Florida Truck Driving Championships to Welcome Largest Field Ever of 300-Plus Drivers
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The Florida Trucking Association will host what it is billing as the largest Truck Driving Championships in its history June 6-8 in Daytona Beach.
The 2019 National Truck Driving Championships
Qualifiers | Map | Photos | Video
Who: Winners from nine categories at the state level have advanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned
What: Contestants are judged on a written examination and their driving skills
When: Aug. 14-17
Where: Pittsburgh
Approximately 315 drivers will be competing, forming the largest field in Florida history, and approximately 1,250 people are expected to attend the awards banquet dinner at the Daytona Beach Hilton.
Jottyn Santos of FedEx Express will be back to defend his titles as Grand Champion and winner of the 4-Axle division.
Last year, FTA gathered all of its driving competitors for a group photo to celebrate the concept of “One Team Florida,” and the association will repeat that effort this year.
“One Team Florida [is] the message that FTA staff, member companies and drivers all prioritize safety and excellence in the profession, regardless of affiliation,” said TDC Chair Ralph Cartwright, owner of Southern States Safety Consulting in St. Augustine. “This year, as we take the largest photo of drivers in the state’s TDC history, we espouse the same message that while the competition is fierce, we come together as one team, representing the state of Florida.”
2019 SCHEDULE: State-by-state list.
For the second year in a row, spectators will be treated to the announcing work of Florida Road Team members Charles Lobsiger and Charles Demchock.
#FLTDC2019 is next week. What does the #400MillionMiles hashtag mean? It’s the combined number of safe driving miles by the competitors! Open to the public —come by and celebrate the people who move our goods while keeping our roads safe. https://t.co/tua9xvDKjx pic.twitter.com/8IrqB2A3w8 — Florida Trucking Association (@FloridaTrucking) June 1, 2019
Another highlight to the event will be a Friday night “Back to the Beach” dance party that celebrates the drivers and their families with a DJ and milkshake/cookie bars.
FLORIDA ARCHIVE PAGE: Previews, recaps and more
Drivers will take their written test in the evening of June 6 and then participate in a course walk-through. Pre-trip inspections and skills course competition will be held June 7-8, with four to five classes each day.
