News
Nine drivers earn right to compete at National Truck Driving Championships [06.22.2009]
Seven YRC drivers and two New Penn drivers won their classes at state truck driving championships over the weekend to earn the right to compete at the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC). The drivers work at service centers in Florida, Rhode Island, Oregon and Missouri.
- Jesse Ballard, a YRC driver from Portland, Ore. (635), won the 5-axle class in his state. This will be his second trip to the NTDC; he also competed at Nationals in 2007.
- Another Portland YRC driver, Rick Beukelman, placed first in the tanker class. This is Beukelman's second year in a row to compete at Nationals.
- Lakeland, Fla. (719), YRC Driver Dale Cook won the 4-axle class. This will be Cook's fifth trip to the NTDC; he competed in 1995, 2003, 2005 and 2006.
- New Penn Driver Marc DiTomasso of Providence, R.I. (05), earned the right to proceed to Nationals to compete in the 4-axle class.
- Another New Penn driver of Providence, Rick Gagnon, won the 5-axle class and was named state champion.
- Kevin Mailand of Kansas City, Mo. (326), will represent Kanasas and YRC in the twin trailers competition at the NTDC. This is Mailand's first year of competition. Not only did his skills earn him the right to compete at Nationals, he also earned the Rookie of the Year title in Kansas.
- Another rookie, Andy Smith, a Portland YRC driver, will compete in the sleeper class.
- Portland YRC Driver Lynn Springer won the flatbed class in his state. Springer has competed at five, consecutive Nationals from 2004–2008
- Ben Wilds,another Portland YRC driver, will compete in the straight truck class. Wilds competed at the NTDC in 2004 and 2008.
A big congratulations goes to YRC Oregon drivers, who took home the state team trophy, posting five state championships and two, third-place finishes.
These YRC Worldwide drivers will represent their states and YRC at the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships from Aug. 17–22 in Pittsburgh.
