Hardy, Nevada’s Top Trucker, Qualifies for NTDC
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XPO’s Brandon Hardy of Nevada sums up his training philosophy in a simple phrase: “I push myself to do it.”
“And it gets results,” he affirmed.
The Silver State’s truck championships grand champion, competing in the flatbed class last month, is committed to preparing himself for elite-level competitions.
Although he stays focused throughout the year on the aspects of precision driving contests — pre-trip inspections, test on industry regulations, course maneuvers — about two weeks prior to competition Hardy ramps up his training. And, specific to practices, Hardy goes hard.
The Road to the 2023 National Truck Driving Championships
State Schedule | NTDC Qualifiers | Map of State Champions | Photo Gallery
Who: Winners from nine categories at the state level who have advanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned
What: Contestants are judged on a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving skills
When: Aug. 16-19
Where: Columbus, Ohio
The couple of weeks prior to a tournament, he explained that he takes his vehicle outside in the punishing Las Vegas sun for lengthy training sessions to sharpen his skills. Devoting careful attention to detail as he endures the elements during his practices, Hardy concentrates during course simulations to perfect his maneuvers.
With his recent best-in-show performance in Nevada, Hardy punched his ticket to a ninth trip to the National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships. The Super Bowl of Safety, as it is known, will be held in Columbus, Ohio, in mid-August.
2023 SCHEDULE: Every state date
As he readies his return to the big stage, Hardy is devoting time to amplify his reaction time in the flatbed. Adept at reviewing videos of trucking competitions online, he is keenly aware of the tournament’s nuances.
“It’s very visual,” he said about his experience at the national competition from a driver’s perspective.
“The vast majority is visual where I compare the relationship between, say, the tires to a line on the ground or my rear floorboard compared to a barrier on the rear stop, as an example,” he added. “Pretty much everything is a visual cue for me.”
Getting to Know You
Nevada Trucking Association
Name: Brandon Hardy
Age: 47
Company: XPO
Vehicle Class: Flatbed
Favorite Food: Chinese
Favorite Music: ’80s pop
Favorite Movie: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Sports Hero: Carl Lewis
When Do You Find Time to Practice for Nationals: The two weekends leading up to nationals.
Something Most People Don’t Know About You: “I’m a big Star Trek fan … and I go to lots of Star Trek conventions, and have for a long time.”
While the tournament is a competitive forum for hundreds of drivers from every corner of the country, the event also is an opportunity to embrace a culture of safety with industry peers. Hardy, who considers himself a safety ambassador, noted, “It’s always very exciting to go there and see other drivers that I have seen before, as well as meet new drivers. And build new friendships and new acquaintances.”
Pursuing the chance to qualify for nationals also has helped him improve his driving acuity, as well as enhanced his appreciation for industry rules and regulations. That’s why participating at such competitions for more than a decade has been a profound experience personally.
“It encouraged me to just really drive [safely] every year because I really wanted to go back and give it another shot, especially after my second nationals in 2009 when I got fourth place.”
He further emphasized, “That really motivated me to be safe out on the road to get back the next year and try to win the nationals.”
3-axle: Ivan Padilla, Old Dominion Freight Line
4-axle: Floyd Custodia, FedEx Freight
5-axle: Humberto Carillo, FedEx Freight
Sleeper berth: Rollie Fugat, Walmart
Step van: Jarrod Owens, FedEx Ground
Straight truck: Matt Hart, FedEx Freight
Tank truck: Gragg Wilson, UPS
Twins: Carlos Lara, Yellow/Reddaway
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