Ten FedEx Drivers Earn Honors at National Truck Driving Championships

Four drivers representing FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) operating companies were crowned National Champion in their respective driving classes at the 2014 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Pittsburgh, Aug. 12-16.

2014 National Truck Driving Champions (Photo: Business Wire)

• Paul Brandon, a driver for FedEx Freight in New Haven, Conn., won the National Flatbed Champion crown. A six-time Connecticut state champ, he has amassed more than 1.1 million accident-free miles during his 35-year driving career.
• FedEx Freight driver Basher Pierce (Greensboro, N.C.) captured the National 3-Axle Champion title in his third appearance at the NTDC. He has been driving professionally for 24 years and has more than 1 million accident-free miles on his record.
• Brendan Sharp, a Denver, Colo.-based driver for FedEx Freight, earned the National Straight Truck Champion title in his second-straight appearance at the NTDC. A 10-year FedEx Freight employee, he has been driving professionally for five years – all of them accident-free.
• Chris Shaw, a driver for FedEx Express in Albuquerque, N.M., attained the National Champion title in the Step Van class. The winner of five consecutive New Mexico state titles, he has been a professional driver for 21 years and is closing in on 1 million accident-free miles.

Six other FedEx drivers placed among the top finishers in their respective truck classes:

• René Molinary, FedEx Express (Miami, Fla.): 2nd place, Straight Truck
• Eddie Pennington, FedEx Freight (Jacksonville, Fla.): 2nd place, 3-Axle
• Tom Reinold, FedEx Express (W. Boylston, Mass.): 2nd place, Step Van
• Ted Carlson, FedEx Freight (Portland, Ore.): 3rd place, 4-Axle
• Nick Frazier, of Michael’s Messengers, Inc. domiciled out of the FedEx Ground station in Joplin, Mo.: 3rd place, Step Van
• Guy Frederickson, of G & K Delivery Services, Inc. domiciled out of the FedEx Ground station in Oshkosh, Wis.: 3rd place, Straight Truck

“FedEx team members are among the finest in the industry,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO, FedEx Corp. “The achievements of our four national champions further reaffirms the commitment to safety and professionalism that’s at the heart of all we do.”

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) sponsors the annual championships, known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” to recognize industry leadership in safety and to promote professionalism among truck drivers.

A record 138 professional drivers from 45 states representing FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground and FedEx Express qualified to compete at the NTDC by winning their respective state’s competition and driving accident-free for at least one year. Each driver was required to demonstrate his or her driving skills and knowledge of the industry through a series of tests, including a written exam, vehicle pre-trip inspection and driving-skills challenge.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $46 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.

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