well as they compete for trucking’s highest honor in safety and skill.
At the event, 429 of the industry’s most elite drivers are putting their professional knowledge, safe driving skills, and vehicle readiness awareness to the test to see who will emerge as the 2026 National Truck Driving Championships Bendix Grand Champion. The competitors hail from 49 states and represent 55 companies.
“NTDC represents the trucking industry’s finest,” said Heath Arnold, NTDC Chairman. “Each competitor has earned the opportunity to be here through an unwavering commitment to safety, professionalism, and excellence behind the wheel. As we begin the 2026 competition, we celebrate the men and women who set the gold standard for our profession and demonstrate the skill, dedication, and responsibility required to keep America’s economy moving. We congratulate every finalist and wish them the best of luck as they compete to see who will be named Grand Champion.”
The NTDC and affiliated state TDCs are considered one of the industry’s largest and most effective safety programs. During the competition, each driver undergoes a rigorous written examination, thorough pre-trip inspection test, and a challenging driving skills test.
These annual competitions held since 1937 inspire thousands of drivers to operate accident-free for the right to compete. Every driver qualified for this week’s competition by winning their state truck driving championships. This year’s competitors have driven a combined 775 million accident-free miles throughout their careers.
“The very best our industry has to offer is showcased at the National Truck Driving Championships,” said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. “All of the finalist competing this week have already earned their place in the pantheon of trucking. These highly skilled men and women exemplify the discipline and professionalism that are at the heart of our industry. The work that they do on a daily basis is essential to Americans’ way of life and keeps everyone on the road safe. We congratulate each competitor for reaching this stage and look forward to celebrating their achievements.”
Yesterday, drivers completed a rigorous written examination on rules and regulations. Today and tomorrow, drivers conduct a comprehensive pre-trip inspection to detect vehicle malfunctions and then hop in the cab for a driving skills test where they are graded on their ability to operate a truck through a series of obstacles.
Finalists will be announced on Friday morning, and a Grand Champion will be crowned Friday evening. Follow ATA and #NTDC26 on social media for regular updates. Listen to NTDC’s official podcast, PodWheels, to learn more about this year’s competitors and receive on-the-ground updates from Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh, PA — Forty-five professional truck drivers have advanced to the finals of the National Truck Driving and Step Van Driving Championships, which are being held this year at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
These annual competitions date back to 1937 and inspire thousands of drivers to operate accident-free for the right to compete. This year’s competitors have driven a combined 775 million accident-free miles throughout their careers.
“Over the past several days, these professional drivers have demonstrated the skill, discipline, and commitment to safety that define the very best of our industry,” said Heath Arnold, NTDC Chairman. “Every competitor who earned a place at NTDC should be immensely proud of that accomplishment. Advancing to this stage requires countless hours of preparation, unwavering professionalism, and a dedication to excellence behind the wheel. We congratulate the finalists who are moving forward and salute every competitor for exemplifying the highest standards of our industry.”
The drivers hail from 49 states and represent 55 companies of every size. Of the 429 competitors, the following 45 individuals have advanced to drive for the Bendix Grand Championship:
Step Van
- Ceth Christensen, United Parcel Service Inc, Illinois
- Robert Ledoux, Federal Express Corporation, Massachusetts
- Logan Stacho, Federal Express Corporation, Ohio
- Rafael Jusfredo, Federal Express Corporation, Vermont
- Gregory Long, Federal Express Corporation, Virginia
Straight Truck
- Robert Cochran, Federal Express Corporation, Maine
- Robert Stokes, PITT OHIO, Maryland
- David May, XPO, New York
- Michael Bills, Federal Express Corporation, North Carolina
- Lynn Wilson, Walmart Transportation LLC, Utah
3-Axle
- Chuck Pearson, ABF Freight System Inc., Georgia
- Jeffrey Halford, XPO, Idaho
- Todd Loreman, Walmart Transportation LLC, Louisiana
- John Jadrossich, FedEx Freight, New York
- Chris Poynor, XPO, Washington
4-Axle
- Miguel Corral, United Parcel Service Inc, Illinois
- Stephen Johnson, FedEx Freight, Mississippi
- Todd Gimpel, FedEx Freight, Nebraska
- David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
- Bryan Krol, The Martin-Brower Company L.L.C., Pennsylvania
5-Axle
- Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho
- Robert Bramwell, ABF Freight System Inc., Missouri
- Daniel Bruch, FedEx Freight, New Mexico
- Andres Garcia, FedEx Freight, Texas
- Matthew Boenisch, FedEx Freight, Wisconsin
Flatbed
- Richard Prescott, Walmart Transportation LLC, California
- Karl Wilkerson, United Parcel Service Inc, Illinois
- Darius Uible, United Parcel Service Inc, Kentucky
- Mark Collins, Walmart Transportation LLC, Louisiana
- Kenneth Rageth, FedEx Freight, Wyoming
Tank Truck
- Eric Ramsdell , Walmart Transportation LLC, Arizona
- James Dixon, A. Duie Pyle Inc., Connecticut
- Steven Elliston, Walmart Transportation LLC, Georgia
- Allen McNeely, ABF Freight System Inc., North Carolina
- Paul Waite, A. Duie Pyle Inc., Pennsylvania
Twins
- Gary Mars, Walmart Transportation LLC, Arkansas
- Vladyslav Piatkovskyi, FedEx Freight, Maryland
- Jeffrey Reed, United Parcel Service Inc, New Mexico
- Mark McLean, FedEx Freight, New York
- Ronald Ramon, H-E-B Grocery Co., Texas
Sleeper
- Patrick Condon, Walmart Transportation LLC, Florida
- Ron Marker, Walmart Transportation LLC, Indiana
- Erik McFarland, Fareway Stores Inc., Iowa
- Terry Covey, FedEx Freight, Kansas
- Matthew Fletcher, The Martin-Brower Company L.L.C., Pennsylvania
The 45 finalists announced this morning will compete in the Championships Finals today, and a Grand Champion will be announced at a banquet reception this evening. For regular updates, follow ATA on social media and #NTDC26.
Sponsors of the 2026 National Truck Driving Championships include:
Platinum:
- Fed Ex
- Fed Ex Freight
- Old Dominion Freight Line
- Walmart
- XPO
Gold:
- ABF Freight
- C.A. Short Company
- Cummins
- Boeing
- Truck Parking Club
- UPS
Silver:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
DHL
Peach State Truck Centers
PGT Trucking
PITT OHIO
Pittsburgh, PA — Today, the American Trucking Associations proclaimed Miguel Corral, a professional driver with UPS, the Bendix Grand Champion at the 2026 National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships.
Corral, who resides in Indiana and secured his berth to nationals at the Illinois State Truck Driving Championship, emerged victorious from a field of 429 elite competitors representing trucking companies of every size from across the country. Competitors qualified for the national championship after advancing through rigorous state truck driving championships.
“Miguel’s performance reflects a simple truth: safe roads begin with highly trained, highly qualified professional drivers,” said American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear. “The National Truck Driving Championships celebrate the very best among them, and this year’s champion has earned a place among the industry’s finest. We congratulate Miguel on this extraordinary accomplishment and thank all of this year’s competitors for setting an example of professionalism and safety for the entire nation.”
ATA’s National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships took place from August 11-14 in Pittsburgh. The competitors—who hold a combined total of nearly 775 million accident-free miles accumulated during their careers—hailed from 49 states and represented 55 motor carriers. Over the past four days, the drivers competed in a variety of events designed to measure their driving prowess, industry knowledge, and dedication to safety.
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs attended the event and joined ATA in recognizing the competitors whose dedication to safe driving has made the National Truck Driving Championships the premier showcase of professional excellence in trucking.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners, and to all the professional drivers who worked hard to earn their spot here,” said Derek D. Barrs, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “The skill, focus, and commitment to safety we see in these championships are a great reminder of what professional drivers do every day to keep our roads safe and our supply chain moving. FMCSA is proud to recognize these champions and grateful to all the drivers out there who put safety first, mile after mile.”
In addition to taking home the Bendix Grand Champion award, Corral placed first in the 4-axle vehicle class. Corral is a veteran of the National Truck Driving Championships, clinching first place in the twins division in 2018 and second place in the 4-axle division in 2022. A resident of Crown Point, Indiana, he has more than 1.4 million safe driving miles under his belt in a career spanning almost three decades.
“For nearly 90 years, the National Truck Driving Championships have showcased the professionalism, skill, and dedication that define America’s trucking workforce, and this year’s competition once again raised the bar,” said Greg Hodgen, Chairman of American Trucking Associations and CEO of Groendyke Transport, Inc. “Congratulations to Miguel on earning the title of 2026 Bendix Grand Champion and to all of this year’s competitors and champions who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to safety and excellence. I also extend my gratitude to the volunteers, organizers, and state associations whose hard work and dedication make this extraordinary event possible every year.”
At tonight’s closing ceremonies, ATA honored Todd Loreman of Louisiana, a professional driver for Walmart Transportation, with the 2026 Rookie of the Year Award, and the State of Illinois was crowned the team champion for having the highest collective score.
The National Truck Driving Championships are made possible by dozens of NTDC committee members and volunteers who judge the course, serve as liaisons to the drivers, conduct course walk-throughs, and perform other key tasks. As such, ATA and ATA’s Safety Management Council honor one volunteer. This year’s Sam Gillette Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Melissa Johnson.
In addition, Jeff Davis of Kansas, a professional driver with Walmart Transportation, was recognized with the Neil Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award as the competitor “who most exemplifies all the best attributes of a professional truck driver.”
This year’s event included driving competitions across nine vehicle classes, vehicle inspection and a written exam. A full list of award winners is below.
3-Axle:
- Chris Poynor, XPO, Washington
- Todd Loreman, Walmart Transportation LLC, Louisiana
- Jeffrey Halford, XPO, Idaho
4-Axle:
- Miguel Corral, United Parcel Service Inc, Illinois
- Bryan Krol, The Martin-Brower Company LLC, Pennsylvania
- David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
5-Axle:
- Andres Garcia, FedEx Freight, Texas
- Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho
- Matthew Boenisch, FedEx Freight, Wisconsin
Flatbed:
- Richard Prescott, Walmart Transportation LLC, California
- Kenneth Rageth, FedEx Freight, Wyoming
- Karl Wilkerson, United Parcel Service Inc, Illinois
Sleeper:
- Terry Covey, FedEx Freight, Kansas
- Erik McFarland, Fareway Stores Inc, Iowa
- Patrick Condon, Walmart Transportation LLC, Florida
Straight Truck:
- Robert Cochran, Federal Express Corporation, Maine
- David May, XPO, New York
- Lynn Wilson, Walmart Transportation LLC, Utah
Tank Truck:
- Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Transportation LLC, Arizona
- Allen McNeely, ABF Freight System Inc, North Carolina
- James Dixon, A. Duie Pyle Inc, Connecticut
Twins:
- Ronald Ramon, H-E-B Grocery Co. Texas
- Vladyslav Piatkovskyi, FedEx Freight, Maryland
- Gary Mars, Walmart Transportation LLC, Arkansas
Step Van:
- Robert Ledoux, Federal Express Corporation, Massachusetts
- Logan Stacho, Federal Express Corporation, Ohio
- Ceth Christensen, United Parcel Service Inc, Illinois
Vehicle Condition Award:
- Edward Hill, FedEx Freight, Delaware
Written Exam:
- David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
- Todd Gimpel, FedEx Freight, Nebraska
State Team Award:
- Illinois
Washington – Trucking activity in the United States decreased 1% in July after rising 1.5% in June, according to the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
“Tonnage levels have been choppy recently, and this trend was reflected in July’s decline,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Aside from a couple pockets of strength, including the boom in data center construction for AI, freight has been lackluster. It is also true that the industry is seeing a recovery, but that is nearly all due to excess capacity leaving the market.”
In July, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 113.5, down from 114.7 in June. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, decreased 0.5% from the same month in 2025, which was worse than June’s 1.2% gain. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2025, tonnage is up 1.4% due to robust year-over-year increases from February through April.
June’s reading was revised up from what was first reported in our July 21st press release.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 117 in July, 0.9% below June’s reading of 118.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.7% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.27 billion tons of freight in 2024.* Motor carriers collected $906 billion, or 76.9% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
Both indices are dominated by contract freight, as opposed to traditional spot market freight. The tonnage index is calculated on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.
Purchase ATA’s full Monthly Truck Tonnage report. Subscribers receive the Monthly Truck Tonnage Report on the first Friday of the month.
