NTDC narrows 2026 field to 45 finalists

The finalists will compete for the Bendix Grand Championship during the championship's finals Aug. 14. (American Trucking Associations)

Forty-five professional truck drivers advanced to the final round of the 2026 National Truck Driving and Step Van Driving Championships after emerging from a field of 429 competitors representing 49 states and 55 companies.

The annual event, held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, traces its roots to 1937 and draws drivers who have maintained accident-free records in pursuit of a national title. According to organizers, this year’s competitors have accumulated a combined 775 million accident-free miles over the course of their careers.

The finalists will compete for the Bendix Grand Championship during the championship's finals Aug. 14, with the overall grand champion scheduled to be announced during an evening banquet reception.

“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, chairman of the National Truck Driving Championships.

“Every competitor who earned a place at NTDC should be immensely proud of that accomplishment,” Arnold added. “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 45 finalists, five in each competition class, are:

Step Van

• Ceth Christensen, UPS, Illinois
• Robert Ledoux, FedEx, Massachusetts
• Logan Stacho, FedEx, Ohio
• Rafael Jusfredo, FedEx, Vermont
• Gregory Long, FedEx, Virginia

Straight Truck

• Robert Cochran, FedEx, Maine
• Robert Stokes, Pitt Ohio, Maryland
• David May, XPO, New York
• Michael Bills, FedEx, North Carolina
• Lynn Wilson, Walmart Transportation, Utah

3-Axle

• Chuck Pearson, ABF Freight System, Georgia
• Jeffrey Halford, XPO, Idaho
• Todd Loreman, Walmart Transportation, Louisiana
• John Jadrossich, FedEx Freight, New York
• Chris Poynor, XPO, Washington

4-Axle

• Miguel Corral, UPS, Illinois
• Stephen Johnson, FedEx Freight, Mississippi
• Todd Gimpel, FedEx Freight, Nebraska
• David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
• Bryan Krol, The Martin-Brower Co., Pennsylvania

5-Axle

• Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho
• Robert Bramwell, ABF Freight System, Missouri
• Daniel Bruch, FedEx Freight, New Mexico
• Andres Garcia, FedEx Freight, Texas
• Matthew Boenisch, FedEx Freight, Wisconsin

Flatbed

• Richard Prescott, Walmart Transportation, California
• Karl Wilkerson, UPS, Illinois
• Darius Uible, UPS, Kentucky
• Mark Collins, Walmart Transportation, Louisiana
• Kenneth Rageth, FedEx Freight, Wyoming

Tank Truck

• Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Transportation, Arizona
• James Dixon, A. Duie Pyle, Connecticut
• Steven Elliston, Walmart Transportation, Georgia
• Allen McNeely, ABF Freight System, North Carolina
• Paul Waite, A. Duie Pyle, Pennsylvania

Twins

• Gary Mars, Walmart Transportation, Arkansas
• Vladyslav Piatkovskyi, FedEx Freight, Maryland
• Jeffrey Reed, UPS, New Mexico
• Mark McLean, FedEx Freight, New York
• Ronald Ramon, H-E-B Grocery Co., Texas

Sleeper

• Patrick Condon, Walmart Transportation, Florida
• Ron Marker, Walmart Transportation, Indiana
• Erik McFarland, Fareway Stores, Iowa
• Terry Covey, FedEx Freight, Kansas
• Matthew Fletcher, The Martin-Brower Co., Pennsylvania

Assisted by AI.